Dr. Alia Bojilova
Roles: Keynote Speaker, Speaker, Workshops
Themes: Business , Innovation, Lifestyle & Wellbeing, Motivation, Politics & Advisory, Sports
Dr Alia Bojilova is a resilience and peak performance psychologist, former NZ Army psychologist, and trusted advisor to leaders navigating high-pressure environments. With a Doctorate in Psychology and experience across the military, government, elite sport and the commercial sector, she works at the intersection of leadership, resilience and human potential.
During her deployment to Syria as part of an international peacekeeping force, Alia was taken hostage at gunpoint — an experience that deeply shaped her understanding of resilience. From it, she developed her philosophy of “bouncing forward” rather than simply bouncing back. She later received a United Nations Commendation and the Inaugural Meritorious Service Medal for her work negotiating critical incidents in the Middle East.
Today, Alia works with government agencies, Olympians, health and education leaders, creative industries and not-for-profits, helping people build strength and clarity in the moments that matter most. She is also the author of The Resilience Toolkit, a practical four-step framework designed to help individuals and teams navigate challenge with confidence.
On stage, Alia is thoughtful, grounded and genuinely engaging. She combines sharp psychological insight with warmth, humour and powerful storytelling, creating an environment where people feel safe to reflect and ready to grow. Audiences leave not just inspired, but better equipped — with practical tools, renewed perspective and a deeper belief in what they’re capable of. Her sessions are both steady and uplifting, inviting people to see themselves — and each other — with greater understanding and possibility.
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Bouncing Forward
Moving beyond recovery to growth — how to use adversity as a catalyst for stronger leadership and performance.Resilience Under Pressure
Practical tools for staying effective, connected and decisive in high-stakes environments.Curiosity as a Leadership Advantage
How curiosity drives innovation, connection and better decision-making.Leading Through Uncertainty
Building teams that stay aligned, energised and purpose-driven when conditions are unpredictable.Unlocking Human Potential
Small mindset shifts that create disproportionate performance gains. text goes here -
The Resilience Toolkit: Bouncing Forward Under Pressure
In this powerful and deeply human keynote, Dr Alia Bojilova shares what resilience really looks like when the stakes are high. Drawing on her experience as a military psychologist and hostage survivor, she challenges the idea that resilience is simply about “bouncing back” — and instead shows how we can bounce forward, growing stronger through adversity.
Blending lived experience with practical psychological tools, Alia offers a clear and accessible framework that helps leaders and teams stay steady, connected and purposeful under pressure.
Audiences will leave with:
A practical four-step resilience framework
Tools to stay clear-headed and connected in high-stress moments
A new perspective on adversity as opportunity
Greater confidence in their own capacity to navigate uncertainty
Duration: 45–60 minutes (customisable)
