The Hon. Bob Rae

Speaking topics

Presentations listed below include in-person and virtual keynotes, as well as workshops, fireside chats, and other presentation formats.

• Canada-US Relations: What’s at Stake?

  Drawing on five decades of political leadership and his recent tenure as Canada’s UN Ambassador, The Honourable Bob Rae offers a masterclass in understanding the Canada-US relationship through the lens of history, not headlines.

  This keynote moves beyond the politics of personality to examine the deep roots of our trading, security, and military partnerships — and what’s truly at stake today. Rae explores how historical patterns can guide us through current turbulence, offering audiences a nuanced framework for thinking about North America’s future.

  Leaders will leave with both perspective and practical insight into maintaining critical relationships during periods of disruption.

• The World Turned Upside Down: Democracy, Disruption, and the New Global Order

  The world order has fundamentally shifted. In this timely keynote, the Honourable Bob Rae examines the seismic forces reshaping global politics: the crisis of democracy, the weaponization of misinformation, the disruptive power of social media, the emergence of new global power centers, and more.

  Drawing on his firsthand experience presiding over UN bodies and negotiating with world leaders throughout his five decades in politics and diplomacy, Rae identifies the trends that matter most to his audiences and explores their potential impact on how we live, work, and govern. He provides business leaders with a roadmap for navigating these changing tides — offering practical strategies to help build the future we need.

• Canada in Transition: From Complacency to Strategic Action

  For too long, Canada has been trying to navigate the 21st century by looking in the rearview mirror. In this keynote, the Honourable Bob Rae challenges Canadian leaders to stop longing for the past and start building the future Canada needs.

  While it’s tempting to blame recent turbulence on events south of the border, Rae argues that Canada’s challenges are decades in the making and run far deeper than any single bilateral relationship. In this keynote, he will examine the internal issues we need to settle while exploring the global forces reshaping our position — from evolving trade partnerships and the imperative of economic diversification to the accelerating impacts of climate change.

  Drawing on his experience as Canada’s UN Ambassador and decades navigating complex policy challenges, Rae provides leaders with a clear-eyed assessment of where we stand and a practical roadmap for building a stronger, more resilient Canada for the next generation.

• Reconciliation Beyond Rhetoric

  As Chief Negotiator for the Matawa Tribal Council and a veteran of constitutional negotiations, the Honourable Bob Rae brings unparalleled insight into one of Canada’s most critical challenges — reconciliation.

  This keynote dismantles the assumption that legislation alone can solve deeply rooted issues of Indigenous consent and sovereignty. Rae traces the historical context that business leaders and policymakers often miss, explaining why traditional approaches aren’t working and what must change. With practical guidance on the dos and don’ts of working with Indigenous communities, he shows why collaboration isn’t just ethically necessary — it’s the only viable path forward for major projects and meaningful reconciliation.

• Leading through Complexity: Lessons from 50 Years in Politics

  Drawing from a remarkable 50-year career spanning provincial and federal politics, international diplomacy, and crisis negotiations, the Honourable Bob Rae shares profound lessons on the qualities that define true leadership.

  Rae dismantles the popular image of the leader standing alone atop a mountain issuing commands — arguing it’s actually the worst vantage point for effective leadership. Instead, he makes the case that real leadership demands deep listening, genuine humility, and a clear understanding that leading is fundamentally different from managing or predicting.

  Through candid stories from his work with Canadian and international leaders, Rae explores how great leaders embrace criticism, navigate bureaucratic resistance, drive meaningful change, and build lasting relationships instead of transactional exchanges.

  This keynote is a masterclass in leadership, distilling hard-earned wisdom from a leader who’s experienced both success and setback — and emerged with clarity about what actually moves people, organizations, and nations forward.