Founder of Australia's Community Street Soccer Program — turning homelessness into Olympic-level inspiration
George Halkias holds a postgraduate qualification in psychology and spent years managing a state-wide support service for victims of violent crime, training police graduates in victim rights. He is best known, however, for what he built from the ground up: co-founding Australia's Community Street Soccer Program in 2008 and going on to coach and coordinate Australian teams at eight Homeless World Cup events — including playing a key role in securing and staging the 2008 Melbourne Homeless World Cup. His story was told on ABC's Australian Story in 2005, and a 2024 Netflix film, The Beautiful Game, celebrates the Homeless World Cup he helped shape.
What makes Halkias genuinely distinctive is the combination of formal psychology training and two decades of hands-on work with Australia's most vulnerable people. His presentations translate complex social issues — homelessness, mental illness, disability, domestic violence — into stories that corporate and community audiences can feel and act on. He founded the Dad's Well-being Program, specialist workshops on parenting and gender equality, and has mentored prisoners with intellectual disabilities at Port Philip Prison since 2007. He speaks from lived experience, not theory.
Halkias works effectively with audiences that include leadership teams wanting a perspective shift, conference delegates who need re-energising mid-program, and organisations pursuing genuine corporate social responsibility. Feedback from clients — including CPA Australia, Cystic Fibrosis Victoria and the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine — consistently notes that his presentations are still being discussed the following day. He is also an experienced MC with fifteen years of conference facilitation behind him.
George Halkias is a keynote speaker and MC based in Victoria who speaks on inspiration, leadership and motivation. Book through Executive Speakers Australia.
George talks about the key traits and skills of leadership including innovation, sacrifice, humility and vision in the context of the works he has done in the community.
George touches upon some of the most serious issues in our community such as homelessness, mental illness, disability, substance abuse and domestic violence and looks at innovative ways he has worked to address these issues and how he has worked with the government, community and corporate sectors to achieve social change.
George describes how he has empowered homeless and marginalised people to turn their lives around and even represent Australia in a unique sporting competition.
George shares stories of inspiration in how sport has become a vehicle to help people change their lives. He demonstrates the power of sport to create awareness of social issues and to educate the community about some of the most serious community issues and other causes.
Are designed to increase awareness of social disadvantage in corporate groups and to motivate individuals to engage in corporate social responsibility activities and make a difference in our community.
Workshops for Dads specialising in parenting, Dad's and Daughter's activities designed to strengthen families, address gender equality and family violence.
George is also an experienced Master of Ceremonies and has 15 years of experience facilitating a range of conferences, forums and events. He is a composed communicator that adapts his communication style to suit the event and audience.
I had very positive feedback last night and this morning too! You're a great speaker and your story is very inspirational. Our staff work with marginalised people every day, but hearing other people's stories helps put our experiences into perspective. And your story did just that. It also re-energises us and reminds us that we can all make a difference in some way! So, thank YOU for sharing your time and your story with us. We really appreciate it!Marketing and Communications Officer, Inspiro
The feedback from students about your presentation has been excellent. The students were really inspired by your take on Leadership and moved by your personal story. I can't thank you enough for your involvement in the camp and look forward to booking you again next year.Operations and Special Projects, Cystic Fibrosis Victoria
Of all the staff training and team building workshops that we have facilitated at our company, the Perspective Workshop held by George Halkias was easily the most talked about and memorable event. This is really different! George captivated our people with his unique message and the impact it had on our team was incredible. The workshop resulted in increased morale, improved team interaction, greater energy and a general shift to a more empathic attitude within our organisation. Aside from the value gained personally, it also reflected well on our company image to our team. Thank you George! We will be having more of these workshops in the future for sure. Highly recommended!Managing Director, FUESCO
Tell us about your event and our consultants will return a curated shortlist within one business day.
