Trust is the foundation of high performance. Without trust in yourself and your team the extra ordinary is not attainable.
Featured in the award-winning Netflix documentary THE BLIND SEA, Matt Formston is an international icon of resilience and achievement.
Living with less than 3% vision due to Macular Dystrophy, Matt has pushed the limits as a Guinness World Record holder for big wave surfing. He gained global media attention for riding Nazaré, Portugal’s infamous and most dangerous wave—a setting demanding absolute focus and trust, where teamwork can mean the difference between life and death. His historic feats earned him the 2023 Surfing Australia Heavy Water Award, the first para-athlete globally to receive this honour. He is also recognised for his AM and induction as a Member of the Order of Australia, celebrating his sporting and advocacy impact.
Matt’s celebrated achievements on and off the waves extend beyond sport. He is a Paralympian and world champion in multiple disciplines, including both surfing and cycling, and is also the author of an award-winning book. Throughout his journey, Matt has worked with leading global brands such as Google, Apple, Adobe, Amazon, the Australian Defence Force, as well as top NRL and AFL teams, helping organisations and athletes embrace leadership, innovation, and a performance mindset.
In addition to his sporting and speaking career, Matt has over 20 years of experience leading teams in the Oceania and Asia Pacific ICT market. In this highly innovative and competitive sector, he has developed a unique perspective on cultivating high-performing cultures, with a strong emphasis on values and collaboration.
Matt’s presentations focus on mindfulness, mindset, and resilience. Audiences praise his ability to translate personal experience into practical lessons about overcoming adversity, building robust team cultures, and reframing limitations. His emphasis on values and culture as keys to sustained success resonates with organisations and individuals alike.
Matt Formston’s story inspires people around the world. He is one of the most sought-after speakers globally in both the business and sporting arenas, leaving a lasting impact wherever he shares his journey.
Talking Points
Unleashing the ‘CAN’ mindset: Defying limits and achieving the extraordinary
Matt’s life has been defined by defying limitations. Despite being blind, he challenged societal expectations and excelled in mainstream school, football, ice hockey, and surfing. His journey taught him that the world often says « you can’t, » but through determination and a ‘Can’ mindset, remarkable achievements are possible. By crafting a solid plan, setting ambitious goals, and embracing unwavering determination, you can transcend imposed limitations and accomplish feats beyond imagination. Join Matt in shattering barriers and embracing the transformative power of the ‘Can’ mindset.
Unleashing the ‘CAN’ mindset: Defying limits and achieving the extraordinary
Forging trust in teams and leadership: The crucial pillar of success
Trust is the linchpin of successful teams and leadership, especially in high-stakes environments like big wave surfing where it’s a matter of life and death. Building trust requires transparent communication, listening, and a commitment to shared goals. Join Matt in exploring the profound impact of trust, unravelling its complexities, and navigating challenges together with trust as our guiding force.
Forging trust in teams and leadership: The crucial pillar of success
Embrace your uniqueness: Turning differences into
Unlock your extraordinary potential by celebrating your uniqueness—it’s your ultimate superpower. Matt’s journey illustrates the transformative power of embracing diversity. From concealing his differences to celebrating them, Matt has learned that his disability is his unique differentiator. Leading with his disability as a strength, he showcases the positive impact it has had on his life, becoming a better problem solver, resilient individual, and exceptional communicator. Join Matt in embracing diversity, revolutionising the narrative, and paving the way for a future where our unique qualities are recognised as the superpowers that propel us to greater heights.
Embrace your uniqueness: Turning differences into
Unleashing your potential: Setting audacious goals for extraordinary success
Embark on a journey of realising your true capabilities by daring to set outrageously ambitious goals. From envisioning himself riding for Australia without owning a bike in 2009 to becoming a World Champion and holding a World Record by 2014, Matt’s story showcases the power of setting almost unattainable goals. Success results from consistent dedication, manifested through daily habits and unwavering commitment. With crystal-clear goals, a well-thought-out plan, and a cohesive team, you have the capability to achieve the extraordinary. Join Matt in exploring the transformative power of audacious goal-setting and unlocking untapped potential.
Unleashing your potential: Setting audacious goals for extraordinary success
Video
Matt Formston | There is no such thing as can't | Saxton Speakers
Matt may be blind, however his clarity on his purpose and goals is laser focused. He has been a Keynote speaker sharing his life story and how to turn your differences into superpowers for 15 years. Matt's passion is to inspire leaders and teams with a can-do mindset and how to defy the limits to achieve the extraordinary. With over 20 years of experience as an executive and big wave surfer, I want to empower people to embrace uniqueness, diversity, and inclusion to forge trust in teams and leadership, crucial to any organisation’s success.The Blind Sea - Official Trailer
Trailer for incredible new surf documentary on blind surfer Matt Formston and his attempt to surf the monster waves of Nazare PortugalTaking On Nazaré: Blind Surfer Matt Formston Takes On The World's Biggest Wave
Portugal's Nazaré is home to some of the world's biggest and most dangerous waves. Over the weekend, Aussie surfer Matt Formston conquered the famous break by riding a 12-metre monster. What's extra impressive is he managed it with just 5% vision.Matt inspired our team and clients with his story of setting audacious goals and how he achieves them. He is vulnerable in the way he shares stories around the diversity he has faced in life ... keep reading Kaseya
Matt is one of those extraordinary people who has so much to teach all of us in how we might best live our lives. His courage, curiosity and determination to never be defined by what others think is possible have allowed him to achieve the unimaginable. But it is his values of kindness and care for others; his joy for life and great sense of humour that make him a very person to know and collaborate with.
The audience engaged with Matthew and were inspired about his determination to use his disability to an advantage. Matthew participated in our event with photos and discussions with our guests and felt a connection with him. Our guests felt inspired, and most will follow Matthew in his new challenges as a great Australian.
Matt's story was enough to motivate our audience; however, it was his down-to-earth personality that really hit home. He was also willing to hang around in the breaks and chat to anyone; he was really popular at these times.
