“For me, this is an opportunity to give back, share my knowledge and assist the next generation to create impact in business and succeed in life

- Brad Cocks

Brad’s Story

Welcome, and thank you for taking the time to learn a bit more about what makes me, me.

Life has always been about exploration and pushing boundaries for me. At 40-something, I've packed more into my journey than many might think possible, but staying still has never been an option. I'm drawn to challenges—whether in business, sports, or personal endeavours—and I've always embraced the mindset of, "Why not me?"

Throughout my life, I've often heard, "You can't do that." My response has always been simple: "Watch me." I'm no elite athlete; in fact, I was once the short, tubby kid who avoided school sports. But I love sport, growing up actively involved in a multitude of sports, particularly tennis and motorsport - competing at a national level with good success. I've constantly been driven by goals and a belief in what many consider unattainable. From my mid 20’s I found a love of endurance sports and challenges, completing Ironman triathlons, endurance mountain bike rides, running marathons and cycling over 1,200km for charity. I've found fulfilment and joy in proving that we can all achieve great things with the right mindset, determination and a few consistent life practices.

Working in the event and entertainment industries has been a perfect fit for me. It's a field where you work with people - lots of them from all over the world,  where connection, communication, and purpose come to life, and where every project is a collaboration towards a shared goal. You are judged on the outcomes of the moment - there is virtually no room for error and there is certainly no second take in live events. That creates pressure both on the team and as an individual, leading it to be one of the top five most stressful industries in the world.
Leading teams in this fast-paced environment demands meticulous planning, resilience, and a deep understanding of what makes us tick as human beings. It's here that I've honed my skills in emotional intelligence, understanding the psychology of people from all walks of life and applying them to business.

But life isn't always straightforward. I've faced my share of setbacks that I have had to navigate and overcome—pushing my body and mind over the edge, losing friendships, enduring workplace bullying, and being removed from positions I loved. These experiences have been powerful lessons, teaching me the value of acceptance, resilience, and optimism. They've shaped me into a better person and leader.

Today, I live in my hometown of Melbourne Australia with my family as we enjoy and share new challenges and our love of travel. Balance is key and professionally I find purpose in sharing my journey with honesty and vulnerability through my speaking, workshops and mentorship. I explore the personal and professional challenges I've faced, offering practical methods and advice that help others achieve their goals and dreams—both in business and in life. My passion lies in fostering conversation, building connections, and guiding others toward a high-performance mindset that embraces what is possible and the purpose of “Why not me!”

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MY JOURNEY



















1981

A family portrait of two adults and four children against a plain background, with everyone smiling at the camera.

Born Melbourne Australia. Brad is the oldest of 3 children, growing up in the outer suburbs of Melbourne. A hard working close-nit family, his father operated his successful small electrical automation business from their garage for over 15 years, his mother supporting the family whilst working part-time as a nurse and later a primary school teacher.

1995

Go-kart race with drivers wearing helmets and racing suits, navigating a track.

Commences Karting in Australia. A passion that will dominate over 10 years of Brad’s life and form his first job where he travels 2 hours after school twice per week to work in a motor racing teams workshop, becoming one of the youngest members of a professional car racing team in Australia at the time .
Brad wins numerous titles, joining a range of committees and executive groups through his journey, before retiring from racing in 2005 to pursue his event career and business interests.

1999

A young man in a graduation cap and gown smiling at the camera against a gray background.

Graduates High School, completing his final exams with a broken back as a result of a karting accident.
Within two weeks of graduating Brad commences full-time accounting cadetship with a top tier firm at 18 years of age. Brad specialises in corporate and investment accounting and taxation, attending university of an evening to gain qualification.

2000

Colorful Muppet-style characters spelling the word 'PIPPI' in a theatrical setting with a red curtain backdrop.

Brad undertakes his first Stage Management role in an amateur production of Pippin. Brad would go on to stage manage and produce over a dozen major theatre productions including the likes of Les Miserables and Jesus Christ Superstar, forming the early foundations and principles of his creative career.

2004

Three people cycling along a waterfront with colorful buildings and boats behind them, in a cityscape.

Realising a suit-and-tie corporate job was not for him, leaves accounting to find more purpose in life.
Travels overseas for the first time, studying at Aarhus School of Business in Denmark.

2005

Runner participating in a marathon, wearing a black and white athletic outfit with a bib number 7401, on a city street with other runners and spectators in the background.

Completes first “fun-run” in tennis shoes with no training as a dare from friends, setting into motion a love of endurance sports and physical challenges, later obtaining a certificate III and IV in fitness and personal training.

