Born in Zimbabwe, Miles initially intended to follow in his father’s footsteps by becoming a fighter pilot. Having failed the eye test required to join the Royal Rhodesian Air Force, Miles was forced to give up his dream of becoming a pilot for the time being. He was diagnosed with a serious eye condition several years later.
Inspired by the accomplishments of his brother Geoff – who became the first blind person ever to cross an ocean solo – Miles went on to show immense perseverance and mental strength in overcoming some of the most extreme challenges the world has to offer. Having spent 30 years living with, as puts it, "a victim mentality", Miles decided to radically change his life at the age of 50 and he has gone on to establish numerous world records across the globe. He has undertaken his exploits on seven continents, achieving vast success in the fields of powerboat racing, mountaineering, supersonic flying, scuba-diving, polar and desert ultra-marathons, long-distance flying, aerobatic flying and motor racing.
With a string of astonishing accomplishments to his name, to name but a few, Miles completed a successful ascent of the highest mountain in the Alps – the Mont Blanc (15,777 feet), a long-distance run across the Gobi Desert, a desert region in Asia that spans an area of 500,002 square miles, he set the Malaysian Grand Prix lap record for a blind driver, and he was the first blind pilot to successfully fly from London to Sydney (21,000 kilometres) in a micro-light.
Serving as an immense inspiration for all those around him, Miles has also been able to carve out a rewarding career as one of the world’s most accomplished and inspiring motivational speakers on the speaking circuit. A passionate believer in the idea that success is found in our inner response to external circumstances, Miles has inspired professionals from all walks of life and in all fields of expertise. Making regular appearances at corporate events and conferences, Miles has delivered motivational speeches over 1,000 speeches at corporate events and in 69 countries around the world.
Setting himself apart from other after dinner speakers on the circuit, Miles’ accomplishments demonstrate the importance of pushing your limits – no matter how insurmountable they may seem. As such, he is the perfect speaker for events of all shapes and sizes.