Jonny Shannon
Jonny Shannon is an international tech entrepreneur and motivational speaker based in Brisbane, and one of Australia's most requested school presenters. His story starts where many students feel stuck: undiagnosed dyslexia, bullying, and expulsion for fighting. A school counsellor changed his trajectory. Jonny went on to serve in the army, qualify as a youth worker, and co-found Pushpay — an ASX-listed company valued over $1 billion. He later founded Gamify and now leads PostHarvest. Since 2013 he has delivered more than 3,300 presentations to over 250,000 students across 410+ schools, making him one of the country's most prolific independent speakers for young people. Jonny speaks on five core topics — Cyber Safety & Bullying, Mental Health, Grit & Resilience, Sex & Relationships, and Substance Abuse — turning hard-won lived experience into practical, engaging, age-appropriate sessions that land with students, teachers and parents alike.
Meet the Speaker
About Jonny Shannon:
Jonny found school extremely difficult, having dyslexia and other disabilities which led to him failing all his subjects and being bullied a lot. After overreacting too many times, he was finally expelled for fighting too much.
It wasn’t until his last school that a counsellor took him aside to work through some of the key issues he was facing. The difference for Jonny was from “night to-day”. He quickly turned his academic performance around, focused on his emotional well-being and set some big goals. Surprised in the difference seeing a counsellor made, Jonny committed to doing youth work to help other students like himself for the rest of his life.
What other jobs have you had?
After school, I joined the NZ Army. Yes. New Zealand has an Army! After 4 years I moved to Australia to become a qualified youth worker and since I’ve speak over 3,000 times over ten years on mental health, cyber-safety, bullying and resilience. I also started 3 major companies in the last ten years including Pushpay (with four friends, now valued at over $2 Billion), Gamify and Postharvest. My life’s purpose is to help young people and found to do this well having success outside of speaking and story’s help a lot.
Where were you born?
South Auckland, New Zealand. If you don't know where Auckland is, its in New Zealand and South Auckland is South - of - Auckland...
What themes are recurring in your work?
Clear Vision. In my experience the majority of financial issues, health issues or social issues come back to people not knowing what they want early on.
What have been the highlights of your career?
Winning Australian Motivational Speaker of the Year twice and speaking to over quarter of a million students!
Haven’t I seen you before?
I was on National Geographic for my work which broadcasted to over 150 million households. I was also on Australia shark-tank with my company Gamify. Many people also say I look like Tom Cruz. Actually... that’s just my mum and, she needs glasses.
Speaker Type
Audience
Locations
Sessions
Sex & Relationships
A crash course on healthy relationships and how they are formed, top myths, breakup’s, consent, and risk.We discuss the...
Mental Health
Undercovering the fundamentals of mental health and practical ways to help yourself and others & where to go for help...
Bullying
Creating resilient students who are equipped to handle any bullying situation. Over 70% of Australian students have said they...
Cybersafety & Bullying
Creating smart online students that will take their online behaviour and digital footprint seriously. The most sought...
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