1987 World Cup cricketer, Channel Nine commentator, and all-round businessman with an easy-going platform
Simon O'Donnell is a former Australian cricketer and member of the 1987 World Cup–winning team — one of the great surprise results in international cricket. A valued all-rounder in the Australian one-day side, he returned from that triumph to face a diagnosis of cancer, made a full recovery, and resumed his international career from 1988–89. Few sporting narratives carry the same weight of adversity, resolve, and return.
After retiring from cricket, O'Donnell built a second career in broadcasting as a regular Channel Nine commentator and host of The Cricket Show. He also established O'Donnell Thoroughbreds International, became an expert voice on Nine's racing coverage, and later moved into real estate as a Sales Executive with Marshall White's Coast & Country team. That breadth — elite sport, media, horse racing, property — is what makes him genuinely distinctive on a speaking platform.
Audiences respond to O'Donnell's easy-going candour and the authentic arc of his story: championship success, serious illness, and reinvention across several quite different industries. He is equally at home as a keynote speaker or master of ceremonies, and is well suited to conferences, gala dinners, and after-dinner engagements where warmth and a few well-landed stories are exactly what the room needs.
Simon O’Donnell is a keynote speaker and MC based in Victoria who speaks on motivation and sport. Book through Executive Speakers Australia.
Excellent – Simon O'Donnell’s topics connected with everyone in the room. He was funny and very engaging.Civil Contractors Association
Simon O'Donnell was fantastic, very friendly and approachable. All the guests were ecstatic about his presence.The Mint Organisation
Simon O'Donnell was very entertaining and humorous. The crowd certainly enjoyed his presentation.Fisher & Paykel
Tell us about your event and our consultants will return a curated shortlist within one business day.
