World Cup-winning All Blacks coach and leadership keynote

Overview

Sir Graham Henry is one of the most successful rugby coaches of all time and one of New Zealand's most in-demand keynote speakers. Head coach of the All Blacks from 2004 to 2011, he led the team to victory at the 2011 Rugby World Cup and to a record 88 wins in 103 Tests. He brings audiences the inside story of building elite cultures, making hard calls under pressure and leading teams to the very top.

Who is Sir Graham Henry? Born in Christchurch in 1946, Graham came to coaching through teaching. He spent years at Auckland Grammar before becoming headmaster of Kelston Boys' High School. He coached Auckland to four consecutive NPC titles, the Auckland Blues to back-to-back Super 12 titles, and Wales to a then-record 11 consecutive Test wins. He was knighted in 2012, inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2019, and in 2026 was appointed as a selector under the new All Blacks regime led by Dave Rennie.

Career Highlights

• All Blacks head coach 2004–2011; 88 wins in 103 Tests (85.4% win rate)

• 2011 Rugby World Cup winner

• Five-time World Rugby Coach of the Year (2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011)

• World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee, 2019

• KNZM in the 2012 New Year Honours for services to rugby

• Head coach of Wales 1998–2002; coach of the 2001 British & Irish Lions tour

• Four consecutive NPC titles with Auckland (1993–1996)

• Two Super 12 titles with the Auckland Blues (1996, 1997)

• Currently an All Blacks selector under Dave Rennie

Key Speaking Themes

• Building world-class team culture

• Leadership, decision-making and selection under pressure

• Coaching, mentoring and developing emerging leaders

• Sustained high performance and avoiding complacency

• Lessons from a coaching career across Wales, the Lions and the All Blacks

What Your Audience Will Gain Sir Graham brings audiences the playbook behind one of the most dominant runs in world sport. They leave with sharper thinking on team culture, leadership and how to perform when the whole country is watching.

Ideal For

• Leadership and CEO conferences

• Sales kick-offs and team-building events

• After-dinner and gala keynotes

• High-performance and culture programmes

• Workshops on coaching, feedback and team selection

Frequently Asked Questions...

What does Sir Graham Henry speak about? Leadership, team culture, high performance, coaching, and the lessons behind the 2011 Rugby World Cup win.

When was Sir Graham Henry All Blacks coach? From 2004 until the end of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, winning 88 of 103 Tests.

How many times has Graham Henry been World Rugby Coach of the Year? A record five times: 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2011.

Is Sir Graham Henry still involved with the All Blacks? Yes. In 2026 he was appointed as an All Blacks selector under the regime led by head coach Dave Rennie.

Who else has Sir Graham Henry coached? He coached Wales from 1998 to 2002, the 2001 British & Irish Lions, the Auckland NPC team and the Auckland Blues, among others.

How long is a typical keynote? 45 minutes is standard with Q&A optional. Fireside chats, panel formats and team workshops are also available.