Meet Irvine Nugent, CSP
Keynote Speaker on Conflict & Emotional Intelligence
About Irvine
Dr. Irvine Nugent, CSP, is an internationally recognized keynote speaker who helps leaders navigate conflict without losing clarity, confidence, or connection.
As the co-founder of Conflict EQ™, Irvine equips organizations with the capacity to stay grounded and constructive when tension rises—especially when pressure is high and stakes are real.
Drawing on 15+ years of senior leadership experience, doctoral research on leadership and conflict, and deep expertise in emotional intelligence, Irvine delivers high-impact keynotes that move beyond inspiration into lasting leadership change.
From Growing Up in Conflict to Leading Through It
Born in Northern Ireland during a time of violent division, Irvine grew up witnessing firsthand what happens when communication breaks down and people lose the ability to engage difference constructively.
For years, he avoided conflict himself.
But in senior leadership roles, he realized something profound:
conflict is not a leadership failure — it is a condition of leadership.
Wherever people care, disagree, or hold different perspectives, tension will arise.
The real differentiator is not whether conflict exists.
It’s how leaders respond when it does.
That insight became the foundation of Conflict EQ™ — a framework designed to help leaders remain grounded, clear, and constructive under pressure.
What Makes Irvine Different
Irvine brings together research-based insight, practical leadership tools, compelling storytelling, and real-world executive experience. His work bridges theory and application — helping leaders understand not only why tension escalates, but how to respond differently in the moment.
As one of a small global community certified in the Facial Action Coding System (FACS), Irvine has rare expertise in reading emotional signals and the subtle dynamics that shape difficult conversations. This depth allows him to help leaders see what often goes unspoken — and respond with clarity rather than reaction.
His keynotes are engaging, thoughtful, and immediately applicable — giving leaders language and tools they can use the very next day.
What Audiences Gain
Audiences leave with:
• Greater clarity under stress
• Increased confidence in difficult conversations
• Practical tools for engaging tension constructively
• Shared language that strengthens team performance
Irvine’s sessions resonate because they address what leaders are already experiencing — pressure, misalignment, avoided conversations, and rising expectations — and offer a framework for responding with steadiness and intention.
Credentials & Experience
Dr. Irvine Nugent is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), co-founder of Conflict EQ™, and holds a Ph.D. focused on leadership and conflict. He is a certified mediator, conflict coach, and one of a select global group trained in the Facial Action Coding System (FACS).
He is also the author of Leadership Lessons from the Pub.
Irvine has delivered keynotes and leadership programs for organizations including Aledade, the National Science Foundation, Lockheed Martin, Kaiser Permanente, Bristol Myers Squibb and many others.
Let’s Create an Experience That Lasts
If your leaders are navigating complexity, pressure, and difficult conversations, Irvine delivers more than a talk.
He builds the capacity that changes how leaders show up — in the room and long after the event ends.