Collective Wisdom

Prominent Australians Share Their Stories

By: Brett Kelly

Narrated by: Steve Knupp

Author’s Official Edition

Collective Wisdom is an inspiring collection of thirty-four interviews with prominent Australians — including H.G Nelson, Poppy King, Hon. Jeff Kennett, Ray Martin, Peter Garrett, Senator Natasha Stott Despoja and more — conducted by then twenty-two-year-old Brett Kelly, now the founder and CEO of Kelly+Partners, the publicly traded global accounting network.

This book emerged after Brett was told as a young man, “We’ve decided to terminate your employment.” Losing his job was a wake-up call that he turned into an opportunity to find his way and forge a new path. He reached out to renowned Australians, asking them to participate in a book he would share with other young people, then he funded the release of the book on his own. Within one year, Brett went from unemployed to bestselling author, appearing on national television and doing professional speaking engagements all over Australia — sharing the incredible insights he learned sitting at the feet of these giants in their fields.

Including:

• Who has had the single most profound influence on them?

• What are the most critical issues for Australia in the next decade?

• What is the motto that summarizes their approach to life?

• Is there is an acceptable level of unemployment?

• What are the things the nation could work hard to improve at?

This is the first book in Brett’s Wisdom Series. Following its release, Brett decided to write a new book on wisdom every seven years, reflecting on what he has learned through interviews with other prominent experts in their fields:

1998: Collective Wisdom

2005: Universal Wisdom

2012: Business Wisdom

2019: Investment Wisdom

Collective Wisdom, the book that started it all, uncovers the personal experiences and views from some of Australia’s leading achievers. It offers unprecedented access to the hearts and souls of people who excel across the spectrum of human endeavor from sport, the arts, politics and business.

©2026 Brett Kelly (P)2026 Clown Publishing