Dr Richard “Harry” Harris has worked in anaesthesia, diving, wilderness and aeromedical medicine around the world. His passion for cave diving goes back to the 1980’s and has taken him to the corners of the globe in search of new adventures. Harry and his colleagues have explored caves to 245m... Read more
Dr Richard “Harry” Harris has worked in anaesthesia, diving, wilderness and aeromedical medicine around the world.
His passion for cave diving goes back to the 1980’s and has taken him to the corners of the globe in search of new adventures.
Harry and his colleagues have explored caves to 245m depth, and shipwrecks to over 150m, in dives lasting over 16 hours. He is an enthusiastic UW photographer and videographer who is now also building a career in documentary films.
Richard Harris has a professional and voluntary interest in search and rescue operations, establishing the first sump rescue training course in Australasia. By building relationships with emergency services locally he has been preparing for such an event. The 2018 Thailand cave rescue was an opportunity to put this training to work.
In 2018 he was called by British cave divers to assist with the rescue of 12 young boys and their soccer coach from deep within a flooded cave in a remote part Northern Thailand. Over three exhausting days, the 13 Thais were extricated using a very high risk, unprecedented and untested technique combining general anaesthesia with cave diving.
In his talks, Harry reveals the depths of the moral dilemmas, the physical danger to the rescuers and the ‘impossible’ decision points that finally lead to a successful outcome. His improbable combination of skills led to him being labelled a unicorn, and he now describes how we can all better prepare for the unknown challenges that inevitably lie ahead.
In 2018 he received the Star of Courage, Australia’s second highest civilian award for bravery, and the medal of the Order of Australia for his role in the Thailand cave rescue. Along with many of the other rescuers, he was also awarded the Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Direkgunabhorn by the Thai Prime Minister.
Richard Harris was the 2019 Australian of the Year for South Australia and the joint 2019 Australian of the Year with his dive partner Craig Challen.
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You can book Richard Harris through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Richard's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Richard Harris'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 Richard tailored to your event.
Richard Harris speaks on Leadership & Motivation, Motivation, Performance, Sports, 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 Richard to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Richard Harris for events worldwide, subject to Richard's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Richard Harris is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
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 Richard can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Richard Harris 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 Richard can offer.
Richard Harris 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.
Richard Harris's areas of expertise include Leadership & Motivation, Motivation, Performance, Sports, Teamwork. To get a clear sense of Richard'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.
Richard Harris 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, Motivation, Performance, Sports, Teamwork is relevant. Details of Richard'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.
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 Richard Harris is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Richard Harris, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Richard's current availability for your dates.