Famed for its Baywatch-worthy beaches and iconic landmarks like the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, Sydney is a mecca for tourists worldwide. With an eclectic, energetic vibe and a year-round calendar of world-class events and festivals, Australia’s largest city is also home to some of the world’s most captivating Motivational Speakers. We’d love to introduce you to 10 of the best.
Whether you’re looking for a world-renowned creative genius to inspire new thinking, a leader for social change to empower and encourage action or a true survivor to reframe your definition of determination and resilience, our Sydney Motivational Speakers have you covered. Thought-provoking, dynamic and passionate, these 10 master storytellers will create an impression that lasts well beyond the last curtain call.
Sydney’s Top 10 Motivational Speakers
1. Todd Sampson
If you’ve ever tuned in to ABC’s hit TV show The Gruen Transfer, you’ll recognise Todd Sampson’s artfully dishevelled form dissecting the global advertising industry’s hits and misses. Having led some of the most successful creative agencies in the world (even taking home the coveted Cannes Titanium Lion for Creative Campaign of the Year), Todd is a well-known creative genius. His Earth Hour initiative is officially the biggest environmental movement in history, and is widely recognised as one the best ideas in the world. It’s little wonder that his presentations, exploring creativity, idea generation, leadership, culture change, problem solving, bravery and adventure are always a huge hit. Read more about Todd here.
2. Kurt Fearnley AO
Being born without the lower part of his spinal cord didn’t stop Kurt Fearnley from living his dream of travelling or playing professional sport. In fact, the ‘Marathon Man’ of wheelchair sports became a world-beater, winning five World Championship titles and representing Australia at 3 Paralympics, winning 2 silver and 2 gold medals in the Marathon. But it’s off the track that Kurt sets himself apart, committing himself to helping people with disabilities or those from disadvantaged backgrounds. As well as earning Australian of the Year honours, Kurt was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia for his service to people with a disability and for his fundraising efforts for Indigenous athletes and charitable organisations. A champion in every sense, Kurt’s story is truly inspirational. Read more about Kurt here.
3. Jana Pittman
You may recognise Jana Pittman from her days as two-time Athletics World Champion and four-time Commonwealth Champion… or maybe you remember when she swapped the track for the ice, joining the Australian Women’s bobsleigh team and becoming the first women to represent Australia in both Summer and Winter Olympic games. Or perhaps you simply know her as the last woman left standing on the recent series of SAS Australia, where she won hearts with her honesty, bravery, integrity and sheer grit. Jana’s story is a roller coaster of triumph, defeat, failure and success as she transitioned from world-class athlete to doctor, author, professional speaker and mother of 6. She will take you on a journey through the peaks and troughs that shaped her professionally and personally, conquering hurdles with inspiring resilience and passion. Read more about Jana here.
4. Sophie Delezio
Sophie Delezio is a survivor. Critically injured in a car crash at the age of two, Sophie sustained burns to 85% of her body, lost both her legs below the knee, as well as her right hand and ear. Two and a half years later she was hit by a car and suffered multiple fractures and a brain injury. Her determination to embrace every opportunity and live life to the full in the years since has endeared her to a global community of followers, while her sense of fun and adventure is characteristic of her overall approach to life. With a wisdom well beyond her years, Sophie shares her journey with honesty and integrity – a true lesson in resilience and the power of positivity. Read more about Sophie here.
5. Anyier Yuol
Born in a Kenyan refugee camp before losing her parents and moving to Australia at the age of 10, Anyier Yuol knows exactly what it’s like to fight to be heard. Passionate about improving the representation of minority groups in Australia through the sport, beauty and fashion industries, Anyier works closely with government agencies, schools, businesses and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva. She also founded Anyier Model Management, a modelling agency promoting talent that better represents diversity in fashion and beauty. A strong advocate for women’s and girls’ rights, refugee and gender equality, Anyier is undoubtedly one of the world’s leaders in the area of social change, and shares her story to empower and encourage others. Energetic, warm and charismatic, Anyier engages with audiences of diverse backgrounds, delivering authentic and thought-provoking presentations that captivate and inspire those around her. Read more about Anyier here.
