Glenn Keys

Glenn Keys AO is a global entrepreneur, former military flight test engineer, and philanthropist who delivers compelling keynotes on high-stakes leadership, resilience, and purposeful innovation.

As the Founder and Executive Chair of Aspen Medical - with a global workforce of over 4,500 personnel operating across 23 countries - Glenn offers corporate audiences real-world insight on scaling international operations, navigating complex crises, and leading through disruption.  

His approach to execution and crisis management is rooted in a distinguished career with the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Serving in high-pressure roles from aircraft test flying to engineering and military aviation logistics, Glenn mastered the systems thinking and operational discipline required to solve complex problems under extreme constraints. He translates these lessons from military flight testing directly into actionable strategies for business leaders managing risk and change.

Equally dedicated to purpose-driven business, Glenn has placed Social Purpose and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at the absolute core of his commercial strategy. Inspired by his son Ehren, he founded Project Independence in 2012 - a groundbreaking non-profit that offers a world-first equity-building homeownership model for people with intellectual disabilities, empowering residents to gain life skills, dignity, and long-term security.  

Glenn’s strategic vision is further informed by extensive governance experience across major national, cultural, and community institutions. He sits or has sat on prominent boards including the Australian War Memorial, National Capital Authority (NCA), Invictus Australia, the Invictus Games Foundation (IFG), NDIA, Asialink Business Advisory Council, the Australia ASEAN Council, the University of Canberra Council, Special Olympics National Council, Canberra Business Chamber and the Sir Thomas Daly Foundation.

Qualifications & Honors:

Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) – Appointed in 2017 for philanthropic leadership in business and advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities.  

EY World Entrepreneur of the Year – Global Runner-Up (2017)

Graduate – International Test Pilots School (UK) and the University of New South Wales (UNSW)

Professional Associations – Honorary Fellow of Engineers Australia, Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), and Member of the Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM)