Dr Liz O’Riordan

Speaker | Author | Storyteller | Conference Host

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Dr Liz O’Riordan's Biography

Dr Liz O’Riordan is a former consultant breast surgeon with 15 years’ experience operating in high-stakes environments, and a three-time cancer patient who understands leadership, communication, and resilience from both sides of the system. This rare combination of surgical expertise and lived experience shapes the powerful keynotes she delivers to organisations navigating pressure, uncertainty, and cultural change. Liz speaks on leadership and perspective, communication and psychological safety, and resilience and reinvention — core themes for teams facing rising workloads, rapid change, and the need to stay connected under pressure. Dr Liz O’ Riordan is best-selling author, Top 5 Oncology Influencers on X, honorary doctorate recipient, Woman of the Year nominee, and Future Dreams Humanitarian of the Year, Liz brings clarity, candour, and deep compassion to every stage. She has spoken for leading companies including Apple, Google, YouTube, Novartis, Pfizer, and Roche, helping them strengthen communication, decision-making, and performance in demanding environments. Through honest storytelling, humour, and practical frameworks drawn from the operating room, Liz equips audiences with behaviours they can use immediately to stay calm, think clearly, and perform with confidence when it matters most.

SPEAKING VIDEOS
PHOTOS
BOOKS

Watch Dr Liz in action

I Blamed Alcohol For Getting Breast Cancer. Was I Wrong?

The Breast Exam Technique Most Tutorials Get Wrong

Liz O’Riordan

Marsden Lecture 2022 with Dr Liz O'Riordan and Professor Sir Mike Richards CBE

The Jar of Joy | Liz O'Riordan | TEDxStuttgart

Liz O'Riordan ESR Women in Focus Keynote -''Its the little things that matter'

#Reformdigitalhealth conference - session 3 on user voices

UNDER THE KNIFE

BREAST CANCER

The Cancer Roadmap

Cracking the Intercollegiate General Surgery FRCS Viva

Dr Liz O’Riordan Speaker Solutions

Keynote Speaker

SPEAKER TOPICS

Storytelling Speakers

Moderators

Mental Health Speakers

Mental Health Speakers for Schools

Conference Speakers

Female Motivational Speakers

Resilience Speakers

Inspiring Speakers

Virtual Keynotes

Leadership Speakers

Change Management Speakers

Wellbeing Speakers

Health Speakers

Workplace Culture Speakers

Dr Liz O’Riordan Keynote Topics

Resilience And Reinvention

Liz’s story is not about “bouncing back” – it’s about redefining success when life forces you to change course. It’s about learning to protect the non-negotiables so when curveballs hit, you don’t fall apart – with the help of her ‘CPR toolkit’.

Key messages:

Reinvention when your identity changes overnight.
Leading through personal and professional disruption.
What strength really looks like when you have no control.

Communication And Psychological Safety

In an operating theatre, a single miscommunication can be fatal. A team cannot function if they aren’t communicating honestly and without fear. As a patient, Liz felt the effects of this when she was on the receiving end. The parallels with corporate life are striking.

Key messages:

How to create an environment where people speak up.
Listening as a leadership skill.
Closing the gap between intention and impact.

Leadership And Perspective

What happens when the leader becomes the led? Leaders often think they understand what their people need until they’re on the other side of the table. Liz explores how perspective, humility, and empathy transform leadership and take it to the next level.

Key messages:

Seeing your culture from both sides of the table.
How control and vulnerability coexist in great leadership.
The real meaning of empathy and authority under pressure.

Quality Care And Communication

Healthcare professionals strive to do the best for their patients, but Liz had seen first-hand what happens when a patient leaves a clinic and has to fend for themself. Simple changes, such as starting difficult conversations around sex and death can have a massive impact on the perceived quality of care. Key messages:

How to make a difference when there’s no extra time.
What being part of a team really means.
It’s the little things that matter; you can start tomorrow.

The Doctors’ Doctor

The medical workforce is burnt out. They don’t know it, but the public does. Liz leads healthcare professionals to protect the non-negotiables before they become a patient themselves, with the help of her ‘CPR toolkit’.

Key messages:

Seeing your culture from both sides of the table.
How control and vulnerability coexist in great leadership.
What strength really looks like when you have no control.

Dr Liz O’Riordan's Biography

Liz speaks on leadership and perspective, communication and psychological safety, and resilience and reinvention — core themes for teams facing rising workloads, rapid change, and the need to stay connected under pressure.

Dr Liz O’ Riordan is best-selling author, Top 5 Oncology Influencers on X, honorary doctorate recipient, Woman of the Year nominee, and Future Dreams Humanitarian of the Year, Liz brings clarity, candour, and deep compassion to every stage.

She has spoken for leading companies including Apple, Google, YouTube, Novartis, Pfizer, and Roche, helping them strengthen communication, decision-making, and performance in demanding environments.

Through honest storytelling, humour, and practical frameworks drawn from the operating room, Liz equips audiences with behaviours they can use immediately to stay calm, think clearly, and perform with confidence when it matters most.

Dr Liz O’Riordan is ready to inspire your teams!
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Dr Liz O’Riordan testimonials

Dr Sandeep Mtharu

“Her talk was fascinating, humbling and inspiring. I have been truly affected by this talk.”

Medical

Student

“Brilliant. I felt like becoming a proper doctor again. - ”

Speakers for Schools

“Liz was fabulous – engaging, frank and personal in her approach. The students have been excitedly speaking about her talk all day. They said the highlight of the event was her approach, enthusiasm and honesty.”-

Bil Kirmani

Cardiac Surgeon

“I laughed. I cried. I cringed. The full impact of Dr Liz O’Riordan’s keynote didn’t hit home until I had a chance to reflect later – It doesn’t matter if you look like you fit in, if you don’t FEEL like you do. Liz talked candidly about feeling like an outsider and shoehorning her behaviour into what was expected. Talking to the audience later, this was so common. I spent a lot of time last night thinking about the talk and what I need to do next.”

Holly Campbell

Trekstock

“Liz’s experience as a breast cancer surgeon and patient means she is brilliantly placed to off er no-nonsense advice, support and guidance to those who are experiencing cancer of any kind. Those experiencing cancer need to know the facts and the realities about what they’re dealing with. Her perspective is invaluable to so many.”

Dame Laura Lee DBE

Chief Executive of cancer support charity Maggie’s

“Liz writes with such authority, knowledge and experience. Her clarity on how to deal with cancer is so valuable. All our lives will be touched by the disease in some way, so we could all do with a copy of this book.”

Alan Levinovitz

Professor of Religion at JMU and author of Natural: The Seductive Myth of Nature’s Goodness

“A cancer diagnosis leaves you needing empathy and honesty. In her frank and hopeful book, Dr O’Riordan proves you don’t need to choose between them.”

Lorraine Kelly CBE

TV presenter

“At last – a book about cancer that tells you how it really is. Dr Liz has the perspective of both doctor and patient. In this scientific but easy-to-understand book, she takes you by the hand to help you through treatment. Absolutely essential for anyone living with cancer, and anyone who has been impacted by the disease.”