Warren Macdonald
Finding opportunity in adversity.
Profile
Warren Macdonald has always had a taste for adventure. His affinity with wild places, and bearing witness to their disappearance (through clear-cut logging), led him to become a committed environmentalist. What does ‘committed’ mean? He was once arrested after having to be cut by an angle grinder from beneath a D9 bulldozer. The charge was dropped, by the way, but that’s another story…
Previous experience
In April 1997 Warren set out on what was supposed to be a revitalising, grounding, backpacking trip to Hinchinbrook Island, off the northeast coast of Australia. His life would never be the same again. Climbing to the summit of the island’s tallest peak, he became trapped beneath a one tonne boulder in a freak rock fall. His companion, Geert van Keulen, a Dutch traveller he’d met the day before, was his only hope for survival. As Warren lay crushed, Geert raced down the mountain to get help. Warren’s ‘test of will’ lasted two days before a helicopter arrived, and he was rescued. The accident would cost him the loss of both legs, amputated at mid thigh.
Obviously, he survived, but Warren’s story doesn’t end there. It was after the accident that things got really interesting…
Just 10 months later, Warren climbed Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain using a modified wheelchair and the seat of his pants. In February 2003, he became the first double above-knee amputee to reach the summit of Africa’s tallest peak, Mt Kilimanjaro (19,222ft). More recently, in a spectacular effort requiring 2800 pull-ups over 3 days, he made an ascent of America’s tallest cliff face, El Capitan.
In these challenging times, having a crisis management plan is essential to your survival. The Global Financial Crisis has made one thing perfectly clear: preparation is key. As part of that preparation, we need to get better at dealing with change.
This is where Warren Macdonald can help. A change management expert with a difference, Warren’s expertise comes from real life, painful learning. As your inspirational and motivational keynote speaker, Warren will inspire your group to face change with confidence, recognising change as a process, not an end result. You will learn how to embrace change and manage transition, and discover tools for finding and creating opportunities in any situation.
Media
Feedback
Lastly, but definitely not least, I wanted to personally thank you for being so easy to work with. You not only made me look good for selecting you as our speaker, but you made my life as an event manager that much easier.
I had the highest of expectations after booking you and completing the pre-event call yet you absolutely blew those expectations out of the water.
Warren delivered and exceeded all my expectations. This man is nothing less than a gift waiting to be bestowed upon your group or organisation!
I would recommend him highly to anyone seeking a speaker who will engage an audience with an inspiring, humorously delivered message about how much any individual can accomplish, despite setbacks and obstacles, if they act with determination, perseverance, and a positive attitude. Warren demonstrates those qualities in spades, and an hour with him is an hour well spent.
As administrators and government push the buttons and pull the strings, healthcare workers face the fallout everyday for themselves, their patients (hospital) and their clients (homecare). It is easy to start to feel sorry for ourselves. Warren's story represents someone who really could feel sorry for himself but instead has pulled himself up (literally) to excel at living a meaningful and productive life. His story is awe inspiring and reminds healthcare workers that they are in a position to help/hinder others, including, most importantly, themselves. Personally, Warren's story helps me to maintain my belief in the human spirit that exists in each one of us and a hope that if I am faced with what appears to be insurmountable odds, I too can rise.
You inspire me to aim for greatness.
Warren's story provided lessons of lasting value.
You are a source of inspiration to your fellow Australians and the world.
You are an inspiration to anybody who hears your story.
The impact your visit had on our Warren will be the key that opens the door to what is possible.
The impact your visit had on our organisation has been profound. Four weeks later my team are still discussing what you taught us and continue to reflect on how your attitude to life, obstacles and challenges can benefit them in their own lives. The relevance, clarity and poignancy of your presentation and subsequent conversations with our people has helped us refocus on the tasks we have to complete and bought the team closer together. We cannot recommend highly enough to any other organisation the benefits of engaging you to speak with them.
