Description
Book Karni Liddell Keynote Speaker: Paralympic Champion and Advocate
Organisations that book Karni Liddell keynote speaker sessions bring in one of Australia’s most respected Paralympic champions and disability advocates. Karni Liddell was diagnosed with a rare neuromuscular condition at twelve months old, when doctors told her parents she would never walk or live past her teenage years. Instead, she became one of the fastest swimmers in the world.
By age fourteen, Karni had broken her first world swimming record. She went on to represent Australia at the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games and captained the Australian swimming team at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, returning from both with medals. She later served as Ambassador for the Australian Paralympic team and as a commentator at the Athens Paralympic Games.
One of the few speakers to receive a standing ovation at a TED event, and named among the top ten speakers by AMP, Karni captivates audiences with candid, moving stories from her own journey. She challenges listeners to let go of excuses in pursuit of success, drawing direct, relatable parallels between her own highs and lows and the everyday challenges of business and life.
Beyond the pool, Karni holds a Clinical Masters in Social Work and has spent her career championing diversity and inclusion, currently serving in a senior engagement role focused on disability employment across the Queensland public sector and community. She has raised more than a million dollars for disability charities and has been a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Queensland Ambassador and Patron of the International Day of People with a Disability.
Based in Brisbane, Karni brings warmth, humour and hard-won wisdom to every stage, whether addressing resilience, adversity, diversity or inclusion. As one of Australia’s most in-demand motivational speakers, she leaves every audience re-energised and ready to overcome their own obstacles. Event organisers who book Karni Liddell keynote speaker sessions can expect a genuinely unforgettable, inspiring experience.
Karni is the current Diversity and Inclusion Manager for the Queensland Public Service Commission.
Karni has been showcased in Inside Sport, modelled for Black and White, New Idea and several other magazines. She has presented on 4BC radio; worked as a commentator at the Athens Paralympic Games, at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games and at the World Swimming Championships; and presented for Channel 7 and Network Nine. Karni is a presenter on Channel 7’s Great Day Out.
Karni has raised over $1million throughout her career for the various disability charities she supports. Karni is currently the Engagement Manager for Disability Connect QLD where her role is to increase employment of People with a disability across the Public sector and the community. She was the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) QLD Ambassador, a member of the Qld Premier’s Domestic and Family Violence Implementation Council, and the Patron of the International Day of People with a Disability, an Ambassador for Kids Help Line, Muscular Dystrophy QLD and Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association.
Karni was awarded the Pride of Australia medal, she won the Qld Teacher and Trainer of the year (2015) and was awarded the Alumni of the Year award for the faculty of health at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Karni holds a Clinical Masters in Social Work (QUT) and a double Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Bond University.
Keynote topics
- Tough times, sporting success, health obstacles, family support and perseverance.
- How we cannot control what life throws at us, we can only control how we handle what is thrown.
- Goal setting and how to handle adversity.
- Diversity
- Inclusion
Testimonials
Capricorn Tourism & Economic Development
The best speaker I have ever experienced’ was a sentiment echoed by high profile business executives and politicians at our event. Karni Liddell’s message to our business community proved inspirational to our audience on corporate, personal and family levels.
Westpac
When we invited Karni Liddell to join us as a guest motivational speaker at our annual conference for our top-performing employees, we did not anticipate the extent to which she would capture the hearts and minds of our people. When Karni later joined us on a leadership development roadshow across Australia, there were few who not left absolutely inspired by her journey.
