Speaker / Host
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE is an inspirational speaker and Britain’s greatest Paralympic athlete. She competed in five Paralympic Games, winning 11 Gold Medals, and is acknowledged as one of the most gifted and courageous sportswomen of her generation. Tanni is available for motivational keynotes, after dinner speeches, conference linking and awards hosting.
About Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE offer a real insight into what it takes to be a top athlete and to remain there for a period of 16 years. The daily motivation she required to sustain this level of performance is an inspiration to all audiences. In addition to her outstanding Paralympic achievements, she won the London Wheelchair Marathon a total of six times between 1992 and 2002.
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE has not let her retirement slow her down and she has gone on to play a prominent role in public life. In 2005 she was made ‘Dame’ Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE for her services to sport, while in 2010 she was elevated to the House of Lords as a crossbench peer. She takes an active part in debates, with particular focus on sport, disability, health, welfare and youth development. Amongst other positions she is on the board of Transport for London, the board of the London Legacy Development Corporation and is President of the National Council of Voluntary Organisations. She was also Vice Chair of LOCOG’s Athletes Commission, a Laureus Sport for Good Foundation Ambassador, a UNICEF ambassador and chaired a Commission on the Future of Women’s Sport.
During London 2012, Tanni was a key part of the BBC’s on screen team, presenting on both the Olympics and Paralympics. In the process she became the first Paralympian to commentate on Olympic sport, making the point that the emotions and experiences of elite sportspeople are universal across the board.
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE is the ultimate cross over between high performance sport and the high powered world of business and politics. She understands the parallels and has invaluable lessons from her varied career, be it perseverance, teamwork, adapting to change or breaking down barriers. A very strong communicator, she is brilliant at motivating and inspiring an audience, whether that is a small gathering of CEOs or a large room of employees.
In everything that Tanni does, her lively personality and down to earth humour shines through. Only she could divulge behind the scenes stories from the Olympics and give an insight into the somewhat archaic goings on at the House of Lords!
Testimonials
"Tanni gave a real insight into what it takes to be a top athlete and to remain there for a period of 16 years. The daily motivation required to sustain this level of performance was an inspiration to all present"
"Our remit was simple, ‘Tell your story for the heart’ Tanni was superb she provided the perfect insight into her life as an athlete, sports celebrity and now a mum - a real inspiration. Her delivery was relaxed and anecdotal and was exactly what was required."
CIPD National Conference
"Tanni Grey-Thompson was an outstanding speaker at the BAOT Conference 2003,Glasgow, with over a third of the delegates stating that her speech was the highlight of the conference"
Michelle Crouch, Regional Officer, England College Occupational Therapists
