Australia’s largest and sunniest state plays host to a diverse and dramatic landscape, from coral reefs teeming with colourful marine life to vast red desert plains and national parks dotted with pristine beaches. It’s a treasure trove of unique gems… the world’s largest rock formation, bright pink lakes, the largest number of purebred camels in the world (!) and, of course, Quokkas – the happiest animal on earth. Just as impressive (though possibly not as adorable) are the world-class Motivational Speakers that call Perth, WA’s largest city, home.
Whether it’s a legendary Australian hockey coach, one of the AFL’s most influential figures, a former terrorism and war crimes prosecutor or an underwater cave diver, our Perth Motivational Speakers are a cut above. Passionate, captivating and thought-provoking, these 10 master storytellers are guaranteed to make a lasting impression. Let us introduce you…
Perth’s Top 10 Motivational Speakers
1. Rabia Siddique
Rabia Siddique
is a criminal and human rights lawyer, a retired British Army officer, a former terrorism and war crimes prosecutor, professional speaker, trainer and best-selling author. She also speaks multiple languages, has run several marathons, undertakes international human rights and community aid work… and manages to raise triplet boys in amongst it all! Rabia has achieved multiple honours, including a commendation from the Queen, for her human rights work in Iraq and her expert views are regularly featured in the global media. She’s also a highly accomplished speaker, last year receiving a standing ovation from an audience of 1700 for her TEDx talk ‘Courage Under Fire’. Rabia is a living example of how each one of us can be a force for positive change in our own lives and those around us, sharing her captivating story of extreme courage to inspire audiences to live with strength, integrity and humanity in the midst of their own experiences. Read more about Rabia here.
2. Dr Craig Challen OAM
When 12 boys from a Thai soccer team became dangerously trapped in a flooded cave in 2018, Dr. Craig Challen, one of Australia’s leading underwater cave and shipwreck divers, was asked to join the international rescue mission to save them. Craig worked 14-16 hour days alongside his diving partner, fellow Australian Dr Richard Harris, to help the boys to safety in a story that gripped the world (and has since been immortalised in a Hollywood movie). Craig was awarded a Star of Courage as well as the Order of Australia for service to the international community for his unwavering and selfless bravery during the successful rescue. In 2019, Craig and his diving partner were also named as the first dual Australians of the Year for their heroic efforts during the rescue mission. Craig tells his story with infectious positivity and enthusiasm, inspiring those around him to take advantage of life’s opportunities and to be ready when they arise. Read more about Craig here.
3. Ric Charlesworth
If there’s anyone more qualified than Ric Charlesworth to motivate a group to achieve their best, we’d be surprised. As former Captain of the Australian Hockey team, the State Hockey Team and the State Cricket Team, Ric (who also happens to be a qualified Doctor) spent 10 years within Federal parliament before retiring and taking on the role of National Coach of the Australian Women’s Hockey team. After 7 years at the helm, Ric took on coaching and high-performance roles with the Australian Institute of Sport, New Zealand Cricket and Indian Hockey before being appointed Coach of the Australian National Men’s team in 2008. When they won the World Cup in 2014, Ric retired to concentrate on consulting, and now shares his vast wealth of knowledge as a motivational speaker. His engaging presentations, filled with unique insight, considered advice and captivating anecdotes, are delivered with humour and enthusiasm. Guaranteed to entertain and inspire any audience, Ric is hands-down one of our most popular speakers. Read more about Ric here.
4. Dr Nikki Stamp
As a highly accomplished cardiothoracic surgeon and author of three health books, Dr Nikki Stamp is at the top of her game. A passionate advocate for women’s heart health, Nikki writes regularly for publications including The Huffington Post, The Washington Post, Mamamia and The Guardian, and has appeared on the ‘Today Show’, ‘The Daily Edition’, ‘BBC World News’, ‘Conversations with Richard Fiedler’ and ‘BBC Women’s Hour’ as well as hosting ABC’s flagship science show ‘Catalyst’. Nikki is committed to raising awareness of women’s heart disease, currently the number one killer of Australian women, and is also a strong campaigner when it comes to helping women achieve in domains traditionally dominated by men. A sought-after speaker and mentor, Nikki shares the challenges she’s faced as a woman in her field, including bullying, unhealthy workplace cultures and harassment, inspiring those around her to battle through adversity to achieve their goals. Read more about Nikki here.
