Speakers

At age three, Ellie Cole’s right leg was amputated after she suffered a life-threatening sarcoma cancer, but rather than dwell on adversity, she has instead shown an incredible ability to overcome the odds. It’s not only her courageous story but her unrivalled sense of humour, wonderful humility and never-say-die attitude that make her a true inspiration.

With a record-breaking 17 Paralympic medals and an OAM and more recently an AM to her name, Ellie is an extraordinary individual. Overcoming injuries and adversity, Ellie has
risen to prolific heights and, in recognition was honoured as the flagbearer at the Tokyo 2020 Closing Ceremony.

Ellie is raw and real, funny and wonderfully charismatic, refreshingly humble and completely unaware of the true inspiration she is. As an accomplished speaker, she finds ways to connect with a variety of different audiences; whether students, corporate teams or senior boards. Ellie is incredibly passionate about the subject of diversity and inclusion, leveraging her strong platform as a media personality and former athlete to highlight important causes like #WeThe15 – a movement that endeavours for disability visibility and representation.

In 2020, Ellie featured in the Netflix original film, Rising Phoenix – a documentary that explores global understanding of disability and the excellence that is encouraged by the Paralympic Games. No stranger to the stage or screen, Ellie has been instrumental in a number of global initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion – starring in WOWOW Japan’s WHO I Am series, being invited to speak at the Cannes Lions in 2019 on the subject of diversity and inclusion not only in sport but in life, and closer to home partnering with her sponsors to deliver greater awareness of and support for the Paralympic movement and the disability community.

She has a strong and engaged social following and is well loved by the media both here and abroad. She has appeared in countless magazines and broadcast programs across a variety of networks spanning the 7 network, the ABC, SBS, 9 and 10 and most recently was announced as a key member of the Channel 9 commentary team for the Paris Olympic and Paralympics Games in 2024 and as a regular host on 9’s Wide World of Sports program.

Ellie has been featured on the cover of and in the pages of countless magazines – including Womens Health and Body & Soul, Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, and many more.

It is Ellie’s charisma and her unrivalled sense of humour that make her truly magnetic. She tells her inspiring story with her customary humility, never for a second dwelling on the odds she has beaten to be where she is today.