Elizabeth Wright is an Australian Paralympic Medallist and ABC journalist with a drive to help people understand what disability is, the issues disabled people face and how to be a better disability ally.
Elizabeth was born with limb difference and since childhood has advocated for her right to be included in mainstream schooling, in sport, at university and in the workplace. A master at reinvention and spotting allies and opportunities, since retiring from sport, Elizabeth has been an artist, academic, writer, and magazine editor.
Recently, Elizabeth moved back to Australia after 13 years in the UK, to take on a role at the ABC, her biggest challenge yet. Her experience in the UK gives her a global perspective on disability, inclusion and diversity, a perspective that is key to the work she does now.
Elizabeth uses her lived experience to educate and challenge those across education and business sectors, providing practical tips and know-how on how to create a welcoming and inclusive workplace, organisation, or school.
A storyteller at heart, Elizabeth inspires positive social change and illustrates how supporting all people in our communities leads to a more thriving society. She demonstrates that allyship is the way forward if we are to be more inclusive of disabled people, both through accessibility and representation.
Talking Points
The Power of Letting Go: Redefining Success Through Resilience and Reinvention
What happens when the blueprint for success no longer fits who you are becoming? In this thought-provoking keynote, Elizabeth Wright shares her journey from the Paralympic podium to the newsroom, revealing how surrendering perfectionism and outdated definitions of success sparked her most powerful transformations. With warmth, wisdom and wit, Elizabeth invites audiences to rethink resilience not as pushing through at all costs, but as the courage to pause, pivot, and open to new possibilities.The Power of Letting Go: Redefining Success Through Resilience and Reinvention
Perfect for teams navigating disruption, leadership transitions, or burnout, this keynote offers a refreshing, grounded take on performance and adaptability in a rapidly changing world.
Key Takeaways:
- Reframe resilience as a dynamic, compassionate mindset, not just mental toughness
- Recognise how letting go of rigid expectations can unlock innovation and renewal
- Learn practical strategies to adapt, reimagine goals, and thrive through uncertainty
Winning Beyond the Finish Line: The Athlete Mindset for Sustainable High Performance
What does it really take to sustain performance, not just for one season, but across a lifetime of reinvention? In this high-impact keynote, Elizabeth Wright draws on the discipline of elite sport and the adaptability of a media career to share what it means to perform with purpose, persistence, and perspective. From the pool to the TV studio, she reveals how the athlete mindset can unlock consistent excellence while preventing burnout.Winning Beyond the Finish Line: The Athlete Mindset for Sustainable High Performance
This session is ideal for high-performing teams, corporate leaders, and changemakers who want to go the distance.
Key Takeaways:
- Develop a high-performance mindset that’s grounded, values-driven, and sustainable
- Learn how elite athletes manage pressure, bounce back from setbacks, and stay mission-focused
- Translate clarity of purpose into everyday leadership, motivation, and measurable outcomes
Beyond Inclusion: Real-World Allyship and the Power of Belonging
Inclusion isn’t a buzzword, it’s a daily practice. As a Paralympian, national journalist, and disability advocate, Elizabeth Wright knows how powerful it is to feel truly seen and how costly it can be when people are overlooked or underestimated. In this keynote, she shares the real stories and practical tools that move inclusion from intention to impact. With disarming warmth and sharp insight, Elizabeth offers a framework for allyship that goes beyond checkbox policies to create workplaces and communities where everyone belongs.Beyond Inclusion: Real-World Allyship and the Power of Belonging
Designed for corporate leaders, educators, HR teams, and anyone committed to authentic culture change, this talk leaves audiences equipped, inspired, and ready to act.
Key Takeaways:
- Understand the deeper meaning of disability inclusion, from accessibility to agency
- Learn how small shifts in language, design, and leadership can create lasting culture change
- Gain practical allyship tools to champion access, equity, and belonging in your sphere of influence
MC & Facilitator
Elizabeth Wright is a dynamic, warm, and deeply professional MC and facilitator who brings both confidence and heart to every stage she steps onto. A Paralympic medalist and award winning ABC journalist, Elizabeth has a natural ability to read the room, keep events on message, and foster genuine connection between speakers and audiences. Whether she’s hosting a high-profile conference, guiding a thought-provoking panel, or adding gravitas to an awards night, Elizabeth brings energy, clarity, and inclusive leadership that ensures your event feels seamless and memorable.
