Speaking
InspirING PEOPLE & EncouragING Them To Take Action
Honest Stories
from 30 Years at Sea
I've spent 30 years racing around the world, surviving catastrophic disasters, breaking records, and creating every opportunity I've had through persistence and hard work.
I'm not a professional speaker with a polished corporate presentation. What I bring is real experience and honest stories about what it actually takes to push through fear, adapt to setbacks, and achieve something extraordinary.
I speak to audiences who want authenticity over polish, and real conversations over rehearsed keynotes.
If that sounds like what you're looking for, let's talk.
SPEAKING topics
I can tailor my talk to suit your audience and event.
Here are three ways I typically approach it:
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My Story: From Papua New Guinea to Record-Breaking Ocean Rower
The full journey. How I left home at 16, worked my way up from cleaning bilges to boat captain, survived one of sailing's worst disasters, competed in four round-the-world races, and went on to break ocean rowing records. A story about persistence, creating opportunities, and refusing to give up. Suitable for most audiences who want an inspiring, honest account of an unconventional career.
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Mental Resilience: What 30 Years at Sea Taught Me About Pushing Through
I'm scared of water and darkness, yet I've spent 30 years at sea and rowed solo across oceans. This talk focuses on mental toughness, managing fear, adapting to setbacks, and the unglamorous work behind extraordinary achievements. Perfect for audiences interested in peak performance, mental endurance, or overcoming personal limitations.
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Bespoke Talk: Tailored to Your Audience
Every audience is different, and I'm happy to adapt my talk to meet your specific needs. Whether you're inspiring a classroom of young people questioning their career paths, energising a corporate team facing challenges, or entertaining guests at an after-dinner event, I can focus on the themes that matter most to you. Common requests include leadership, women in male-dominated industries, calculated risk-taking, career development, or resilience after failure. Let's discuss what would work best for your event.
Core THemes
Regardless of which topic we focus on, these are the themes that run through my talks:
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How fear doesn't stop you, it's just something you manage. How you talk yourself through the hard moments when no one else is there to push you.
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I left home at 16 with nothing and worked my way onto racing yachts by showing up and being willing to start at the bottom. How to create opportunities when doors aren't open for you.
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Breaking records looks glamorous. What people don't see are the thousands of hours of preparation, the spreadsheets, the equipment checks. Why preparation matters more than talent.
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How to adapt when things don't go to plan and why setbacks often lead to better outcomes. The difference between reckless behaviour and taking smart risks.
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What I've learned about navigating physical and cultural challenges, proving yourself, and what women bring to high-performance teams.
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In 1998, I survived one of sailing's worst disasters. In 1999, I came back and won the race. Why showing up again matters more than winning the first time.
Who I Speak To
I connect best with audiences who are curious, open, and interested in real conversations. Audiences I work well with:
01
Young athletes
and aspiring professionals
04
Sports organisations and adventure communities
02
Corporate teams and leadership groups
05
Women in leadership or male-dominated industries
03
Schools
and universities
06
Anyone trying to create their own opportunities
My Approach
I share my story through photos and anecdotes, talk about the moments that shaped my journey, and open it up for questions. The best talks I've done have been the ones where people ask genuine questions and we have real conversations. That's where the most valuable insights come out.
Typical format:
20-30 minute talk with photos/video
30-40 minute Q&A (this is where the magic happens)
Casual, conversational tone
Flexible to suit your event (keynote, panel, workshop)
What audiences value:
The honesty (I don't sugarcoat the hard parts)
The relatability (I'm not superhuman, I'm just persistent)
The practical takeaways (actual lessons learned, not just inspiration)
The Q&A (people appreciate the opportunity to dig deeper)
Booking me for Speaking & Media
I speak from lived experience, not theory. My talks are honest, practical and rooted in life at sea, high-performance racing, ocean rowing, resilience, teamwork and creating opportunities in places where they don’t always exist.
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I work best when I can share real experiences and engage directly with your audience through Q&A. You’ll get honesty over polish, real experiences over theory, and direct answers to the questions your audience actually wants to ask.
I’m happy to tailor my talk to your event’s themes and audience, but I tend to speak from experience rather than using corporate frameworks or business jargon.
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My speaking work has included sponsor-driven events, charity talks, sailing clubs, adventure communities and youth sailing programmes.
Recent speaking includes:Papua New Guinea Olympic Team & Youth Sailing Programme: speaking to athletes about creating opportunities, dealing with failure and competing internationally
Sailing clubs and adventure communities: informal talks about ocean rowing, sailing and lessons learned
Sponsor events: team-focused talks on endurance, teamwork and high-performance racing
Media:
I’m open to podcast interviews, documentary participation and media features that align with my story and values.
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I am based in Australia and open to travel for the right opportunities. Speaking formats can include keynotes, panels, workshops, Q&A sessions, podcast interviews and media features.
To help with your enquiry, please include:
Event or media details
Date and location
Audience size/type
Preferred format
What you’d like me to talk about
Budget or fee range, if known
I am often at sea or preparing for expeditions, so advance booking is advised.
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As I’ve progressed in my career, I’ve naturally gravitated toward mentoring relationships. People message me asking for chats, and I generally say yes, because someone did that for me once.
If you’re a young sailor, ocean rower, or someone trying to create opportunities in a field where you don’t have connections, I’m happy to talk. I can’t promise ongoing mentorship, but I’m open to conversations.
TESTIMONIALS
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![Carsten Heron Olsen, Race Director and CEO of The World’s Toughest Row.]()
Carsten Heron Olsen, Race director and CEO - The World’s Toughest Row.
"Liz Wardley is one of the most competent ocean athletes I’ve had the privilege of working with. Very few people prove themselves across both the Atlantic and Pacific, and Liz has done so at the highest level; from a record-breaking solo Atlantic crossing to an incredible Pacific campaign as part of a pair and now preparing to take on the Pacific once again. What sets her apart is her mindset: calm under pressure, highly experienced, and relentlessly determined. She consistently makes good decisions when it matters most, which is ultimately what defines success in ocean rowing. As both a competitor and a person, Liz brings professionalism, resilience, and a quiet strength that elevates any team or challenge she takes on."
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![Tracy Edwards MBE, British sailor and skipper of the first all-female crew in the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race.]()
Tracy Edwards MBE - British Sailor
“Liz was Guest Skipper on Maiden twice during her World Tour 2018 to 2024, as we invited female legends to lead the crew for a few months at a time. I knew Liz by reputation obviously and so was not surprised that she was a fantastic addition to our team. Not only does Liz has phenomenal skills, experience and expertise but she is a natural leader and was an inspiration to the young women in the Maiden crew. Liz has boundless energy, endless enthusiasm for the task in hand and is not afraid to get down and dirty when needed! The feedback from the crew was that Liz had shown them what was possible for them to achieve and she played a significant role in preparing Heather Thomas to Skipper Maiden to victory in the OGR. Liz will always be an important part of Maiden’s story, and I am so glad she found the time to spend with us. We watch for her next adventure with anticipation!”
