PUBLIC SPEAKING & MOTIVATION: THE BEGINNING  - BIOGRAPHY From homeland ARGENTINA, where he played (the real football), baseball, basketball and volleyball in high school, to learning rugby at age 19 while juggling his Psychology degree, becoming a father at 22 and having no option but to work to sustain the family, studies were deferred (for 36 years!) AGENT OF CHANGE. Uprooting a family and travelling for days to a distant country that had a different language and culture is not something you would contemplate doing every year. In 1984 that's exactly what Topo and his family did. Arriving to Sydney with his wife and two kids in March 1984, played rugby with Warringah Rugby Club and discovered that Pandora's box was full of surprises. After eight weeks he represented NSW and one week later he was on tour to Fiji with the Wallabies playing his first test for the newly adopted Australia, still flabbergasted by all these novelties. Playing under oppressive heat and humidity in Suva, Topo soon found himself at half-time motivating and pep-talking the younger players suffering from the extreme conditions, so he became the veteran of 16 tests, he had no time to feel sorry for himself! Again the Agent of Change! Later on a full 3 test series vs. the All Blacks very narrowly lost the series at home. During the 1984 Grand Slam tour, the 8th Wallabies had a very successful tour of UK and Ireland. Again one of the turning points of the tour, in the middle of the pushover try vs. Wales and obtaining the Grand Slam after beating Scotland. Here, Topo was surrounded by "Agents of Change"! On return, Australians all over the country wanted a Wallaby as guest speaker for all sorts of functions and this is how Topo and many other team members were initiated in this noble art of public speaking. It was a matter of "sink or swim"; he will tell you this story and many more. Many corporate luncheons, golf days, father & son nights at schools, and many charity organisations searched long and wide to secure one of the "Grand Slam Wallabies" as a "draw card". We harangued and motivated thousands of rugby people, as Agents of Change! In 1986 the Wallabies toured New Zealand for 8 weeks and won the Bledisloe Cup after a 37 year gap. Anyone who watched that match will never forget Topo's memorable tackle that stopped Hika Reid on the try line and drove him two metres back. This has become one of the true legendary moments of Australian Rugby, and another "Agent of Change" moment. Topo is a strong believer in "mind over matter" and professes that this is one of the main ingredients for success in his life (and others' too) "We are all born with THE POWER OF OUR MIND, and we can achieve anything we want by applying this power and the necessary time and energy to our pursuits" (a bit like in rugby: use it or lose it!) A devotee of positive thinking, positive habits and positive work he preaches and explains how to apply "mindfulness" to this simple yet very effective formula of: PLANNING -  PREPARATION  -  DEDICATION  Topo's 25 years working as an international bilingual speaker (English or Spanish) has given him great exposure to a variety of audiences, public and charity functions, radio and TV interviews throughout Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Brazil, UK and Argentina. AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW - AUGUST 2010 click here to review the article SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - MARCH 2010     click here for presentation SYDNEY, JUNE 2009 - Mental Health & Risk Management in Sports click here for presentation These unique experiences combined with his personal touch has placed Topo in a privileged position to offer his SERVICES and SOLUTIONS, assisting greatly those that hire him. Every step and experience in Topo's life has led him to be that Agent of Change, now able to help you, other individuals and the corporate world by sharing his knowledge, ideas and above all, his passion for life. So, whether you need: • A Keynote Speaker for your Executives, Staff or Customers? • A Life Coach for your team of Executives, Staff, etc.? • A Motivational Speaker? • A Master of Ceremonies? • Or a Presenter? You will get it all in one packaged proposition! For an obligation free quote to assist your needs, please see contact details below E: info@toporodriguez.com - Ph: +61 412 403 304 - Fx: +61 (2) 8116 3111 - PO Box 4131, Carlton NSW 2218 Australia