Keynote Speaker

Marlies is a seasoned nurse innovator and professional system hacker who’s not afraid to challenge the status quo. In this high-energy keynote, she shares real talk, bold moves, and practical ways to outrun red tape and spark change from the inside out. Expect laughs, aha moments, and a serious push to rethink how we lead in healthcare.

Marlies launched her career as an ICU nurse before diving headfirst into the world of change and innovation. She’s worked across national and provincial health systems and now runs her own boutique consultancy, The Pivot Group. Since 2015, she’s been delivering keynote and TED-style talks that cut through the noise for physicians, nurses, allied health pros, and healthcare leaders.

Marlies brings a bold, casual speaking style — she says the things most people won’t, but everyone relates to. Her most popular talks reveal how to hack the system, outrun red tape, and make real change from inside the healthcare trenches. Whether it’s rethinking how you lead, reorganize and work differently, Marlies leaves audiences energized, laughing, and ready to act.