Blind big wave surfer, Guinness World Record holder and Rio 2016 Paralympian
Matt Formston AM is a big wave surfer who holds the Guinness World Record for the largest wave ever surfed by any para athlete, set at Nazaré in Portugal in 2022 — one of the most dangerous big wave breaks on earth. He is a four-time Adaptive Surfing World Champion and, in 2023, won Surfing Australia's Heavy Water Award, the premier award for big wave surfing in Australia, competing against professional sighted surfers. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2025 Australia Day Honours.
Diagnosed with macular dystrophy at the age of five, Matt has less than three per cent vision and learned to read the ocean through sound, touch and instinct. Rather than accept that big wave surfing was closed to him, he built the techniques, systems and mindset that let him push into water most fully sighted surfers would never paddle out into. He competed at the highest level on the track as well, winning gold and silver at the 2014 and 2015 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships before representing Australia with pilot Nick Yallouris at the Rio 2016 Paralympics. His ride at Nazaré is documented in the film The Blind Sea.
As a speaker, Matt's story is visceral and immediate, illustrated with footage from the water. Beyond the spectacle, his presentations set out the mindset and practical methods that let a person or a team test the limits they have accepted, find alternative paths to a goal and perform when it counts. Alongside his sporting career he spent more than two decades as a senior corporate executive and has served as a board director and chair across several industries, which grounds his material for leadership audiences, sales conferences and organisations working through change.
Matt Formston is a keynote speaker based in New South Wales who speaks on inspiration, motivation and sport. Book through Executive Speakers Australia.
Unlock the extraordinary potential within yourself by celebrating your uniqueness—it's your ultimate superpower. In the dynamic world of business, we often recognise the importance of understanding a product's differentiator for success. Yet, as individuals, we frequently hesitate to showcase and leverage our own diversity.
Reflecting on the first two decades of Matt's life, he grappled with concealing his differences, striving to conform to societal norms. He yearned to demonstrate to the world that his disability was not a hindrance but an unexplored superpower. It took time for Matt to realise that his disability was, in fact, his unique differentiator.
In the subsequent two decades, Matt has not only embraced his disability but has learned to celebrate it. Matt now leads with his disability as his distinctive strength, highlighting the positive impact it has had on his professional life. As a person with blindness, Matt's evolved into a more adept problem solver, a resilient individual, and an exceptional communicator.
When we, as professionals and leaders, fully embrace our differences and recognise the strengths they cultivate within us, we empower ourselves and inspire our teams. By adopting this mindset in both our professional and personal lives, we unleash the genuine power of diversity-transforming it from a perceived challenge into a formidable strength.
Join Matt on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment as we explore the transformative potential of celebrating our differences. Together, let's revolutionise the narrative around diversity and pave the way for a future where our unique qualities are recognised as the superpowers that propel us to greater heights.
Trust is the cornerstone in the intricate tapestry of successful teams and leadership. The foundation of trust is paramount; without trust in your leader, it becomes challenging to wholeheartedly embrace their strategy and work tirelessly towards a shared goal. Similarly, if trust is lacking within the team, the empowerment necessary for collective success becomes an uphill battle.
Navigating trust in a sporting environment amplifies the stakes, especially in big wave surfing. In this setting, trust is not just a preference but a matter of life and death. As part of a team responsible for each other's lives in the face of 50-foot waves, trust is the bedrock upon which our collective survival hinges. A single mistake could have dire consequences.
Building and nurturing trust demands a daily commitment. Transparent communication emerges as a key component, outlining not only what will be undertaken but also what won't. As a leader, transparency extends to sharing your vision of what is achievable, even when striving for goals that stretch the team's comfort zone.
Embracing realistic yet challenging objectives requires leaders to articulate what they believe is possible and what might be deemed impossible.
Listening becomes an invaluable skill in this trust-building process. Creating an environment where team members feel heard fosters open communication, allowing for feedback on challenges—whether that be in capacity or other factors. Trust is a reciprocal relationship, and acknowledging and acting upon constructive feedback is pivotal.
In the intricate dance of teams and leadership, trust reigns supreme. It is the linchpin that ensures the success of your strategy and goals. Join Matt to explore the profound impact of trust, unravelling its complexities, and discovering how, with trust as our guiding force, we can navigate the turbulent waves of challenges and emerge victorious together.
Throughout Matt's life journey, the world repeatedly echoed the refrain, "you can't." As a blind child, Matt faced a barrage of scepticism from society, his community, and so-called experts who asserted that he couldn't attend mainstream school with friends, engage in rugby league, surf, or partake in ice hockey. However, Matt's life experiences propelled him to challenge these limitations, proving them all wrong. He not only attended mainstream school but excelled in football, ice hockey, and surfing, surpassing expectations at every turn.
Through these challenges, Matt learnt a profound lesson: the world often tells us we can't, particularly when faced with endeavours beyond their understanding. Yet, remarkable achievements become possible by defying these preconceptions and embracing a 'Can' mindset. It boils down to crafting a solid plan, setting ambitious goals, maintaining consistency, and diligently working towards those objectives.
The essence of the 'Can' mindset lies in your ability to transcend imposed limitations. Armed with a well-thought-out strategy and unwavering determination, you can become anything you aspire to be and accomplish feats beyond imagination. Join Matt in exploring the transformative power of the 'Can' mindset as we shatter barriers and pave the way for a future where the word 'can't' is merely a fleeting echo drowned out by the resounding triumph of unwavering determination.
“Matt’s keynote at our Sales Conference in Manly was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment he took the stage, our sales leaders from across APAC were completely immersed in his story. He didn’t just share his journey; he tailored his message in a way that deeply resonated with our people, weaving in themes of resilience, adaptability, and high performance that directly aligned with our business goals. The feedback has been overwhelming, many described it as one of the most powerful and inspiring sessions they’ve ever attended.”Cushman & Wakefield
“We’re extremely excited to have invited Matt to be our Keynote speaker at our 2025 Sanitarium Trans-Tasman Comms Conference. He delivered an extremely engaging talk that combined unique engagements with the audience, captivating storytelling and a stage presence that really delivered impact to our Marketing cohort. Matt has a natural way of relating to people easily, breaking down barriers and stigmas around disability and in turn — opening up an honest, real and engaging dialogue with his audience.”Conference team, Sanitarium
“Matt Formston delivered a powerful and inspiring talk on ‘A Can Mindset’, leaving a lasting impact on our team. His ability to align his story of resilience, adaptability, and peak performance with our Amazon Leadership Principles made his message not just motivational, but actionable. Matt personally engaged with our employees, taking time to sign 50+ copies of his book and share 1-on-1 insights. His authenticity, energy, and practical wisdom make him an exceptional speaker for any organization looking to inspire their people to overcome obstacles and achieve the impossible.”Amazon Web Services
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