“Andrew gives me a new way of looking at the world and
possibilities. This gives me hope
for the future.”
- Nancy U., Whole Village, Caledon
- Seniors College Association of Nova Scotia
“A brilliant interactive presentation. Thank you so very much Andrew! Please record the next presentation so it can be shared widely! We need you and your forward thinking/dose of positivity/hope!”
- Michčle M., CFUW Headwaters
“Andrew is an engaging and dynamic speaker. His presentation enables one to look at our value system in a totally different light.”
- Linda H., Flower City Ladies Probus
“Andrew Welch is an excellent speaker. He has fascinating content and he presents so well – visual and voice.”
- Member, Seniors College Association of Nova Scotia
Speaking Engagements
Andrew Welch is a dynamic and engaging speaker, and can be booked to present ideas from The Value Crisis or Our Second Chance to any size audience. Every speaking engagement that he undertakes is crafted specifically to meet client needs in terms of length, style, and even theme. In past engagements he has presented to business leaders, conferences, service clubs, congregations, activist groups, book clubs, extended learning organizations, and political groups.
Some sample topics are available from the following list:
View a full sample 70-minute presentation
Contact us to request a speaker booking!
Upcoming Engagements
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Understanding the Cause of Anthropogenic Planetary Change
Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) - Orangeville As Earth Day 2024 approaches, we know that an overwhelming segment of the global population now accept that our Climate Emergency and other symptoms of ecological overshoot are having monumental consequences. Those who wisely fear those impacts are the ones calling for immediate action. However, finding effective solutions means first grasping the cause of our dilemma. This month's speaker boldly suggests that the excessive burning of fossil fuels, for example, is just a "what" - a symptom of a deeper "why". Our failure to fully understand *why* we do what we do goes a long way to explain why the global response to anthropogenic (human-caused) planetary change has, for so long, been too little, too late. Earth Day has a special history for Andrew Welch. In 2009, he teamed up with Margaret Atwood and Paul Kennedy to create two years of Earth Day Payback - multiple evenings of star-studded readings and music. These days, he is a popular and engaging speaker on human values, ecological economics, and the true nature of current societal value systems. He consistently presents a fresh perspective on his material, making complex ideas accessible to his audiences. |
Past Engagements
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The behavioural crisis driving ecological overshoot
Canadian Assoc. for the Club of Rome (CACOR) In September, 2023, New Zealand's Merz Institute published a peer-reviewed paper that sparked significant interest in the world of ecological economics. Given the similarities betwwen the core concept of the paper and Andrew Welch's own pivotal thesis, he was invited to speak to the Values Committee of the Canadian Assoc. for the Club of Rome (CACOR) about the paper and its implications. Being a hybrid presentation, the talk was recorded on Zoom. Unfortunately, due to technical limitations at the venue, the sound quality is not the best, but you can hear Andrew's portion quite well, starting at 09:30, and running to 35:30. |
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Valuation Time – Applying Valuable Lessons
West Hill United Church Andrew Welch is back to give his third perspective in the 3-part series on human values and how that relates to our VisionWorks and the challenges of humanity in general. In this sometimes radical wrap-up, he takes the content of the previous two perspectives to the streets to see how it might inform our actions for the real world. We are facing an unprecedented crisis, and many say that civilization is on the line. Andrew's conclusions are unexpected and thought-provoking, as always. |
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Value Polarities – Making Vision Values Visible
West Hill United Church Andrew Welch is returning to give his second perspective in a 3-part series on human values and how that relates to our VisionWorks and the challenges of humanity in general. He is very excited to share his ground-breaking discovery on making qualitative values (such as justice, compassion, and spirituality) more accessible to rational study and thought. This theory has great potential for helping us to manage our own inner conflicts, as well as seeing our connection to the natural world (which fully embodies the polarity principle to sustain growth and sufficiency). Be prepared to see everything in a whole new way! |
