3-time Paralympian, 9-time World Champion — former police officer who turned a multiple sclerosis diagnosis into gold
Carol Cooke AM PLY is a former police officer who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis — and went on to compete at three Paralympic Games, win gold medals at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Paralympics in women's road cycling, take silver at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics and claim nine World Championship titles. She was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in 2014 for services to sport and her philanthropic work, notably the 24 Hour Mega Swim, which has raised over $11 million for people living with MS. In 2006 she received the Pride of Australia Medal in the Role Model category.
The arc of Cooke's story — police officer to MS diagnosis to Paralympic champion — gives her presentations a structure that is both easy to follow and genuinely arresting. She is not telling a story of natural talent rewarded; she is telling a story of radical reinvention in the face of a life-altering diagnosis. Her framework — Five Steps to Harness the Force Within — is the product of that lived experience and gives audiences a practical lens for embracing adversity and change. She has been included in the Who's Who of Australian Women and received a Certificate of Recognition from the International Paralympic Committee in 2022.
She suits conferences and events where the theme is change, resilience or performance under pressure — particularly those in health, insurance, financial services and government sectors. She is also an experienced MC. Clients including St Vincent's Hospital Foundation and La Trobe University consistently describe her as an exceptional presenter who connects emotionally with audiences while leaving them with a clear and actionable message.
Carol Cooke AM PLY is a keynote speaker based in Victoria who speaks on change management, inspiration and mental health & wellbeing. Book through Executive Speakers Australia.
Carol is an inspiration to everyone she meets due to her kind, caring and "can do" approach to life. She has overcome significant adversity with her battles with Multiple Sclerosis to become a role model and now a Paralympic gold Medallist in cycling. Carol is an exceptional presenter who engages the audience with touching stories about her life's journey which make you laugh and cry. I have no hesitation in recommending Carol to any organisation that is seeking an inspirational and motivational speaker. I will definitely be using Carol's services to inspire others.Foundation Director, St. Vincent's Hospital Foundation
Carol is a motivational and inspirational speaker that appeals to many different audiences. Her exceptional ability to connect with her audience and her thorough planning and preparation ensure that each speaking engagement or professional activity is of the highest quality.Senior Lecturer, La Trobe University
Carol is a brilliant speaker who can capture the audience's attention and take them on an entertaining, meaningful and inspirational journey. Her messages are powerful and applicable to all of us and can be shared in any setting. I highly recommend her for your next event.Sport for Development Professional, Educator, Speaker and Personal Development Facilitator
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