Share
Anna Hemmings MBE OLY Profile Picture

Keynote SpeakerAnna Hemmings MBE OLY

2 x Olympian & 6 x World Champion, Award Winning Speaker, High Performance Coach – empowering leaders and teams to achieve and sustain high performance

Anna Hemmings is a leading authority on sustained high performance. Drawing on her background as a 6x World Champion and 2x Olympian, she works with organisations that know getting to the top is tough, but staying there is even harder. By fusing proven strategies from elite sport with the psychology... Read more

Watch Anna Hemmings MBE OLY in action

Popular Talks by Anna Hemmings MBE OLY

  • Built to THRIVE: The Mindset, Habits, and Culture of Sustained Excellence

    Sustaining elite performance year after year requires a deliberate, repeatable strategy—especially when the landscape is uncertain and constantly changing. Becoming a World Champion requires immense grit, but staying at the top and remaining undefeated for 8 years requires a completely different level of mindset, habits, and culture. Developed through the…
  • Resilience: Success in the Face of Adversity

    Anna’s sporting career was a rollercoaster of highs, lows, and immense expectations. Her ultimate test of resilience came when she was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Overcoming that profound setback to return to the world stage required a complete reframing of her mindset and habits. Anna shares the exact strategies…
  • Building World Class Teams

    High-performing teams aren’t born; they are built through a deliberate fusion of mindset and behaviours. Drawing on her experience of being part of World Class teams, winning world titles in both solo and doubles disciplines, combined with her experience as a team development coach to corporate teams over the last…

Biography

Anna Hemmings is a leading authority on sustained high performance. Drawing on her background as a 6x World Champion and 2x Olympian, she works with organisations that know getting to the top is tough, but staying there is even harder. By fusing proven strategies from elite sport with the psychology of performance, she helps leaders and teams build the specific behaviours and culture required to perform at the highest level and sustain it year after year.

Anna’s journey is a masterclass in resilience. By the age of 24, she was a 3x World Champion and Olympian, achieving success against the odds. Told by the British head coach that she was not big enough or strong enough to reach the top, she proved him wrong. At the peak of her career, Anna was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Medical experts told her she might never race again. She battled her way to full recovery and to win 3 more world titles and compete at her second Olympic Games in Beijing 2008. She retired with a staggering 11 World and European Championship medals – 9 of them gold, crowning her Britain’s most successful female kayaker. In 2010, she was awarded an MBE for services to sport.

Since retiring from sport, Anna has specialised in helping leaders and teams build the mindset, habits and culture needed to thrive and stay at the top of their game.  She’s an accredited Leadership Coach and founded Beyond the Barriers training consultancy.

Her expertise sits at the intersection of elite sports performance and corporate reality. 15 years working closely with senior leaders has given her a deep understanding of the intensity of the corporate environment. She brings the discipline and mindset of world-class sport together with actionable tools to help leaders drive the behaviours for sustained excellence.

With 18 years’ of global speaking experience across more than 40 countries, Anna is more than an entertaining storyteller.

She energises the room, her speeches are high impact, her techniques practical and tailored to each client’s challenges. She connects inspiring insights from elite sport directly to the realities her audiences face, giving them relevant frameworks they can use immediately. Clients consistently praise her warmth, authenticity, and ability to shift mindsets.

Anna’s collaborative approach ensures a seamless experience for event planners and an unforgettable one for attendees. Beyond thought-provoking keynotes, she offers breakout sessions, follow up workshops and leadership and team development training to embed learning and maximise impact.

 

Ready to invite Anna Hemmings MBE OLY to your event?

Tell us about your event, one of our consultants will reach out within 24 hours.

