Dr Brendan Burkett OAM

His achievements in life speak for themselves. Despite losing his leg in a hit-and-run accident in 1985, Brendan’s strength of character has turned tragedy into triumph.

On the sporting field, Brendan is the Paralympic Champion, World Champion, World Record holder, Commonwealth Games and Australian multiple medallist.

He is a fixture for leading and motivating the Australian Paralympic Team, as demonstrated by his appointments as Australian team captain for the Atlanta team in 1996 and as the Opening Ceremony Flag bearer in Sydney 2000 – Australia’s most successful sporting team. Brendan is an inductee in the Sunshine Coast Sports Hall of Fame, Swimming Queensland Hall of Fame, and a ‘Sporting Legend’ in Queensland’s Sports Hall of Fame.

Since retiring as a Paralympic athlete in 2000 Brendan has been part of the Australian team for the next five Paralympic Games with roles of sport scientist and as Head Coach for the Australian Paralympic swimming team at the 2020 Tokyo games and the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, which makes representing Australia for nine consecutive Paralympic Games as an athlete and then as a staff member.

Brendan has combined his love of sports and quest for knowledge uniquely. This is best exemplified in his achievements which integrate success in the international sporting arena as well as the completion of a degree and master’s in engineering, followed with a Ph.D. in Biomechanics. In 2000 he was awarded the Institution of Engineers Australia, Professional Engineer of the Year Award.

His work experience includes 5 years as a consulting engineer, which included 12 months as an engineer on the oil rigs in the North Sea (the first person with a disability to apply, pass the offshore medical, and then work on the oil rigs).

Brendan has held several community roles, such as Chair of the Sunshine Coast Sports Hall of Fame, the Sunshine Coast Sports Federation, board director with the Queensland Academy of Sport, a board member of the Paralympics Australia governing body and an athlete representative on the International Paralympic Committee.

He has a broad range of experience in public speaking, from after-dinner speeches, to keynote conference presentations and motivational corporate seminars. When you combine these refined presentation skills with his entertaining and inspirational life you are assured of an extremely professional presentation.

As a public speaker and motivator Brendan’s achievements speak for themselves. His inspiring and humorous speeches will equip you with the skills to lead and motivate your team.