As captain of the England and GB women’s hockey teams for 13 years and an international player for 17 Kate was an integral part of the squad, unanimously voted in her by her teammates for her ability to lead by example, nurture talent and bring the best out of people. Her career started in 1999 and she reached the pinnacle of the game, amassing 3 Commonwealth Games medals as well as bronze at London 2012 and of course Olympic gold in Rio. Glory however did not always come easily – in London 2012 Kate’s jaw was broken in the first match, but her determination was on display as she returned after only 2 games to play with a plate in her jaw and a facial mask. In 2014 the team hit a new low with a 10th place finish at the Hockey World Cup when they had arrived as favourites.
Such experiences form the bedrock of Kate’s speaking, as she shares her personal experiences of leadership, team building, goal setting and high performance. Away from the field she also reflects on the importance of inclusive diversity. Having married her team mate Helen in 2013, Kate describes hockey as her ‘safe space’, a family which accepted her for who she was and whose only expectation was that she gave her best every day.
As a female leader who reached the pinnacle of her career she also speaks passionately about equality of opportunity for women and the need for flexibility in what a leader should look and sound like. Her own early attempts at leadership she readily admits were underwhelming, until she realised that she needed to find her own style, which was not necessarily a kind that she had seen before. In her words ‘You need to see it to be it’. In other words, the more diversity we see in leadership, the more women will have the confidence to think it is something that they can do even if they don’t fit a stereotypical mould.
With thought provoking content combined with a natural sense of humour and down to earth persona, Kate receives glowing feedback and has quickly established herself as one of the most in demand speakers around.
Duncan is a former Olympic swimming champion and is one of the worlds instantly recognisable athletes. Duncan was Captain of the GB swim team at the 1980 Olympic Games where he won gold in the 100 metres breaststroke and a bronze on the 4×100 metres medley relay.
This was merely the beginning for Duncan Goodhew who quickly, at the age of 23, adapted the lessons learnt in the pool to assist business teams to find inspiration and effective ways to overcome the obstacles to success. Inducted by IBM, he has worked with 100’s of leading businesses and organisations.
Duncan Goodhew’s business experience stretches form arranging large sponsorship to corporate fundraising and business introductions.
In his book, Sink or Swim, Duncan Goodhew draws on the events of his own life and the long and arduous grind of training for competitive swimming, where your skills will be judged on a performance which is over in less time than it’ll take you to read this paragraph.
He addresses such issues as how to get yourself motivated (as well as how to stay motivated) and, perhaps most important of all, that success is an entirely individual matter. This is a book which can be applied to home and family life as well as life in the office and addresses the issue of making sure you set your own criteria for achievement – rather than simply meeting the expectations of other people.
He is also the author of the motivational book “Fix Your Life Now.” Duncan’s vast experience in sport and personal experience of striving to be the best and the challenges one faces, along with his comforting and personable manner makes him an ideal speaker.ed the nature of success – and shows you how to achieve it.
Naomi Riches MBE was only 8 weeks old when she was diagnosed with a visual impairment, but this was not going to stand in her way.
Throughout school the only interest she showed in sport was her participation in her local disabled swimming team. It was in 2004 when Naomi was offered the chance to join Great Britain’s Adaptive Rowing Team that she found her real passion for sport and seized this opportunity. Finally, this was something she could do because of her visual limitation rather than being told she couldn’t because of it.
Over the next ten years Para-rowing developed into a full time Lottery Funded Paralympic Sport. Naomi competed in the Mixed Coxed Four winning six World Championship Gold Medals, a Paralympic Bronze Medal in Beijing and at the London 2012 Games she became Paralympic Champion. As a result of the success in London, Naomi and her crew were awarded MBE’s in February 2013.
It was then that Naomi decided to retire from her International career. She now spends time motivating and inspiring others to push themselves and cease any opportunity that life throws at you.
Former World Snooker Champion in 1985 who made television history playing the epic match against Steve Davis.
A regular television personality, having appeared on Question of Sport several times, Strictly Come Dancing and BBC Sport.
Dennis is a natural after dinner speaker, bringing his Irish background into the act and with stories relayed with the emphasis firmly on humour.
