Craig McRae

Craig McRae – Speaker Bio

Craig McRae is an elite leader in Australian sport — a three-time AFL premiership player and premiership-winning senior coach of the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Widely respected for his communication, culture-building and people-first leadership, McRae has transformed one of Australia’s biggest sporting clubs into a powerhouse of belief, connection and performance.

Originally from Adelaide, McRae enjoyed a distinguished playing career with the Brisbane Bears/Lions, featuring in three consecutive AFL premierships (2001–2003) and representing both South Australia and Australia in elite representative football.

After retiring, he moved into coaching and spent more than a decade shaping football programs and developing talent at multiple clubs, including Richmond (where he coached a VFL premiership side) and Collingwood before his appointment as senior coach in 2022.

Under McRae’s leadership, Collingwood rose rapidly, making finals in 2022 and capturing the 2023 AFL Premiership — the club’s 16th — driven by his commitment to culture, resilience, adaptability and collective excellence.

As a speaker, Craig brings powerful insights from elite sport into leadership, team culture, performance under pressure, resilience, and building winning environments. His engaging style blends humility, practical experience and strategic thinking, making him a compelling voice for organisations seeking inspiration and actionable lessons on leading with purpose and passion.