Dame Kelly Holmes DBE, MBE Keynote Speaker, Virtual Event Speaker

Kelly’s story is about far more than Olympic medals. Before becoming one of Britain’s most celebrated athletes, she served in the British Army for almost a decade, developing the discipline and mental toughness that would later underpin her sporting career. Her path to Olympic success was marked by injuries, disappointment and periods when she questioned whether her ambitions were still achievable. These experiences now give her Speaker presentations an authenticity that resonates far beyond the sporting world.

Mental health has become an important part of Kelly’s work. She has spoken openly about her own experiences of depression and uses her platform to encourage more open conversations around mental wellbeing. As a Speaker, she combines personal experience with practical perspectives on creating healthier, more supportive workplaces. She also champions women’s confidence, inclusion and empowerment through her Athena Effect work.

Kelly remains closely connected to youth development through the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, the charity she founded to harness the experience of world-class athletes to help young people build confidence, resilience and positive behaviours. The Trust’s current mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of 10,000 young people facing challenges across the UK by 2032.

Her influence continues to grow beyond sport. In 2026, Kelly was recognised in the Pride Power List and continues to use her public platform to champion inclusion, wellbeing and positive representation. As a Speaker, she offers audiences an exceptional combination of sporting excellence, lived experience and practical insight into what it takes to keep moving forward when the path becomes difficult.