5. Brant Garvey
Born without his knee and lower right limb, Brant Garvey has never let anything slow him down or stand in the way of achieving his dreams. He’s a champion athlete, having competed in an array of sports including swimming, wheelchair basketball and para-triathlons, and was the first Australian above-knee amputee to complete an Ironman Triathlon. He was also a member of the Australian para-triathlon team at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympics and has completed the Rottnest Channel Swim, a 19.7km open water swim, five times to date. Brant delivers a powerful presentation to audiences, speaking openly about his life experiences and challenges to help others develop their own toolkit so they can face their fears, overcome obstacles and chase their big dreams too. Read more about Brant here.
6. Jenn Morris
Described as ‘the best player in the world and also the most resilient’ by legendary hockey coach Ric Charlesworth, dual Olympic gold medallist Jenn Morris captained one of the most successful women’s hockey teams in history. Sidelined for more than 2 years with injury, Jenn returned to take her last bow at the Sydney Olympics, scoring the winning goal in the final to cap off an astonishing decade at the highest level. After her retirement from sport, Jenn worked as Director of the Consulting Division at Deloitte, and has since taken on a number of Board, Chairwoman and Non-Executive Director roles at various organisations. Jenn shares her incredible experience both on and off the hockey pitch with audiences Australia-wide, focusing on overcoming adversity, teamwork and training. Speaking with passion and honesty, Jenn inspires others to embrace the core values of a champion. Read more about Jenn here.
7. Rob Redenbach
Whether working with the FBI, managing risk in the Middle East or safeguarding Nelson Mandela, reducing conflict has always been the backbone of Rob Redenbach’s story. From a post-graduate Law degree to a Master of Arts in Terrorism, Safety and Security, Rob’s credentials and unique real-life experience make him a respected expert in his field. His magnetic personality and master storytelling ability also make him a favourite security spokesperson in the media – you may recognise him from his regular appearances on Sunrise! Blending humour and hard facts, Rob’s interactive live presentations provide leaders of all levels with powerful insights for successfully reducing conflict and building trust – essential skills for success in any field. Read more about Rob here.
8. Michelle Cowan
At 21, Michelle Cowan became the first woman to coach professional AFL football when she was appointed Assistant Coach of West Perth Football Club in the WAFL. Now with more than 18 years experience coaching in the WAFL, AFL and AFLW, along with an AFL Football Woman of the Year award, Michelle is arguably one of the most influential figures in the football world and in the development of the game itself. Michelle’s trailblazing achievements have helped break down traditional gender stereotypes and the multitude of barriers faced by women both in sport and business. She tells her empowering story with passion and enthusiasm, connecting with and inspiring audiences at all levels to forge their own path. Read more about Michelle here.
9. Christina Matthews
In the famously male-dominated sport of cricket, Christina Matthews – CEO of the Western Australian Cricket Association – is a game-changer in every sense. One of only three women in the world to hold the position of CEO of a first-class cricket association, Christina is also Australia’s most capped female Test player, and holds the record for the most dismissals by an Australian wicket-keeper. She has had a distinguished international playing career and has inspired players of all abilities and genders, while actively helping transform the sport’s male domination. Her determination to create a gender-equal sport has seen female cricket participation numbers increase 550% across WA and ensured that the WACA has equal gender representation in leadership positions. As a speaker, Christina combines her in-depth knowledge and experience in sport with her vast business expertise, with particular focus on leadership, diversity, change management, collaboration and communication. Read more about Christina here.
10. Justin Langer
Australian cricket legend and Hall of Famer, Justin Langer, retired from test cricket in 2007 with an impressive career as a top-order batsman, amassing 7,696 runs and 23 centuries in 105 test matches. His record-breaking opening partnership with Matthew Hayden, which netted six remarkable double century stands, played a crucial role in returning the Ashes to Australia in 2006/07. After surpassing Sir Donald Bradman as Australia’s most prolific batsman in first-class cricket, Langer went on to coach, eventually taking the reigns as head coach of the Australian cricket team. Under his guidance, they won the Ashes, the T20 World Cup for the first time and were ranked number in international cricket. Justin has since authored 6 successful books and is involved with many charitable causes, receiving a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his services to Australian cricket and the community. Read more about Justin here.
With so much world-class talent out West, our task of selecting the 10 best Motivational Speakers was supremely difficult! If you have a brief for us we’d be happy to provide you with a curated list specific to your needs… get in touch with us for a chat to get the ball rolling!