Peak presenting tips: Dr Andrew Lewis Smith
Peak Presenting Director, Melinda Smith, caught up with veteran actor and television director turned motivational speaker and presenter, Dr Andrew Lewis Smith, at the Professional Speakers Australia’s (PSA) annual convention #CADENCE25. Andrew kindly shared his tips for presenting at your peak with Mel and you.
About Andrew
Dr Andrew Lewis has enjoyed a successful career as an actor and television director. He has directed many shows that you may be familiar with including:
Home and Away
Neighbours
Playschool
All Saints
Parallax
Something in the Air
Playschool.
Andrew holds a PhD in Storytelling Devising Practices from Edith Cowan University and two masters degrees in theatre and screen studies from the University of NSW and the Australian Film Television and Radio School.
Andrew served as the Head of Performance at the internationally acclaimed Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts for 20 years. The centre’s famous alumni include Hugh Jackman, Lisa McCune, Tim Minchin, Frances O’Connor, Dacre Montgomery, and Sam Corlett.
There, he honed his craft as a specialist master trainer of emerging and professional actors. He has adapted the principles, tips, skills and craft for any individual or organisation. He knows how to coach charisma, gain gravitas and achieve laser focus.
The training Andrew has developed is completely transferable to any industry. Creating presence, building intention and acting with authenticity are at the core of actor training and these qualities are teachable to individuals and teams. He says that when people act with integrity and passion incorporating clear intention, they can achieve powerful results in their personal and work-life.
Why did you want to focus on keynote presenting?
I have always enjoyed acting and preforming. Delivering a keynote speech seemed like a natural progression for me - moving from being an academic into the corporate sector.
I love communicating a message and inspiring an audience. We are all creative. I get a great sense of satisfaction from imparting what I have learned as an educator, and my knowledge from the entertainment industry, into any workplace to energise its workforce.
I am passionate about sharing knowledge, energising relationships and improving communication. I enjoy motivating people to achieve authenticity in their work and life.
I have developed and transferred the methodologies used for acting to the business sector and to anyone individual wishing to improve their communication and confidence.
Acting “as if” brings about acting “that does”.
When people act with integrity and passion, incorporating clear intention, they can achieve powerful results in their professional AND personal life.
In a world where many people struggle to express themselves, I teach people to celebrate their uniqueness, drop their armour and gain peak performance.
Your favourite or most memorable presention?
I delivered a 15 minute version of my keynote speech ‘Stop Acting and Get Real’ at the 2025 PSA Convention in Brisbane. This was nerve wracking as I was speaking to a room of 250 professional speakers who all have their own keynotes. They were, however, incredibly supportive and I managed to get many laughs and received very positive feedback.
What makes a good presentation?
A good presentation is one that engages the senses of the audience, ignites their imagination and connects to their heart. It is far more important for the audience to feel connected to the speaker and the content rather than receiving a lecture and acquiring knowledge.
Your top tips for presenting well?
Be prepared, breathe, stay in the moment and allow for flow between yourself and the audience. Create a sacred space by fostering an environment of connection, intention, and shared energy. As a speaker you must be grounded and fully present to hold the space effectively. This involves being mindful of your own energy and creating a stable emotional foundation for the audience
How do you relax outside of work?
I walk my dog Caspar, practice yoga and regularly get to the gym. This is as much for my mental health as my physical health.
More about Dr Andrew Lewis Smith
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, organisations face the challenge of maintaining effective communication, fostering innovation, and inspiring confidence within their teams. These challenges are often magnified in large conferences, meetings, and events where impactful communication and creativity are essential for driving engagement and success.
Andrew’s keynote speech on Connection, Courage, and Creativity, offers individuals and organisations a transformative experience designed to overcome key challenges such as:
a lack of authentic communication
a fear of taking risks
creativity fatigue.
His approach blends the art of acting with practical business strategies to help break through barriers and achieve peak performance.
Connect with Andrew
For coaching and workshops on delivering effective presentations, please contact our team today.