Dame Ellen MacArthur is famed for her talents as a sailor, having previously held the world record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe. Having been named Yachtsman of the Year and awarded the Laureus World Sports Award for Action Sportsperson of the Year, Ellen is widely regarded as an influential adventurer and along the way has developed passions for the environment. Now booked as a speaker, Ellen shares her advocacy for accelerating change towards a circular economy and shares anecdotes from her daring feats of adventure.
First learning to sail on her aunt’s boat, Ellen rose to fame as a sailor after she placed second in the Vendée Globe around the world race. After her impressive performance in the race, Ellen was honoured with the appointment of MBE for her services to sailing. From that point on Ellen took on challenges in sailing, ultimately claiming world records for a single-handed, non-stop monohull circumnavigation by a woman, the single-handed woman monohull east-to-west passage and the single-handed woman in any vessel. She has also set the world record for the transatlantic crossing by a woman, solidifying her talent and determination to succeed in sailing.
Ellen has also founded the Ellen MacArthur Trust, which is now known as the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, to help young people in their recovery from cancer and serious illnesses by giving them the opportunity to go sailing. She is also the founder of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation- a foundation created with the aim of accelerating change in the journey to a circular economy. Also outside of sailing, Ellen has authored the books Full Circle and Taking on the World and was invited to deliver the TED talk ‘The Surprising Thing I Learned Sailing Solo Around the World’, demonstrating her eloquence as a speaker.
Appointed Knight of the French Legion of Honour and DBE and named as Sailing’s Young Hope, Dame Ellen MacArthur is now a popular choice as a speaker for corporate events. Having broken several world records, Ellen is considered an inspiration for daring sailors across the globe, setting a leading example and empowering other women to get into the sport. Ellen is also booked for her expertise on sustainability and the circular economy, filling audiences with information on why we need to act against climate change and ensure the longevity of the world we live in. Encouraging businesses and organisations to replicate the balance of the natural world and increase the use of renewable energy and materials, Dame Ellen MacArthur is a fantastic speaker when looking for an expert who will help accelerate a more environmentally friendly future.
See Ellen MacArthur speaking live in this exclusive keynote speech on the power of circularity.