Perry combines his experience as a Formula One driver with becoming the original ‘Stig’ to delight audiences at home and abroad with either a hilarious after-dinner or captivating motivational speech. Perry literally clawed his way to the top with very little backing but, with talent, dedication, determination and that famous sense of humour he always gets everyone’s attention. The fact that he was the original ‘Stig’ has a crowd cheering before he’s even started talking!
John is an English radio and television broadcaster who works for the BBC, mainly covering sporting events. John Inverdale has presented a variety of sports programmes including Grandstand – which was one of the BBC’s longest running sports shows and his own BBC One sports chat show, Onside. John recently signed a four year freelance deal with BBC TV and Radio to present Rugby 6 Nations, Wimbledon Tennis, Championship Athletics and the Rowing World Championships. John was a presenter for the BBC coverage of the 2012 Olympics.
Damon Hill OBE is a British former racing driver. He was the 1996 Formula One World Champion and is the son of the late double Formula One world champion Graham Hill, the only son of a world champion to win the title. Graham Hill died in a plane crash when Damon was just 15.
Relatively late to motorsport, Hill began racing motorcycles aged 23 before progressing into single-seater racing and the International Formula 3000 Championship. Test driver for the Formula One title-winning Williams, Damon finally got his break when he was unexpectedly promoted into the Williams race team the year after 1992 champion Nigel Mansell’s departure. Damon’s first victory came at the 1993 Hungarian Grand Prix, taking the first of his 22 career victories.
He retired from the sport at the end of the 1999 season, after 122 race starts. Damon now works tirelessly for the British Racing Drivers’ Club and is endeavouring to retain the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. He also spends a lot of time encouraging young drivers and assisting where possible in helping their future careers.
Damon discusses his rise to peak performance and the need to maximise success at any time during talks. He is a fabulous motorsport speaker, relating well with audience members and providing an insight into what is needed in order to success in one of the most competitive environments in the sporting world.
Damon’s after dinner speeches consist of tales of living in the fast lane without losing self-discipline, how to succeed and what is needed to be a champion along with amusing tales, such as playing guitar on a Def Leppard album.
One of the most sought after motorsport speakers, demand for Damon is always plentiful, with a wide range of corporate and personal sectors wanting to hear his story.
Andrew is a former tennis champion, being British number one for seven years, turned GMTV presenter and also starred on the gruelling TV show 71 Degrees North. Andrew has commentated on and fronted a number of sporting events such as Wimbledon, Basketball, golf and motor racing. As well as facing danger on Celebrity Fear Factor and facing the ever daunting audience on Strictly Come Dancing with partner Ola Jordan. With an impressive CV in sport and presenting Andrew can deliver a superb speech to any audience.
Johnny starred in Formula Ford before Eddie Jordan signed him for Formula Three in 1987 and he promptly won the British title.
Peter Collins signed him for Lotus for 1990, and there Johnny stayed until 1994. A move to Benetton in 1995 was seen as his big chance, but the team focused on Michael Schumacher. Johnny inherited wins at Silverstone and Monza, though, to end up fourth overall
Since his farewell season in 2000, Johnny has starred in sports cars, racing for Audi in the US and finishing second at Le Mans for Bentley in 2003. Johnny was lured back to Formula One in 2005, as sporting relations manager for Jordan.
Better known as The Stig from BBC’s internationally acclaimed Top Gear TV Show. Ben coached hundreds of celebrities from Tom Cruise to Lionel Ritchie around the race-track, organised high voltage car chases and tested hundreds of priceless cars to the brink. Ben holds many creditsto his name: As a Championship Winning Le Mans Racecar Driver, Bestselling Author, TV Presenter, World Record Breaker and Hollywood Stunt Driver.
As the Stig, Ben Collins was the benchmark of speed against which all other drivers set themselves, and the man that everyone from Formula One World Champion Nigel Mansell to Jenson Button tried and failed to beat. He has raced successfully in almost every class imaginable, from Formula 3 and Le Mans 24 Hour competition to American Stock Car Racing. Jackie Stewart watching a young Ben winning a Formula 3 race, was blown away.