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Our Value Personae - A New Take on VisionWorks and Us
West Hill United Church West Hill's guiding document is called "VisionWorks 2021". That document says a lot about who we are as a congregation. But what does it tell us about the decisions that we make in our daily lives? It articulates what we do, but what does it tell us about why? We invited thought-leader Andrew Welch to share his answers to those questions, using a unique human value systems framework. The result is a perspective that promises to be thought-provoking and a challenge to our perceptions. |
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Our Second Chance
Women's Probus Club of Brampton Centre Two and a half years of being unable to gather in person. A world of normal turned completely upside down by the necessities of a healthcare crisis. What's next? For our first in-person gathering since March of 2020, we turn to a thought leader offering profound hope for the future - someone who can start us off with a renewed vision and real reasons for optimism. The CoViD-19 lockdown has been hard on our communities. We also know that for many of us it has been a giant pause - an unexpected chance to step back and re-evaluate what's important in our lives. Andrew Welch has been writing about human values for almost 20 years. His latest book, "Our Second Chance", is a sequel to the popular work that first introduced us to his new framework for understanding some of humanity's greatest challenges: "The Value Crisis". On September 20, he will share with us some powerful and proven strategies for applying that framework to a paradigm shift for a better world, both for our personal lives and for our society. In recent years it may have felt like we were completely off the rails, but considering where we were headed, perhaps we just need to see this as an opportunity to change course! |
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New Views on Value and Qualitative Economics
Canadian Assoc. for the Club of Rome (CACOR) The amount of intellect and information represented by CACOR and its guest speakers is
huge. Are the problems that we wrestle with really so intractable? Or are
some of the answers hiding in plain sight? Basing this talk on a substantial review
of the content of 150 CACOR talks online and the recorded discussions they inspired,
Andrew believes that the truth is out there. He will introduce his unique values
framework, with the following objectives: |
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The Value of Conflict is in the Conflict in Values
Canadian Assoc. for the Club of Rome (CACOR) Andrew has been invited to join the CACOR Values Committee and is extremely honoured to be the opening speaker for his very first discussion event with them. The topic chosen was simply "Conflict", and he will be presenting a provocative six-and-a-half-minute intervention to kick-off the discussion. Members will be treated to what in Andrew's estimation is his most significant contribution to the field of ecological economics. He will be presenting his unique perspective on graphing and managing qualitative values using a polarity approach. He's excited to accept this challenge and looking forward to an engaging discussion to follow. |
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Roadmap to a Better World -
appreciating our second chance
Orangeville Public Library Seven years ago in his first book “The Value Crisis”, Andrew Welch proposed a different way of framing (and thereby understanding the causes of) some of humanity’s greatest challenges. His unique paradigm shift has led to the next obvious question: “What do we do now?” In his latest book “Our Second Chance”, he demonstrates that realistic and proven solutions are out there, waiting for the right moment. Now, more than ever, we are indeed approaching that crossroads where we are reevaluating what’s important. Suddenly those lessons and actions from history are more relevant, more realistic, and more achievable. It’s time to discover what they are and what we can do right now, because our second chance might just be our last chance. |
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"Our Second Chance" Book Launch
Alton Mill Arts Centre Author Andrew Welch launches his latest work about New Beginnings: "Our Second Chance" - the solution-packed sequel to "The Value Crisis". Come delight the mind as well as the eyes with this engaging teaser. This event is part of the Alton Mill Arts Centre's "Spring Thaw - New Beginnings" Open House. |
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"Earth Week - WIIFM?"
