Daniel Merza is an award-winning international speaker, edutainer, and author – inspiring schools worldwide with powerful stories and actionable strategies through his signature Get the Monkeys Off Your Back® framework. His high-energy sessions equip students to thrive, empower teachers, and leave lasting impact – all delivered in an entertaining, relatable, and transformative way.
Choose your ideal session(s) for your students, staff, or parents
Experience the Energy – Daniel in Action
Watch how Daniel energises rooms, inspires action, and drives results for audiences worldwide.
“Wow, what a presentation. Very inspirational. Relevant for both teens and adults. Daniel kept 400 Year 12 students fully engaged for two hours during his Leader of Your Life session. Unlike other talks that just talk, Daniel brought an action-oriented focus, showing them what can be done to get the monkeys off their back. Hard to top.”
– Knox Grammar School
An Award-Winning International Speaker & Edutainer
Daniel is an award-winning motivational speaker in sydney, edutainer, transformational coach, and author, specialising in wellbeing and leadership.
Creator of ‘Get the Monkeys Off Your Back®’, he energises, empowers and equips audiences with practical tools to thrive – blending entertainment and empowerment with evidence-based strategies to create real transformation.
He has been featured on radio and media outlets, and his work has also been acknowledged in NSW Parliament.
Daniel is an accredited Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), an international designation that recognises the experience and professional capability of Australia’s leading speakers.
Daniel’s mission is to impact 5M globally, liberating and getting monkeys off backs.
Daniel lives in Sydney with his wife and daughter.
“An amazing show – inspiring, entertaining and packed with practical takeaways. Highly recommended.”
– Nexus International School, Malaysia
Trusted by Leading Schools
“Amazing. I have never seen our whole school sit so engaged for over an hour.”
– Principal, Narooma High School, NSW
Why Schools Choose Daniel Merza
Students Empowered
Students learn how to become the leader of their lives, beat bullying and achieve thriving wellbeing.
Parents Informed
Parents will leave with the ability to take immediate action to instill tenacity, optimism and empowerment in their child.
Educators Supported
Supporting the personal wellbeing of educators, and their ability and capacity to support and enable students to thrive.
“Your presentation completely changed how I see myself and the world. You helped me recognise the monkeys holding me back, gave me the courage to let them go, and for the first time I feel like I can finally breathe again. You changed my life for the better.”
– Student
What Educators & Students are saying
“Thank you so much for coming. It’s definitely given me a lot to think about and inspired me. As someone who struggles with a lot of monkeys, hearing this talk has also given me a lot of relief.”
Student
Year 10 student
“Daniel really hit the spot with our staff, getting the monkeys off not only their kids back, but their own”
Manning Valley Anglican College, NSW, Australia
Deputy Principal
“We had a steady stream of students afterwards that just wanted to tell Daniel how inspiring that was, how motivated they now feel. Highly recommend it. It was very valuable for our students”
Safa Community School, Dubai, UAE
Wellbeing & Pastoral Care Coordinator
“I’ve had some great feedback from the teachers who saw your presentation to our Year 7 girls, so thank you. The resources are very helpful too”
Monte Saint Angelo Mercy College, NSW, Australia
Year 7 coordinator
“The feedback from the student leaders was extremely positive. I don’t think I have ever seen such positive data before.”
Newington College
Dean of Students
“I had a really stressful and bad year and what you said really motivated me. I think my biggest monkey is ENZO. After your presentation, I feel lighter and I feel more confident in myself to do things. I loved your story and you really inspired me.”
American Academy for Girls, Dubai, UAE
Student
“A while ago, you spoke at the Patrician leadership retreat. What you said that day has had a lasting impact on me, especially the ‘get the monkeys off your back’ message. I’m confident that many other boys from Holy Cross College feel the same.”
Holy Cross College, NSW, Australia
Student leader
“It was really impactful. I’ve never seen our students so engaged, listening, and interacting. They were on the edge of their seats”
Raha International School, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Head of Secondary
“It was the most amazing thing. I’ve never seen our whole school sit so engaged for over an hour.”
Narooma High School, NSW
School Principal
“You came to my school today and I just wanted to say thank you. I had a really stressful and overall bad year last year. I really needed to hear what you said. My brain hasn’t been able to keep up with everything and I need to get those damn monkeys off my back so bad. Because of your speech, I can finally figure out a way to breathe. Thank you so much.”
Narooma High School, NSW
Year 11 Student
“I just want to say a huge thank you for doing what you do. I’m going through some bullying at the moment and your talk really helped give me another perspective. I also hope that the bullies were touched by your words just as much as I was.”
St Michael’s College, Adelaide
Year 8 Student
“Our students got a huge amount out of it. Highly recommend.”
Wesley College, VIC
Head of Middle School
“I was at your presentation today at Wesley College. I just wanted to say that it was an amazing presentation and I loved it so much, and I will always remember the amazing advice you gave us. Thank you.”
Wesley College, VIC
Year 8 Student
“Just want to say thank you so much for coming today. You have really inspired me to reach my dreams.”
Georges River College (Peakhurst Campus)
Year 8 Student
“Strongly recommend Daniel Merza for any motivational session that you might want to run with your students. There were key takeaways not just for Year 12 but for the rest of their life. He was engaging and got the most out of the students. They really enjoyed it.”
One School Global, WA
Principal
“It was an honour to have you share your story with our students. All of the points you presented today resonated with each of them – no matter the major, study year or demographic. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Thank you.”
Western Sydney University
Dean of Students
“It was an honour to be one of the students who got to listen to you speak. One of the most engaging and inspiring presentations I have ever had the privilege of hearing.”
Western Sydney University
University Student
“The feedback was extremely positive.”
City Country Alliance of Schools
Organizer
“Awesome. Excellent content and clear messages not only for my child, but I took away a lot too. Would absolutely recommend it.”
Parent
“It was amazing and cleared so many questions I had. I loved the polls and Q & A”
Student
“Awesome. Loved it, especially meditation, types of fear, and that danger is real and fear is just a perspective.”
Student
“The session was quite informative and straight to the point and the biggest takeaway would be how people perceive fear with fear being a choice rather than an emotion.”
Student
“I loved the program”
Student
“My biggest takeaway was to focus on being yourself. Daniel was very good and relatable. Definitely recommend it.”
Student
“I really loved how we got to speak to Daniel Merza via Zoom, so cool.”
Student
