Menu
Professor Damian Hughes is an inspirational leadership speaker, organisational psychologist and Professor of Organisational Psychology and Change at Manchester Metropolitan University. Best known as the co-host of the acclaimed ‘High Performance Podcast’ with Jake Humphrey, Damian is trusted by organisations seeking practical strategies to build high-performing teams, lead through change and create winning cultures. His expertise makes him an outstanding choice for leadership conferences, corporate events and business transformation programmes.
Damian’s fascination with leadership and human performance led him to specialise in organisational psychology, building a career focused on understanding how individuals and teams achieve sustained success. In 2006 he founded Liquid Thinking, a consultancy dedicated to helping organisations unlock high performance. Alongside this, he joined the coaching staff of the Scottish Rugby Union and the Canberra Raiders, gaining first-hand insight into elite performance environments that now underpin his engaging and evidence-based presentations.
His reputation grew through a series of influential books including ‘Liquid Leadership: Inspirational Lessons from the World’s Great Leaders’, ‘Liquid Thinking: Inspirational Lessons from the World’s Great Achievers’, ‘The Liquid Thinking Survival Guide to Change’, ‘How to Change Absolutely Anything’, ‘How to Think Like Sir Alex Ferguson: The Business of Winning & Managing Success’, ‘The Winning Mindset: What Sport Can Teach Us About Great Leadership’ and ‘Micro Habits: Tiny Changes That Supercharge High Performance’, co authored with Jake Humphrey.
Alongside his bestselling publications, Damian’s profile has been strengthened through the hugely successful ‘High Performance Podcast’, his nomination for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year for ‘Peerless’ and headline appearances including Infosecurity Europe. Combining academic expertise, elite sporting experience and compelling storytelling, Damian equips audiences with practical leadership tools, proven performance strategies and lasting inspiration to thrive in demanding environments. Drawing on decades of research alongside experience working with elite sporting organisations and global businesses, he delivers engaging keynote speeches that inspire audiences to improve performance, embrace resilience and develop effective leadership.
Prof. Damian Hughes is regularly booked to engage audiences at events, read their latest feedback below:
“As someone who has achieved many of my own personal goals and experienced the satisfaction from doing so, I would recommend that you adopt the lessons and techniques, which are captured in this excellent book, to greatly assist you in achieving your own ambitions. Go ahead. Take the plunge and become a fellow liquid thinker.”
“As a double Olympic decathlon Champion, I am fully aware of the demands that are required to be the best and achieve your dreams. I am very familiar with the tips, skills and techniques demonstrated and I recommend that you take some time and sit and read this book. The skills taught can be invaluable and if applied could change your life!”
“An evening with Damian was enlightening and energising. I came away buzzing with ideas and plans to improve my service to be the absolute best in our field. Reading the book was good but hearing him live was amazing.”
“Damian was asked to help our team think about engaging an organisation after a period of significant change. He inspired the room with his down-to-earth approach, fabulous stories and really challenged our thinking on what effective communication really is. I would recommend Damian as a speaker for any group looking for new thinking and inspirational leadership ideas; delivered in a way that really makes you challenge yourself and consider why you didn’t think of that because it’s explained in such a simple common sense way.”
“Seven years ago Damian inspired, provoked and challenged me when I attended one of his Liquid Thinking sessions and I have incorporated my learnings from this session into every part of my life personal and professional. Seven years on and Damian has done it again. Using thought-provoking and inspiring stories he has challenged and inspired us and more importantly given us a common language with which we all can use. Thank you Damian!”
“Damian came to speak to a variety of our colleagues. All of the 100 delegates who came along to Damian’s session chose to come along, because they felt they could develop more in the area of being a real Change Catalyst.”
The Inspirational Leadership Speakers Agency is one of the UK’s leading bureaus for inspiring global leaders. We supply speakers for corporate and public events across the world and cater to both in-person occasions and online webinars. Our roster includes athletes, psychologists, celebrities and more, each with top industry insight into leadership.
E: agent@inspirational-leadership-speakers.com
P: 0203 0070 320
Copyright © 2026 The Inspirational Leadership Speakers Agency. All rights reserved.