Orangeville Public LibraryDid you know that a major part of our Town's Sustainable Orangeville Committee mandate is to "improve the quality of life for residents"? Sometimes it's hard to connect efforts for the environment to our own happiness. Andrew Welch is a local speaker and writer on value economics. Seven years ago, his ground-breaking book "The Value Crisis" gave us a new way to look at that challenge, and new answers began to emerge. Come connect the dots and find out how sustainability actually translates into more joy for you. Are you asking yourself: "Earth Week - What's In It For ME?" Be prepared for some great news. |
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"Taking it Beyond the Village"
Whole Village For many years, we've practiced sustainability, enjoyed a supportive healthy community, and done our best to reach out to the people around us to foster similar ideals. But humanity has been on a suicidal path for a long time, and the problems are accelerating. What to do? Andrew Welch proposes that reframing the way we think about values is at the first step of solving this dilemma, and the solutions are out there. Many of them already have fans, some of them are fantastic, and a few of them seem fantastical – but they have all been shown to actually work in the real world! Still, it seemed that waiting for the global disaster was the only way that true change was going to happen. Enter the climate emergency, the COVID-19 global pandemic, and war in Ukraine. Suddenly the far-out value-rebalancing explorations in Andrew’s works are a lot closer to home, more relevant, more realistic, and more achievable. |
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"Radical Ideas - A New Dawning"
- May 2021 (43:49)
The third in the exciting three-part series by The Sill Podcast, introducing Andrew Welch's long-awaited sequel to The Value Crisis. How do we make all that we've talked about actually happen? You'll be amazed to hear what's proposed - and even more astounded to know that these concepts have been tried before (and they worked!) Teaser: We're going below zero... |
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The Sill - Podcast
"What is a Life Worth?" podcast episodeAn hour-long podcast hosted by Peter Noce and Harry Posner. Andrew Welch is featured around 29 minutes in. |
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Aligning Our Resilience Strategies to the Big Picture
Guelph Resilience FestivalWe all know that change begins at the grassroots. Most of this festival's attendees are already willing converts to a new world order. And yet which new world order is it to be? The last few years have seen a gradual convergence on what that big picture might involve. Andrew Welch, author of "The Value Crisis", opens an entirely new and provocative discussion on what resilience strategies might best suit and accelerate that desired outcome. Some of his proposals may shock you, but the ensuing debate is sure to get you rethinking your approach to the future. Andrew is thrilled to be invited back to the Guelph Resilience Festival! Please join us for this brief, shake-up presentation and discussion to follow. See the Festival event page for more information |
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"The Value Crisis" - April 2020 (26:31)
One of the earliest episodes of The Sill Podcast, which was devoted to The Value Crisis. This half-hour podcast, hosted by Peter Noce and Harry Posner, is perhaps the best introduction that you will find anywhere to the basic thesis of Andrew Welch's writing and research. Not to be missed! |
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The Value Crisis - An Exploration of Today's Value Systems
Transition Bay St. Margaret's,Are you concerned about the decisions being made in your community, province, or country? Perhaps you can't understand why some people are so opposed to the things you believe are important. At last, a presentation that can open up a valuable discussion on your terms, not preaching someone else's! The greatest challenges facing society today boil down to conflicts in values. However, Andrew Welch believes that we all share the same values, and that what appears as conflict between human values is actually something quite different. In this ground-breaking presentation, he shares a new perspective on the role of values in our lives and in our society. You will experience a paradigm shift with wide-ranging implications, from a new understanding of frustration with the actions others, to realizations of how we might change our own lives for the better. No matter what point you occupy on the political spectrum, this talk will resonate with your beliefs and open up a whole new way of thinking about what you do every day and the world around you. See the Facebook event page for more information |
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Rethinking Tomorrow's Values
- A new way to view yesterday's values in the context of today's world
PROBUS - Mississauga Centre,Climate change, cultural diversity, work/life balance, social inequity, electoral reform - all these challenges have a common thread that might surprise you, according to Andrew Welch, author of The Value Crisis. His unique perspective on numbers and how we measure value offers a subtle but powerful explanation for our accelerating self-destructive behaviours, and what the solutions for the next generation might entail. View the entire 70-minute presentation (One of the best Andrew has done!) |
