MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING | MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKERS | SPORT
Brad Smeele
Brad Smeele: Professional Wakeboarder, Author, and Inspirational Speaker
Brad Smeele is a powerful example of resilience, reinvention, and the strength of the human spirit. A former world champion wakeboarder, Brad was at the top of his sport when a life-changing crash in 2014 left him quadriplegic.
Since then, Brad has turned unimaginable adversity into a mission to inspire and empower others. His autobiography Owning It, released in 2022, has touched readers all over the world with its raw honesty and unwavering hope. In 2025, Brad continues to share his journey through keynote speaking, mentoring, and online content that reaches people far beyond the sports community.
Brad speaks with a rare openness about the mental and emotional challenges of rebuilding a life after trauma. His storytelling is disarmingly authentic — equal parts confronting and uplifting. He’s passionate about helping people find purpose beyond setbacks, own their challenges, and embrace life fully, no matter what cards they’re dealt.
On stage, Brad brings a calm but deeply moving presence. He’s not about sugar-coating; he’s about showing audiences what true courage looks like in real life. In recent years, Brad has spoken at leadership summits, youth resilience programmes, corporate wellbeing events, and community fundraisers across New Zealand and internationally.
Ideal for:
Leadership and resilience conferences
Health and wellbeing events
Corporate inspiration and team-building sessions
Youth and school motivational talks
Community fundraisers and awareness events
Brad’s story leaves people rethinking what’s possible, reconnecting with their own sense of gratitude, and ready to face challenges with renewed perspective.
Testimonials
"A great storyteller that had the audience glued to every word. The day was a huge success and Brad sharing his experiences and the knowledge was a crowd favourite and the highlight."
Neil Jackson - Head of Auckland Sales – New Zealand Media and Entertainment
"Brad is able to create a special and unique atmosphere when speaking. He has the ability to develop a very open, honest and safe environment when communicating with others. This ability allows Brad to engage with his audience on a very deep emotional level, influencing, inspiring and motivating those in attendance in a way like no other."
Brad Davis - INFINZ Young Finance Professions, Auckland Chair of the Board
"Brad is a very accomplished and entertaining speaker who spoke to our students with a specific message for their age and stage in their lives. His speech inspired our boys to challenge themselves in the future, to live their lives by three core attributes through attitude, effort and action."
Grayson Aspinall - B.Ed, Dip Tchg Deputy Principal
