HEIDI ARENA

With over 20 years of experience, Heidi Arena is a veteran of the Australian entertainment industry working as an actor, writer and producer. Heidi pursued her passion for performance at NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art). Heidi is also one of Australia’s most sought-after executive coaches and facilitators of communication and leadership programs. Heidi divides her time by combining her passion for storytelling, character and communication across the entertainment, corporate and educational sectors- including acting/writing/producing TV/film projects and creating passionate, practical, dynamic, skill-based communication programs for various organisations. Heidi has worked with business and corporate groups, providing workshops for schools, leadership, teachers and students within schools nationally and internationally.

Heidi has gained a reputation as one of Australia’s most loved chameleon actresses in comedy and drama. Heidi is best known as Mrs Gonsha, a primary school teacher in the award-winning ABC series ‘Little Lunch’. She is one of the original and current lead cast members in all 5 series of the award-winning Thank God You’re Here. Heidi co-created and appeared in Part-Time Private Eyes (Channel 10) and received rave reviews as faux chef Audrey in Working Dog’s ABC book and cooking series. Audrey’s Kitchen, as well as Matchbox’s hugely successful franchise Nowhere Boys. Heidi has also enjoyed playing loved comic characters, including Dawn in ABC’s hit comedy series The Librarians, as well as appearing in many other favourites, including True Story with Hamish and Andy, Upper Middle Bogan, The InBESTigators, Mad As Hell, It’s A Date and Get Krackin! Her extensive TV credits include many loved Australian drama series, including playing Christine Nixon in Fat Tony & Co, and more recently appearing in Shantaram, LOVE Me, Jack Irish, The Doctor Blake Mysteries, and many more. Heidi has also appeared in several recent Australian films, including Emo the Musical, Spirit of the Game (US release), Now Add Honey and Nowhere Boys: The Book of Shadows. On stage, Heidi most recently appeared with Kat Stewart in Admissions (Melbourne Theatre Company) and Eddie Perfect in his satire The Beast in Sydney and Melbourne and has appeared with Geoffrey Rush in the sell-out season of MTC’s The Drowsy Chaperone and award-winning play August: Osage County with Robyn Nevin. Heidi has also appeared in the MTC’s World Premiere American plays The Other Place, Born Yesterday and Westend’s debut of Emilia in Australia. Heidi is now enjoying growing credits as a creator/writer with Plan G (Pilot), co-created and written with Sarah Lambert (ABC & Easy Tiger), and Part-Time Private Eyes for Channel Ten, which won the cumulative ratings for Pilot Week. Heidi has a feature film in development with KOJO to commence filming in 2023 and several other TV writing projects with CJZ, ACTF, and GUESSWORK TELEVISION.

Dynamic learning - the art and impact of effective communication

We are living through a communication revolution where ideas, stories and facts are globally communicated 24/7, yet our understanding, connectedness and deeper learning can often feel fragmented, surface and fleeting.

If connection lies at the cornerstone of meaningful human interaction (Brene Brown), Heidi Arena explores how the often-simple interpersonal skills of effective listening and communicating have become elusive in modern society and one of the most sought-after ‘commodities’ of our time.

As an actor, writer, storyteller and communication educator, Heidi shares personal anecdotes and thought-provoking narratives to tap into a deeper understanding of ‘how’ and more importantly ‘why’ we need to communicate more effectively to celebrate the human condition, curiosity and connection. In this creative keynote, Heidi describes the ‘art of communication’ as a potent ‘superpower’, inherent in an educator’s DNA.