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Rethinking Tomorrow's Values - A new way to view yesterday's values in the context of
today's world
Seniors College Association of Nova Scotia,Climate change, cultural diversity, work/life balance, social inequity, electoral reform - all these challenges have a common thread that might surprise you, according to Andrew Welch, author of The Value Crisis. His unique perspective on numbers and how we measure value offers a subtle but powerful explanation for our accelerating self-destructive behaviours, and what the solutions for the next generation might entail. Read the testimonial from this organization See the poster for more information |
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Exploring the Value Crisis
Caledon Public Library Discussion Series,A very special book club was created at the request of readers to explore The Value Crisis one chapter per evening. This free series takes place every second Tuesday (7pm-8:30) at the Alton Branch and is open to all. Read the brochure or click here to learn more. |
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When Spirituality Meets Numeric Values
Quest Learning Centre for Religious LiteracyReligions are often characterized by their value systems. Of course, the world's major religions are thousands of years old. As times change, our understanding of how to interpret and apply the core values of religious doctrine can change too, but the core values usually remain constant. However, in the last 500 years we have seen a rapid change in societal values towards those that can be measured by number. The foundations of our decision-making as individuals, as communities, and as nations have evolved to be near-exclusively quantitative. What does this mean for society and for the relevance of the qualitative values of spirituality in our future? Can they co-exist or is religion being pushed to the side as a diminished force? Or, on the contrary, given our slow awakening to the consequences of number-based value dominance, will we see a resurgence in traditional values and possibly an increased de-secularization of society? Andrew Welch has created a new framework for exploring value systems that gives us a fresh perspective on how these incongruous value systems interact. Looking forward, he invites us to revisit how we manage our own lives and to rethink the role of both government and religion in the face of our current Value Crisis. |
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Town Crying in the Modern Age
Flower City Mixed PROBUS ClubAs the Official Town Crier for the Towns of Caledon and Erin, Ontario, Andrew Welch carries on a surprisingly significant and important role for those communities. |
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The Value Crisis – Exploring four things that keep us from action
Extended Learning Opportunities |
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Challenging Assumptions - a Paradigm Shift for the 21st Century
Westminster Men's ClubPlagues and other global pandemics, industrial revolutions, and two world wars - we have survived massive sweeping changes before. Sometimes we got it right, sometimes we were wrong. So why should this time be any different? In this fascinating introduction to The Value Crisis, Andrew Welch identifies the one core assumption we make that underpins our new world and threatens our very survival as a species. Hear his unique take on the triggers of climate change, economic collapse, and energy crises, and prepare to have some personal value assumptions challenged. |
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Alternative Energy and Experiential Learning
Cloverleaf FoundationEvery year, the Cloverleaf Foundation, a private family charity, selects project themes and then accepts grant applications from groups and individuals making a significant difference in the selected sectors. Before allocating tens of thousands of dollars to grants in alternative energy and experiential learning, the foundation asked Andrew Welch to speak to its directors about the values that should take precedence in their decision-making. |
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Humber College, Political Process course,
Guest lecturer, 23 September, 2015 Andrew was invited by full-time faculty member Brenda Elias, PhD, to speak to her second year Social Services students about The Value Crisis. The objective was to relate the concepts expressed in the book to both social work, Canada's political process, and various current issues. |
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Four Steps to Changing Our Measure of Success Wednesday, June 17, 2015, Andrew Welch speaks to Orangeville Rotary Club, Orangeville, Ontario Why do some of humanity’s greatest challenges seem to be approaching a tipping point? Is society’s evolution going to affect us as well, or perhaps are we even driving it? Local author Andrew Welch will share some key insights from his new book The Value Crisis, which explores our economic, environmental, and social challenges from a uniquely new perspective. Be prepared for an engaging half-hour in which he will present a redefinition of success in four steps, both for ourselves and for our society. The good news: service clubs like Rotary are already partway there! |
