Nik & Harry Robinson
From 2,503 Failures to the World Stage, Co-Founders & Sustainability Entrepreneurs
Imagine going into business with your eight-year-old and giving him equal decision-making power. That’s exactly what Nik and Harry Robinson did when they co founded Good Citizens Eye-wear, now Australia’s most awarded eyewear brand. Their keynote is an entertaining, honest story about perseverance, failure and learning to see problems differently when progress feels slow. Expect humour, real moments and a reminder that good ideas don’t succeed because they’re perfect, they succeed because people don’t give up on them.
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Nik and Harry (now 14) Robinson are two-time TEDx speakers and the father and son co founders of Australia’s most awarded eyewear brand, Good Citizens Eyewear. Driven by a shared purpose to untrash the planet®, they turned a family experiment into a globally recognised business by transforming waste into beautifully designed, functional products.
Their journey began at the kitchen table and took 752 days and 2,503 failed attempts to succeed. Along the way, they built an unconventional leadership model, with kids holding real decision-making power, proving that fresh perspectives and bold ideas can come from unexpected places.
Nik and Harry deliver powerful, highly engaging keynotes that explore perseverance, failure and rethinking what’s possible when progress feels slow. Their story has been shared across two TEDx stages, including TEDx Melbourne and the TEDx Global Idea Search in Sydney, and with organisations including Google, Tesla and the United Nations. The Good Citizens story has also been featured internationally, including a dedicated window at Selfridges London alongside Prada and coverage in Forbes US.
Known for their warmth, honesty and strong on-stage connection, Nik and Harry leave audiences energised, more connected and more confident taking the next step forward together.
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Topics
These topics are woven throughout The Good Citizens Story and can be dialled up or down depending on audience, industry and event objectives.
The Good Citizens Story
Perseverance, failure and rethinking what’s possible
A true story of taking an impossible idea and making it work after 752 days and 2,503 failed attempts. Nik and Harry share what perseverance really looks like when progress is slow, confidence dips and quitting feels logical. A human, entertaining keynote about sticking with good ideas long enough to give them a chance.
Innovation & Transformation
Seeing problems differently to unlock better solutions
Small shifts in thinking can lead to big breakthroughs. Through real examples from building Good Citizens Eyewear, Nik and Harry show why innovation rarely comes from perfect plans and more often comes from curiosity, experimentation and the willingness to rethink how things are done.
Empathetic Employment
How the right processes unlock real capability
A practical look at inclusive employment done properly. Nik and Harry share how people with severe disabilities are part of their team, doing real work and contributing meaningfully because the right systems are in place. A powerful reminder that when processes are designed well, people thrive and organisations become more connected.
The Three Ps Framework
Purpose, Progress and Perspective
A simple framework for helping good ideas survive repeated failure. The Three Ps give teams a shared language for navigating uncertainty, maintaining momentum and making better decisions when outcomes aren’t immediate. This framework has been shaped through lived experience and two TEDx talks, and is designed to be practical, not theoretical.
