Brad Smeele

World champion wakeboarder, bestselling author and resilience speaker inspiring audiences to own their challenges

Overview

Brad Smeele is a world champion wakeboarder, bestselling author and inspirational keynote speaker whose extraordinary story of resilience has captivated audiences around the globe. After a life-changing accident left him a quadriplegic at just 27 years old, Brad was forced to rebuild his life from the ground up. Today, he shares powerful lessons on resilience, adaptability, mindset and personal ownership, helping individuals and organisations navigate adversity and thrive through change.

Who is Brad Smeele?

Brad Smeele was living the dream as one of the world's leading wakeboarders, travelling internationally and pushing the limits of his sport. In 2014, he landed a groundbreaking trick that earned him Wakeboarding Trick of the Year and cemented his reputation as one of the sport's most exciting athletes.

Just months later, while attempting to repeat the same trick, Brad suffered a devastating crash that broke his neck and left him paralysed from the shoulders down. The injury instantly changed every aspect of his life and forced him to confront challenges most people could never imagine.

Following years of rehabilitation, depression, self-discovery and personal growth, Brad transformed his perspective and rebuilt his life around purpose, gratitude and possibility. Rather than allowing his circumstances to define him, he chose to take ownership of his future, a philosophy that became the foundation of his bestselling autobiography, Owning It – The Ride That Changed My Life.

Today, Brad is one of New Zealand's most inspiring keynote speakers, sharing practical lessons on resilience, adaptability and the human capacity to overcome even the most difficult challenges.

Career Highlights

• Former world champion wakeboarder
• Winner of Wakeboarding Trick of the Year (2014)
• Internationally recognised motivational keynote speaker
• Author of bestselling autobiography Owning It – The Ride That Changed My Life
• Successfully wrote his autobiography using a mouth-stick stylus
• Influential advocate for resilience, mindset and personal growth
• Featured in major media outlets for his inspiring life story
• Inspires audiences globally through speaking engagements and social influence

Key Speaking Themes

• Resilience through adversity
• Adapting to change and uncertainty
• Mindset and mental strength
• Personal responsibility and ownership
• Overcoming setbacks and challenges
• Gratitude and perspective
• High performance and personal growth
• Finding purpose after life-changing events

What Your Audience Will Gain

Brad provides audiences with a powerful framework for navigating adversity, embracing change and finding opportunity in difficult circumstances. Attendees gain practical insights into resilience, mindset and personal accountability, while being inspired by a real-life story that demonstrates the incredible capacity of the human spirit. His honest and uplifting approach leaves audiences motivated to tackle challenges with greater courage, perspective and determination.

Ideal For

• Leadership and resilience conferences
• Corporate culture and wellbeing events
• High-performance and mindset programmes
• Education and youth leadership events
• Healthcare and rehabilitation conferences
• Community and inspirational speaker series

Frequently Asked Questions...

What does Brad Smeele speak about?
Brad speaks about resilience, overcoming adversity, adapting to change, mindset, personal ownership, mental wellbeing and finding purpose after setbacks.

Who is Brad Smeele?
Brad Smeele is a former world champion wakeboarder, author and keynote speaker who rebuilt his life after a devastating accident left him a quadriplegic.

What happened to Brad Smeele?
In 2014, Brad suffered a life-changing wakeboarding accident that broke his neck and left him paralysed from the shoulders down.

What is Brad Smeele's book about?
His autobiography, Owning It – The Ride That Changed My Life, shares his journey through injury, recovery, resilience and personal transformation.

Why is Brad Smeele such an inspiring speaker?
His remarkable ability to overcome adversity, embrace change and create a fulfilling life after a devastating injury resonates deeply with audiences.

What lessons does Brad Smeele teach?
Brad teaches audiences how to take ownership of challenges, build resilience, develop a stronger mindset and find opportunity during difficult times.

Who benefits most from Brad Smeele's presentations?
Leaders, teams, students, athletes and organisations facing change, adversity or performance challenges gain significant value from his story and insights.

Is Brad Smeele available for keynote presentations and events?
Yes. Brad Smeele is available for keynote speaking engagements, conferences, leadership events and resilience programmes throughout New Zealand and internationally.