MC & Facilitator
Video
Elizabeth Wright | Intro | Saxton Speakers
Paralympic medallist, ABC journalist, and disability inclusion advocate Elizabeth Wright offers a compelling glimpse into her keynote presentations. Drawing from her lived experience and professional journey, Elizabeth empowers audiences to: Understand the real-world impact of inclusive leadership Build confidence in disability allyship across teams and sectors Shift from performative inclusion to meaningful, lasting change Elizabeth has collaborated with organisations like Twitter, EA Games, and Johnson & Johnson, delivering keynotes that resonate across corporate, education, and public sectors.Elizabeth Wright | Beyond Inclusion | Saxton Speakers
What does it take to move beyond tick-box inclusion and create genuine change? In this teaser for her powerful keynote Beyond Inclusion, Paralympic medallist, speaker and journalist Elizabeth Wright explores the role of real-world allyship and why belonging is key to inclusive culture. Audiences will be challenged to: - Shift from performative to practical inclusion - Understand how to be an active ally—at every level of an organisation - Recognise the power of lived experience in shaping inclusive leadership Elizabeth brings lived expertise and practical insight to every stage, offering clarity, accountability and empathy to organisations ready to lead with purpose.Elizabeth Wright | The Power of Letting Go | Saxton Speakers
Paralympic medallist, ABC journalist, and disability inclusion advocate Elizabeth Wright shares insights from her keynote, The Power of Letting Go. Drawing from her personal journey, Elizabeth illustrates how releasing limiting beliefs and past setbacks can lead to personal and professional growth. In this keynote, Elizabeth empowers audiences to: - Recognise the strength in releasing what no longer serves them - Embrace change as a catalyst for growth and resilience - Foster a culture of inclusion and allyship in the workplace Elizabeth's storytelling and lived experience inspire audiences to reflect, adapt, and thrive in the face of challenges.Elizabeth Wright | Winning Beyond the Finishing Line | Saxton Speakers
Paralympic medallist, ABC journalist, and disability inclusion advocate Elizabeth Wright shares insights from her keynote, Winning Beyond the Finish Line. In this presentation, Elizabeth explores how the lessons from elite sports can be applied to personal and professional growth.Elizabeth Wright 400m Freestyle Silver Medalist
Segments of 400m freestyle race in which Elizabeth won a silver medal. (Elizabeth is also Sports Ambassador for charity CBM - The Overseas Disability Charity).Re-imaging 'special' educational needs- Emily SENDs her love. | Elizabeth Wright | TEDxNorwichED
Emily is a SEND child, regularly bullied for her difference, her self confidence was low. Hearing Elizabeth's story changed Emily's outlook. By focusing on her internal strengths and resources, Emily realised she could step out of the shadow of disability, and she saw an exciting future ahead of her. Children with physical disabilities are being included in mainstream schooling, but this doesn't translate to development of self belief; character education is a growing concept in schools, but there hasn't been enough research into the impact of character on SEND children. In this talk, and through the lens of Emily, Elizabeth Wright, will tell you why we should be building up the character strengths that come so naturally to children with physical disabilities and how this could have a life changing effect on their confidence, self belief, and ability to see and reach their potential. Elizabeth Wright was born with a physical disability at a time when children like her would be sent to special schools. Her parents did an amazing thing, fighting the educa-tion department to get her into mainstream schooling - changing her life. At 13 Elizabeth declared she was going to swim at the Paralympics. After winning three Paralympic medals Elizabeth left the sport of swimming knowing she could achieve her goals. Eliza-beth wanted to understand what it was that had enabled her to fulfil her potential, that is when she discovered character.Audio
It went REALLY well this morning/afternoon... We've learnt so much, and feel extremely challenged in a really good way. ... keep reading EA Games
Liz has presence, vulnerability, warmth and wisdom and offers a courageous invitation to all of us to step up to become better leaders and allies... We were all changed by her.
Her insight into how be an inclusive ally and how to drive change for Diversity and Inclusion, with a focus on people with disabilities was refreshing and pragmatic. She is positive and solutions-focused.
We had the absolute pleasure of having Liz as our emcee for the 2024 Executive Leaders Conference held in Adelaide on December 9-10. Liz is an exceptional speaker and an enlivening host. Liz set the tone for the conference with her dynamic presence, creating an atmosphere that was both engaging and professional.
Elizabeth did a brilliant job. She's a wonderful storyteller and provided some brilliant insights into the experience of people with disability and the importance of allyship. We loved her interactions with our MC Elly in particular.
