Paralympic swimmer, clinical social worker and speaker — on the choices everybody has, and the courage to make them.
Karni Liddell is a Paralympic swimmer, clinical social worker and speaker whose life has been built around choices made against formidable odds. Diagnosed as an infant with a neuromuscular wasting disease, she was told she would not walk or crawl and would not survive her teenage years. She broke her first world record at 14, competed at the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games, won medals at both, and captained the Australian swimming team at Sydney 2000 — which she regards as her greatest sporting achievement.
Her presenting is grounded in a single idea: that everybody has a choice in life, even — especially — when circumstances appear to have removed all of them. That idea is not abstract for Karni. Away from the pool she qualified as a clinical social worker, has worked as Queensland Manager for the Public Service Commission, and trains others as a domestic and family violence specialist. She is an NDIS Ambassador, has raised more than $1 million for disability charities, and is an ambassador for Kids Helpline, Muscular Dystrophy Queensland and Sporting Wheelies. She was awarded the Pride of Australia medal.
Karni is a versatile presence on stage, equally comfortable delivering a keynote to a thousand people, running a workshop for parents raising a child with a disability, or anchoring an event as Master of Ceremonies. She has worked in television and radio, including as a presenter on Channel 7's The Weekender. Her sessions cover surviving life and managing change, how to engage and connect with people, and the choice she believes everybody retains — delivered with warmth, humour and a clear-eyed account of what it takes to survive and thrive.
Karni Liddell is a keynote speaker based in Queensland who speaks on inspiration, motivation and sport. Book through Executive Speakers Australia.
Karni's life story from diagnosis to Paralympic success to now.
Overcoming life’s expected and unexpected obstacles, coping and embracing change, how to balance work and lifestyle.
Creating strong, lasting, authentic relationships which enable any team to feel connected to each other and to the organisation. Team morale and cohesion are only possible if the team is engaged in what they are doing and respect their leaders. This session is about how to bring out people’s positive spirits.
Educational and inclusive session for parents of children with a disability or chronic illness on surviving, thriving and embracing living with a disability. The session includes practical tips and tricks of navigating through the maze of disability funding and support with minimum need for alcohol and A Current Affair. Karni has an innate and learned understanding of the overwhelming pressures of being a parent of a child with a disability and through strategies, stories, theories and solutions she believes that living with a disability can be manageable, joyful and achievable with the appropriate tools, knowledge and support.
As a radio presenter, speaker, communications trainer and sports commentator Karni is available and able to host any event with professionalism, empathy, humor, spirit and experience.
Karni was engaging, relevant and on topic.Douglas Chemist
Karni was a huge hit with all of our delegates. She was also very easy to deal with and was happy to stay around afterwards to speak with them prior to her departure.Natra
Excellent! Karni's presentation at our Annual Above and Beyond Awards was exceptional. She captivated every member of our audience, and her speech was very relevant to our Corporate Values.Our Chairman and Chief Executive were particularly impressed.Karni comes Highly Recommended.Ergon Energy
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