What clients say about Anna Hemmings MBE OLY

“We loved Anna’s insight into how to maintain a winning mindset in sport and business to stay at the top of your game every day. We'll certainly be looking to use Anna again and I'd highly recommend her to anyone else.” Spencer Gore, CEO, EMG-Health
“It was one of the best motivational talks translating high performance in sports into the business world that I’ve heard. We’re all going away with many wonderful insights and take-aways.” Emma Whitaker, Communications Director, Hitachi ABB Power Grids
“We were looking for an event to showcase resilience and to give an empowering message to our employees – Anna’s virtual session wholeheartedly fulfilled this purpose. She shared her inspiring journey and brought a number of skills-based techniques and solutions to dealing with challenges and building resilience. This combination made the presentation highly engaging, meaningful and motivational!” Anna Kenton, Deloitte LLP
“The team were totally blown away by Anna! The focus on the importance of mindset, ambitious goals and team work was inspirational for the team. Seeing how an Olympian athlete addresses the challenges we all face day to day opened everyone's minds to the power of mindset and team collaboration. I would definitely recommend Anna to any team who are looking to grow & improve performance!” Rhian Emnanuel, Retail Financial Services Director, Coutts Bank
“I very much appreciate how you led the keynote and workshop and the impact it had on my team - there was overwhelming positive feedback, and the way in which you connected your incredible achievements with some practical techniques and strategies very much resonated with the team. A big thank you for tailoring the session for us.” Vicky Woods, Managing Director, Nestle Nutrition
“One of the highlights of our event was a powerful keynote speech from Anna Hemmings! She shared her inspiring journey, emphasizing resilience, mental toughness, and the mindset needed to overcome challenges — lessons that resonate deeply in both sports and business leadership. Her insights and the framework she applies on what it takes to be a high performing organization were truly impactful and sparked great discussions amongst our guests. A very engaging and motivating talk.” Andrew Worsley-Tonks, Partner, Head of SAP EMEA Business Consulting, IBM
“A fantastically engaging and inspirational speaker! The event was for high-level execs at Danone and the audience loved her, her energy, and her messages. I really appreciated how she tailored the talk to the specific audience - studying up on our culture, strategy, goals, challenges (she really "did her homework"!). An absolute delight of a person and speaker, couldn't recommend her more!” Sabrina Gaber, Communications Manager, Danone

How to book Anna Hemmings MBE OLY as a keynote speaker

How do I book Anna Hemmings MBE OLY for a keynote speech?

You can book Anna Hemmings MBE OLY through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Anna's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.

What are Anna Hemmings MBE OLY's speaking fees?

Anna Hemmings MBE OLY's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Anna tailored to your event.

What topics does Anna Hemmings MBE OLY speak about?

Anna Hemmings MBE OLY speaks on Leadership & Motivation, Mental Health, Motivation, Performance, Teamwork. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Anna to align the content with your delegates and goals.

Is Anna Hemmings MBE OLY available for international events?

London Speaker Bureau can book Anna Hemmings MBE OLY for events worldwide, subject to Anna's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.

Does Anna Hemmings MBE OLY deliver virtual or online keynotes?

Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Anna Hemmings MBE OLY is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).

How long is a typical keynote by Anna Hemmings MBE OLY?

Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Anna can accommodate.

Can Anna Hemmings MBE OLY tailor the keynote to our industry and audience?

London Speaker Bureau will brief Anna Hemmings MBE OLY on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Anna can offer.

What languages does Anna Hemmings MBE OLY present in?

Anna Hemmings MBE OLY delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.

What makes Anna Hemmings MBE OLY a strong fit as a keynote speaker?

Anna Hemmings MBE OLY's areas of expertise include Leadership & Motivation, Mental Health, Motivation, Performance, Teamwork. To get a clear sense of Anna's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.

What kind of events can Anna Hemmings MBE OLY speak at?

Anna Hemmings MBE OLY can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Leadership & Motivation, Mental Health, Motivation, Performance, Teamwork is relevant. Details of Anna's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.

Does Anna Hemmings MBE OLY offer workshops, panels or fireside chats in addition to keynotes?

Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Anna Hemmings MBE OLY is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.

How far in advance should we book Anna Hemmings MBE OLY?

We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Anna Hemmings MBE OLY, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Anna's current availability for your dates.