Andrew Horabin is a Keynote Speaker, Trainer, Facilitator, Comedian, Author, Award-Winning Singer/Songwriter and the creator of “Mick the Demotivational Speaker”.

He has been self-employed for sixteen years, starting at age 18, including nine years in a partnership that employed thirty people in four states. He has lost and made money in business and led many community, commercial and artistic projects. He understands some things about success, failure, leadership, teamwork, conflict and how things get done.

His main weakness is a tendency to write about himself in third person on his own website.

Andrew speaks about honesty, tenacity, self-awareness and the importance, and dangers, of “positive thinking”. He teaches a range of interpersonal skills including communicating for influence and getting more straight talk at work.

He has never chewed his own arm off to survive a mountaineering expedition, has not been named a medical miracle, nor won a sporting contest against impossible odds (unless you include that D-Grade squash pennants competition in ’98 when he’d been well and truly written off, and then …)

Andrew is simply a born speaker. He is a natural, passionate, creative and highly skilled communicator who was lucky enough to find his calling really early in life and has been working on it ever since.

He speaks not as an Olympian or other such mutant of human achievement, but as an ordinary person who has been successful with initiative, creativity, persistence – and by constantly refining his skills.

Just in 2008, Andrew has taken 100 flights for 120 presentations around Australia and overseas. You can click on “Where’s Andrew?” to get a better idea.

He is the author of three corporate books, entitled:
BULLSHIFT
LOSE THE TEENAGE FACE
and
THE LISTENING KING.

They’re really quite good.

As a body language specialist, he has trained undercover police officers, detectives and Australian Federal Police surveillance operatives and human source handlers in such skills as infiltrating groups, establishing rapport, building trust, recognising deception and communicating for influence.

As a communication skills specialist, he has worked with big and small business, Government departments, community organisations and schools in leadership, teamwork, conflict resolution, stress management and building relationships.

As a public speaking expert, he has trained senior managers, directors, sales people, lawyers, detectives and teachers in the attitudes, knowledge and skills of giving effective presentations.

As a facilitator he has led forums, planning sessions, hypotheticals and ethics explorations for community groups, Government agencies, businesses and educational institutions.

Andrew has also acted as Master of Ceremonies for hundreds of conferences, awards nights and special events, including concerts with the WA Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Tasmania Symphony Orchestra and Queensland Orchestra.

As a motivational speaker, he has inspired athletes, sales people, leaders, managers, entrepreneurs and 60,000 students, teachers and parents in 110 schools.

“Mick the Demotivational Speaker” – performed by both Andrew Horabin and fellow comedian Malcolm Dix – has encouraged mediocrity at conferences, awards nights and special events across Australia for hundreds of clients including (but certainly not limited to):

Alcoa, AMP, Argyle, ANZ, Australian Association of Credit Unions, Australasian College of Emergency Medicine, Australian Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, BankWest, BHP, Centrelink, Century 21 Real Estate, Edith Cowan University, Hewlett Packard, Mallesons Stephen Jaques, Orrcon Steel, Perpetual Trustees, Rio Tinto, Seasol, Super Liquor (NZ), St. Andrew’s Insurance, Travellers Choice, West Coast Eagles, Western Power and Wesfarmers.

At conferences, Andrew often provides multiple services:
Conference Facilitator – providing advice on the design of the event and taking care of all MC duties, but also handling panel sessions, discussions, debates or hypotheticals when required.

Keynote Speaker – for an inspirational opener, a content-packed after-luncher or maybe a theme-weaving closer.

Workshop Facilitator – for skills-based breakout workshops.

“Mick the Demotivational Speaker” – at the conference dinner or as the perfect closer.

As a stand-up comedian, Andrew has performed at two seasons of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. He toured twelve towns across WA with the one-man version of his musical, WHAT A MAN’S GOTTA DO. And he has shared the stage with some of Australia’s best known comedians.

He is a state and national award-winning singer/songwriter with accolades including ASA’s Australian Songwriter of the Year in 2000 and WAM Song of the Year 2003.

The first full production of his musical, WHAT A MAN’S GOTTA DO, sold out The Rechabites Hall, Perth, September 2006.

He has also written a novel, called “Sam”.

(Did you really make it this far? Wow.)

Well, on this site, you can:
> Check Andrew’s availability (Where’s Andrew?)
> Find out more about what he does
> Enquire about his suitability for engagements (Make an enquiry)
> Buy his books or CDs (Buy stuff)
> Contact Andrew directly (email and phone are top right)

Enjoy! And thanks for visiting.

“Andrew, You were the tonic that everyone needed! What a talent to make folks ‘belly laugh’ like that. I have no idea how we are ever going to better this in future years.”
Edith Cowan University