Damian Bourke

AFL leader, Everest climber and resilience speaker inspiring audiences through extraordinary adversity and achievement

Overview

Damian Bourke is a former AFL captain, Everest mountaineer, property developer, lawyer and keynote speaker whose life has been defined by resilience, leadership and an unwavering commitment to overcoming challenges. From leading the Geelong Cats at just 21 years of age to surviving life-threatening conditions on Mount Everest, Damian's experiences provide powerful lessons in courage, perseverance and performing under pressure. His inspiring presentations leave audiences with practical insights into leadership, mental toughness and thriving through adversity.

Who is Damian Bourke?

Damian Bourke has built an extraordinary career across elite sport, adventure, business and law. His leadership journey began in Australian Rules football, where he became the youngest captain in AFL history when appointed captain of the Geelong Football Club at just 21 years old. During his AFL career, he played 124 games, represented Victoria and led Geelong to the 1989 AFL Grand Final.

Following his playing career, Damian remained involved in elite sport as an Assistant Coach with the Brisbane Lions, contributing to their premiership-winning campaigns in 2001 and 2002. Beyond football, he pursued ambitious challenges in both business and adventure, developing more than $300 million worth of property projects and later completing a law degree to become a family mediator.

Damian is also one of the few Australians to have climbed Mount Everest twice. His mountaineering experiences include surviving the devastating 2015 Nepal earthquake and avalanches on Everest, as well as enduring extreme conditions in the mountain's infamous "Death Zone" where he suffered serious injuries during a life-threatening expedition.

Career Highlights

• Youngest AFL captain in history at age 21
• Former captain of the Geelong Football Club
• Played 124 AFL games and represented Victoria
• Led Geelong to the 1989 AFL Grand Final
• Assistant Coach of the Brisbane Lions during the 2001 and 2002 premiership seasons
• Successfully climbed Mount Everest twice
• Survivor of the 2015 Nepal earthquake and Everest avalanches
• Developed more than $300 million in property projects
• Qualified lawyer and family mediator
• International keynote speaker on resilience and leadership

Key Speaking Themes

• Resilience through adversity
• Leadership under pressure
• Courage and decision-making in high-risk environments
• Mental toughness and perseverance
• Teamwork, trust and accountability
• Overcoming setbacks and uncertainty
• High performance and personal growth
• Reinvention and lifelong learning

What Your Audience Will Gain

Damian shares powerful lessons drawn from elite sport, extreme mountaineering, business leadership and personal adversity. Audiences gain practical strategies for managing pressure, navigating setbacks and maintaining focus in challenging circumstances. His authentic storytelling demonstrates how resilience, preparation and determination can help individuals and teams achieve extraordinary outcomes despite significant obstacles.

Ideal For

• Leadership and executive conferences
• High-performance and resilience events
• Corporate strategy and team-building programmes
• Sporting and athlete development forums
• Business and entrepreneurial conferences
• Inspirational keynote sessions and gala events

Frequently Asked Questions...

What does Damian Bourke speak about?
Damian Bourke speaks about leadership, resilience, overcoming adversity, mental toughness, teamwork, high performance and achieving goals in challenging environments.

Who is Damian Bourke?
Damian Bourke is a former AFL captain, Everest climber, property developer, lawyer, family mediator and keynote speaker.

What is Damian Bourke best known for?
Damian is best known for captaining Geelong at a young age, climbing Mount Everest twice and overcoming extraordinary challenges throughout his sporting, business and personal life.

Did Damian Bourke climb Mount Everest?
Yes. Damian has successfully climbed Mount Everest twice and survived several life-threatening situations on the mountain, including the 2015 Nepal earthquake and avalanche disaster.

What role did Damian Bourke have in AFL football?
Damian captained the Geelong Football Club, played 124 AFL games, represented Victoria and later served as an Assistant Coach with the Brisbane Lions during their premiership years.

What business experience does Damian Bourke have?
Damian has developed more than $300 million in property projects and later completed a law degree before becoming a family mediator.

Why do organisations book Damian Bourke as a keynote speaker?
Organisations value Damian's unique combination of leadership experience, extreme adversity, business success and inspiring life lessons that resonate with a wide range of audiences.

Is Damian Bourke available for keynote speaking engagements?
Yes. Damian Bourke is available for conferences, leadership programmes, corporate events and keynote presentations throughout Australia and internationally.