Every action matters
Passion gets you started. Purpose gets you through. For launching a sustainability commitment or climate panel: the sea of plastic, the science she collected at sea, and why every action matters.
Check availabilityAbout the keynoteLaunching a sustainability commitment, a climate strategy or a panel, and need your people to genuinely care, not just comply?
1,000 miles from land, with her mast down and her boat breaking apart around her, Lisa Blair learned that resilience doesn't come from willpower. It comes from knowing why it matters. That's what she brings into your room, from the fastest person, and the first woman, to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around Antarctica.
How the keynote lands for you
Lisa's purpose was born in a sea of plastic. She renamed her boat Climate Action Now, wrapped it in thousands of people's climate pledges, and on her 2022 record she woke at 4am and 6am every day for 92 days to collect microplastics samples from the Southern Ocean. Every sample analysed contained plastic.
Her next expedition, the Arctic Impact Project, is only possible because the ice is retreating. Alongside it she's part of a $1.9 million research collaboration with UNSW and industry partners developing basalt fibre and bio-resin boats as an alternative to fibreglass. For sustainability launches, the keynote is honest about the problem and focused on what people can do, because every action matters.
Panels and sustainability events: Lisa is also a sought-after panellist and fireside guest for climate panels, sustainability summits, World Environment Day, World Oceans Day and ESG events, where she brings the science she's collected at sea and the story of sailing a boat that climate change made possible.
Ideal for: Sustainability and ESG launches, climate panels, industry conferences, councils and community events.
The moments that matter most here
A sea of plastic
Racing around the world, she saw a styrofoam box drifting 20 days from land, then sailed through water so thick with rubbish a crew member had to push it off the bow. It changed her. Over the next few years she set out to sail solo around Antarctica, bought her first boat, named it Climate Action Now and wrapped it in thousands of handwritten climate pledges.
That's where she found her purpose.
1,000 miles from land
On day 72 of that first attempt, her mast came crashing down in the night and began cutting the boat in half. Hypothermic, alone, frozen at the bow, she could have set off her beacon. She didn't. It wasn't the boat and it wasn't willpower: it was Sally and her short showers, and every other promise wrapped around that hull.
Purpose got her hand back on the rail.
Going back
She finished as the first woman to sail solo around Antarctica, and came home feeling she'd failed. Five years later she went back and became the fastest person ever to do it solo, non-stop and unassisted.
Purpose is what's worth going back for.
The business case for purpose
Teams don't break because they're weak. They break when they lose sight of why it matters. People with a strong sense of purpose are far less likely to burn out: 11% report regular burnout, compared with 52% of people with weak purpose (Gallup and Stand Together). In a five-year study of more than 5,000 employees, people with passion and purpose performed in the 80th percentile, against the 20th for passion alone (Morten Hansen, Great at Work). And customers notice: half of UK consumers would switch to a brand with stronger sustainability credentials (Fox + Hare).
Lisa doesn't hand your people a model. She takes them onto the boat, and leaves every one of them with their own answer to the question that carried her around Antarctica: what are you sailing for?
From the people who booked her
"Lisa's captivating presentation underpinned by her vision of a cleaner, healthier environment left us inspired and committed to engage on matters that can affect our world for generations to come. Exceptional!"
Tony Hartin, Managing Director, Refuelling Solutions
"Lisa's presentation was so well received, with the audience in awe of her achievements and the message she was delivering, so much so that she received a standing ovation."
Dawn Newman OAM, International Zonta Convention (1,700 delegates)
"Lisa's story is captivating, firstly enthralling us with her dream and passion for her task at hand, then taking us on her journey of euphoria, tears, heartbreak and finally success. Those that take the time to listen to her come out with life lessons and are better people for it."
Domenic Genua, BIA Sydney International Boat Show
Other audiences
Questions organisers ask
Does Lisa Blair speak on climate change and sustainability?
Yes. Lisa founded the Climate Action Now campaign, collected microplastics samples on her 2022 Antarctic record, and is part of a sustainable boat-building research collaboration through her Arctic Impact Project.
Is it suitable for corporate audiences?
Yes. It's hopeful and solutions-focused rather than alarmist, and lands well at sustainability launches, ESG events, climate panels, councils and industry conferences.
Purpose builds resilience. Let's bring it to your people.
Tell us your date, location and audience, and Lisa will come back to you personally with availability and fees. Speaker bureaus and agencies are welcome.
Check availabilityCall 0431 302 088