6. Madison de Rozario
Madison de Rozario is widely regarded as one of the greatest Australian athletes of all time. As the first Australian to win the elite women’s wheelchair race at the London Marathon, Madison also collected a hat-trick of gold medals, including a world record, at the World Para-athletics Grand Prix in Switzerland. At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Madison became a Paralympic champion when she won the first ever Paralympic gold medal for Australian Athletics in the women’s 800m T53. She topped off her campaign with a stunning win in the Marathon T54 on the final day of the Games. Madison talks about the importance of being proactive with mental health and learning to reframe negative thoughts into positive ones, and is living proof that the results can be staggering. Read more about Madison here.
7. Adam Goodes
Adam Goodes holds an elite place in AFL history as a dual Brownlow Medallist, dual premiership player, four-time All-Australian, member of the Indigenous Team of the Century and Australian representative in the International Rules Series. Immensely proud of his Indigenous heritage, Adam is actively involved with Indigenous sport and community programs, and established The GO Foundation with fellow indigenous AFL Star Michael O’Loughlin to enable a brighter future for Indigenous Australians. In 2014, Adam was named Australian of the Year in recognition of his important work with indigenous sport and the community, as well as his advocacy in the fight against racism. He shares his story with integrity and pride, and provides a rare and honest insight into the ongoing battle for Indigenous rights. Read more about Adam here.
8. Anh Do
After a harrowing journey to Australia crammed into a nine-metre fishing boat with his family and 40 other Vietnamese refugees, Anh Do settled in Sydney and studied business law before pivoting to a successful comedy career. Anh now entertains in a variety of film, TV and hosting roles, including ‘Rove’, ‘Thank God You’re Here’ and ‘Dancing with the Stars’, as well as popular ABC TV show ‘Anh’s Brush with Fame’, where he interviews and paints portraits of Australian personalities. Anh has also written many children books, including ‘WeirDo’ and ‘Ninja Kid’, while his memoir, ‘The Happiest Refugee’, took home Australian Book of the Year and Biography of the Year honours. Read more about Anh here.
9. Sam Bloom
When Sam Bloom suffered a near-fatal accident in Thailand in 2013, a shattered spine amongst her life-threatening injuries, she was devastated by her prognosis. But after her family took in an injured baby magpie, who her sons affectionately named Penguin, Sam found the inspiration to reconnect with her love of sport. Her journey to becoming three-time World Para Surfing champion and Surfing Australia Female Para Surfer of the Year was documented by her photographer husband Cameron Bloom. Cameron’s captivating photographs showed the tender bond between Sam and Penguin, inspiring a best-selling book and the Box Office hit film, ‘Penguin Bloom’, starring Naomi Watts. Read more about Sam here.
10. Nedd Brockman
A personal challenge became a social phenomenon when Nedd Brockman set out to complete the 4,000km journey from Perth to Bondi… on foot. He became the fastest Australian, and second fastest globally, over the distance – completing the feat in just over 46 days, averaging a whopping 80km daily. Nedd documented his progress on Instagram, inspiring thousands and winning the hearts of a nation in the process – from truckies and farmers to roadside workers and kids doing bake stalls, everyone cheered Nedd on. Messages of support from people including the Prime Minister, Jimmy Barnes, Ash Barty and Hollywood actor Lily James helped Nedd raise a staggering $2.5 million for homeless charity Mobilise. Read more about Nedd here.
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With so much home-grown talent in Sydney, our task of selecting the Top 10 was a difficult one! If you have a brief for us we’d be happy to provide you with a curated list of Motivational Speakers specific to your needs… get in touch with us for a chat to get the ball rolling!