About Me

I am totally blind, a qualified Social Worker, a published author and a Paralympic tandem cyclist. I’m proud to say that I won two bronze medals at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games.

My experience in dealing with many kinds of challenges and overcoming adversity has led me to my role as a speaker.

Born with a rare form of eye cancer which left me with very limited vision, I knew no other world than that of coping with barriers and obstacles. Right from a young age, I was determined to create my own pathways and refused to submit to the restrictions society tried to place on me.

Then one day, at age thirty-three, a sudden and unexpected crisis plunged me into a world of total and permanent darkness. Faced with even bigger and more daunting challenges, I had a choice: give up or get going.

I used this crisis as a catalyst for change. Since losing my sight, I have published an autobiographical book, “Beyond The Red Door”, entered the world of elite sport, representing Australia at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games; and started my own small business as a motivational speaker to help change people’s lives.

I don’t regard myself as just another motivational speaker. My presentations have some special qualities, which include:

• Powerful and emotive stories, delivered naturally and straight from my heart, captivating the audience and leaving them with the belief that they can make significant changes in their lives.
• Personal life experiences of major adversities: surviving cancer; living with a vision disability and coping with all its related challenges; being adopted and struggling for self-identity; overcoming the sudden onset of blindness; managing future health risks; and entering the world of elite sport with no sporting background.
• My skills as a writer and published author of an autobiographical book, Beyond The Red Door, published by Allen and Unwin.
• A degree in Social Work (graduated in 1991), with excellent skills in communication, listening and empathy.
• My philosophy of never quitting or giving up that is passed on to the audience.