Steve Dunstan
Roles: Speaker
Themes: Business, Lifestyle & Wellbeing, Motivation
Steve Dunstan is a brand builder, entrepreneur, mentor and creative strategist best known as the co-founder of Huffer.
Born in the hills and raised in the streets, Huffer was founded in 1997 when Jordan had five rings, the internet was chat rooms, and a collection of snowboarders, skaters were spending more time chasing ‘the dream’ than building business plans.
What started as a grassroots clothing label grew into one of New Zealand’s most recognisable brands, creating a unique connection between self-expression, functionality and a strong sense of community.
Over 26 years, Steve experienced the full spectrum of entrepreneurship. Rapid growth, international expansion, near collapse, rebuilding, reinvention and ultimately the sale of the majority of his shareholding in 2023.
Today, Steve works with founders, organisations and emerging leaders to help them build brands, communities and ideas that people genuinely want to belong to. His work spans sport, culture and commercial partnerships, including Auckland FC, Audi New Zealand and a growing portfolio of projects focused on identity, participation and place.
At the heart of Steve’s work is a belief that the strongest brands are not built through marketing alone, but through participation, shared values and a sense of belonging. Whether mentoring founders, advising organisations or speaking to audiences, he explores how businesses can create deeper connections with the people they serve.
Steve speaks candidly about entrepreneurship, creativity, resilience and reinvention. His presentations combine stories from the front line of building brands with practical insights into leadership, culture and the importance of creating something bigger than a product, creating something people care enough to be part of.
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Belonging Drives Performance
Why people do their best work when they feel connected to purpose, culture and each other.
Building Culture Through Growth
How to maintain identity, clarity and trust as teams and businesses scale.
Leadership Beyond Hierarchy
Creating environments where people feel empowered to lead and contribute.
Creativity, Identity & Performance
What business leaders can learn from creative and sporting communities about motivation and belonging.
Navigating Reinvention & Change
Lessons from leaving Huffer, rediscovering purpose and building something new.
The Power of Shared Identity
How strong cultures create momentum, accountability and belief.
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Belonging Drives Performance
In this insightful and deeply personal keynote, Steve Dunstan explores the connection between identity, culture and performance through his journey building Huffer, navigating leadership through growth and change, and helping shape AKA alongside Auckland FC.
Drawing from the worlds of business, creativity and sport, Steve shares real experiences about what drives high-performing teams and why belonging is often the invisible force behind success.
From the early days of grassroots creative communities to leading one of New Zealand’s most recognisable brands, Steve reflects on the moments that tested culture, challenged identity and reshaped his understanding of leadership.
At the center of the keynote is a simple but powerful idea:
People perform best when they feel like they belong.
Blending honest storytelling with practical leadership insight, Steve offers audiences a fresh perspective on how clarity, trust and shared identity create stronger teams, more engaged cultures and better performance.
Audiences will leave with:
A deeper understanding of how belonging influences performance
Practical insights into building strong team culture during growth and change
New perspectives on leadership, identity and trust
Tools for creating environments where people feel connected, motivated and empowered
Greater clarity around the role purpose and culture play in high-performing organisations
Duration: 45–60 minutes (customisable)
