The Confident Dentist’s introduction to Sydney.
How the trip came about:
When CareStack brought its Inner Circle summit to Australia for 2026, they wanted someone who could get to the heart of why patients say yes to treatment, and why they don’t. I’ve worked with CareStack several times across their UK and US events, so when James Mani asked me to fly out to Sydney, I didn’t need asking twice.
The scale of it was something else. Two hundred practice owners and dental leaders packed into Doltone House on Jones Bay Wharf, a restored heritage venue looking straight out at the Harbour Bridge, and the event sold out. I was sharing the programme with keynote speaker Mark Bouris, Abhi Krishna (CareStack’s co-founder and CEO) and Pacific Smiles co-founder Dr Alex Abrahams. Not bad for a dentist from the Wirral.
What I spoke about:
The summit was built around three phases of growth: Ready, Steady, Scale. My 45-minute workshop, “From Conversation to Conversion”, sat right in the middle, and my argument was simple. You can’t scale a practice on inconsistent conversations. Growth depends on every clinician being able to explain treatment in a way that lands with the patient in front of them, not just the ones who happen to think like we do.
How the talk was received:
I’ve done a lot of talks, but I don’t take it for granted when people queue up afterwards. Several came over to say thank you, ask about The Linchpin and The Mastermind, and book calls for when I got home. The real measure came a little later, when James Mani invited me back for 2027. And this time it isn’t a 45-minute slot. It’s an entire day. Bring it on.
Why I fell in love with Sydney:
I was lucky enough to have my daughter with me, helping me build my profile with an Australian audience. It also meant that, with six free days around the work, we could properly explore. We spent the first three days on foot, clocking up 35,000 steps a day around the Opera House, Barangaroo, Hyde Park, the Botanic Gardens and plenty more. On our third night, we climbed all 1,332 steps to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, in the rain, grinning like idiots. It’s an experience neither of us will forget.
We’d also timed it perfectly for Vivid Sydney, the city’s 23-night festival of light, music, ideas and food. Seeing the Opera House sails lit up in colour is something I’ll carry with me for a long time. After the two days of work, we had three more to explore. We took the ferry to Manly and walked the coastal path from Coogee to Bondi. We even tried to kayak the harbour, but the 4am fog had other ideas, so that one’s on the list for next time.
Sydney has a place in both our hearts now. My next mission is to bring my wife and all four kids to one of my favourite cities in the world.
What I Believe