2006

A woman standing next to a man in a graduation cap and gown, smiling at the camera.

Graduates Victoria University with a degree in Event and Music Industry Management.
Brad joins leading event agency, DG Global, building the company’s first satellite office, producing live events, special projects and creative solutions including a variety of Awards Ceremonies, Gala Celebrations, Public Events and Conferences for high-tier clients throughout Asia and Australia.

2009

Cyclist in a red and black sleeveless cycling jersey riding a black and green Giant road bike on a paved path in a rural area with dry grass and power lines in the background.

Completes first full distance IRONMAN triathlon. Brad races in triathlon for 7 years, competing in over 50 events including multiple IRONMAN and numerous marathons, endurance swimming and cycling events, along the way becoming an accredited Triathlon Coach.

2010

A tennis court with Australian and British flags painted on the surface, located in Melbourne. The court is illuminated, and a line of players or officials is standing along the court's sides, with the audience seated in the stadium around.

Leads Tennis Australia and Australian Open to redesign events, entertainment and live experience offerings, revolutionising corporate and hospitality experiences at major events. Develops the first projection mapping to a sporting event, producing theatrical ceremonies to reach 1 billion people.
Brad establishes Tennis Australia’s first in-house event experience team and annual portfolio of events.

2013

Olympic medal winners celebrating with gold medals and confetti during an awards ceremony in an indoor arena with a large crowd and cityscape background.

Founds ‘The Event Collective’ setting a structure of business that allowed leading specialists in event, branding, media and entertainment industries to collaborate under the one roof for the benefit of clients. Utilising a collective pool of talent and skills, The Event Collective delivered an extraordinary high standard of projects for clients such as Xero, Adidas, KPMG and Australian Olympic Committee.

2014

Two people talking in a bike store, with bicycles on racks in the background and bike gear and accessories on a table in the foreground.

Pursuing his love of health and fitness, Brad Co-finds Triathlon Minds - an online platform and media company delivering resources for the global Triathlon community.

2015

Group of 17 cyclists in pink and white jerseys posing together on pavement

Brad cycles over 1,200km from Adelaide to Melbourne with the Lilyroo Foundation raising over $230,000 for The Women’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

2016

Group of nine people taking a selfie at a conference or event, smiling at the camera, wearing black and green shirts with event name tags, background shows conference booths and posters.

The Event Collective moves under the DG Global banner. Brad becomes a shareholder and Director of Events | COO to lead the global agency operations, growing the company and team to ultimately win Event Agency of the Year. Delivers full service events and entertainment services across Australia, Asia and America to a range of blue chip organisations.

2018

A man with dark hair and a beard relaxing on a dark leather couch, wearing a black shirt with red text. He is leaning back with his right arm behind his head, in a modern living room with large windows, wooden cabinets, and hanging ceiling lights.

Brad suffers full mental and physical breakdown from complete exhaustion. Unable to move from bed for nearly two months he re-evaluates, re-plans and re-structures how to best work and lead with balance in life.

2020

Brad Cocks is standing in front of a whiteboard with notes and diagrams, giving a presentation to a woman with her back to the camera.

Leaves DG Global, establishing XPRNC: a new age management and experiential consultancy assisting brands, businesses and their people. Utilising his unique experience and skills gained from a career in a variety of business sectors, Brad helps organisations and their teams to analyse, educate, implement and build their future.

2021

Brad Cocks giving a presentation at a conference, standing next to a large screen displaying a slide about workplace values, with an audience listening and visible in the foreground.

Creates Events Masterclass online course, keynote presentations and workshops to up-skill event professionals worldwide by sharing his 20+ years of industry expertise, offering expert guidance, innovative strategies, and practical resources to elevate their careers, transform teams, and deliver exceptional events and live experiences.

2023

Brad Cocks and Shane Buzza wearing headphones speaking into microphones in a recording studio with framed artwork on the wall.

Creates ‘An Eventful Life’ podcast with Shane Buzza, becoming the leading podcast for sharing the unique stories, journeys and insights of prominent event industry leaders from across the world.

2024

Logo with the words 'brad cocks' in bold white letters, surrounded by blue brackets on a black background.

Merges XPRNC and Events Masterclass under personal brand name, ‘Brad Cocks’ to provide unified speaking, workshops and mentorship to organisations globally.

“Brad is a visionary. He is an exceptional professional who can deliver the extremely difficult elements to culminate in amazing event experiences. Brad is meticulous, thoughtful, innovative and professional.”

-Jodie L.