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An Evening with Andrew Welch, Author of "The Value Crisis" Wednesday, May 27, 2015, Alton Library, 35 Station St., Alton, Ontario The Value Crisis – Four things that keep us from action Climate change, energy crisis, economic meltdown – we all know what disasters seem to be unavoidably lurking in our future. Local resilience is a good start as a protective measure, but why don’t we do more? What is holding back our governments? Why are so many of us unable to take real effective action against these looming crises? Andrew Welch presents a new theory, based on his recently published book, that offers answers to these questions: four reasons why things aren’t happening that should be – and what we can do to change that. Hosted by the Liberal Women of Dufferin-Caledon |
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Andrew Welch to speak at "This Changes Everything" Saturday, April 11, 2015, Alton Mill Arts Centre, Alton, Ontario The OTHER Connection Between Art and Climate Change The ulitmate scope, intensity, and devastating effects of climate change are impossible for us to grasp. We want to do something but we don't know what, or we feel powerless, or we are simply insufficiently motivated to act against what we can't imagine. So we turn to artists to attempt to give us visual clues and to trigger visceral responses. That's what this exhibit is about. But there is another connection between art and climate change - a concept that just might explain why the effects of climate change are beyond our grasp, why we feel powerless, why we are unmotivated to react, and indeed why we are inducing climate change in the first place. This brief presentation will give you a glimpse into what that concept might be - an understanding that just might change everything. Get more details |
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Andrew Welch to speak at Guelph Resilience Festival Saturday, March 28, 2015 (2-4pm), St. Georges Church, Guelph, Ontario The Value Crisis – Four things that keep us from action Climate change, energy crisis, economic meltdown – we all know what disasters seem to be unavoidably lurking in our future. Local resilience is a good start as a protective measure, but why don’t we do more? What is holding back our governments? Why are so many of us unable to take real effective action against these looming crises? Andrew Welch presents a new theory, based on his recently published book, that offers answers to these questions: four reasons why things aren’t happening that should be – and what we can do to change that, thereby unleashing our awesome problem-solving powers. Read the resulting front page news story |
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Andrew Welch to speak to Caledon Green T Environmental Awareness Wednesday, May 21, 2011, Palgrave United Church, Palgrave, Ontario Climate change, environmental challenges, financial crisis - we seem to be lurching further and further down a path of species self-destruction at an ever-accelerating rate. Green T regulars all recognize this while often throwing up their hands in frustration. Why? What are we doing wrong? Or are the green minority the ones that don't get it? Andrew Welch, Green T board member, local author, and polymath, has some excitingly fresh perspectives to share about how we have evolved to this point. For the last few years he has researched and written about values and their impact on the human experience, and you might be surprised by the provocative answers he has discovered. Rather than pointing the finger at bad humans or greedy corporations, Andrew questions the role of a most unexpected concept - one with power that we thought was on our side. His talk is certain to appeal to the 'non-greens' as well, so tonight is the night to bring a first-time guest! The evening promises to be a fascinating and thought-provoking exploration into value systems, money, scientific thought, politics, and more. |
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First it was Earth Hour,
now Earth Day is upon us Caledon Enterprise, April 15, 2010 Forty years ago this month, humanity celebrated the very first Earth Day. It was, for most of us, the dawning on our consciousness of the connection between the two – Earth and the human species. Read article |
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Andrew Welch to speak to the Canadian Federation of University of Women Wednesday, October 21, 2009, Westside SS Library, Orangeville, Ontario Climate change, environmental challenges, financial crisis - we seem to be lurching further and further down a path of species self-destruction at an ever-accelerating rate. WHY? Andrew Welch, local author and polymath, has some interesting new theories about how we have evolved to this point. Rather than pointing the finger at 'bad humans' or greedy corporations, Andrew questions the role of a concept that we all now take for granted: numbers. The evening promises to be a fascinating and thought-provoking exploration into value systems, money, scientific thought, and more. Andrew has written a book on the topic, The Value Crisis, which may prompt more questions than answers, but like Marcel Proust, he believes that the reader's own wisdom begins where that of the author ends. |
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Atwood readings
and entertainment at Claude church will mark Earth Day Caledon Enterprise, April 17, 2009 Earth Day 2009 (imagine a drum roll here and a cymbal crash). We could just let it go by like any other of the 364 days OR we could, with our families, make it memorable and meaningful. And without much planning or effort on our part. April 22, international Earth Day, will be marked in Caledon this year in a unique manner, thanks to the imagination and commitment of Caledon author and performer, Andrew Welch. Read article |