Olympic Gold & Bronze Medal-Winning Field Hockey Player, Spent 13 Years as Team GB & England Captain & Inductee of the European Hall of Fame
Kate Richardson-Walsh’s Biography:
Kate Richardson-Walsh is best known as one of Great Britain’s most successful and influential hockey players of all time. Renowned for her exceptional leadership, she captained both the England and Great Britain teams for an extraordinary 13 years, earning a record-breaking 375 caps. As the face of British hockey through four Olympic Games, four Commonwealth Games and four Hockey World Cups, she built a legacy defined by resilience, teamwork and medal-winning performances. Today, she is equally celebrated as an inspiring keynote speaker, known for her honesty, humour and profound insights into elite performance and leadership.
Kate’s early career set the foundation for her remarkable journey. Bursting onto the international scene in her teens, she quickly became recognised for her determination, tactical intelligence and unwavering commitment to her sport. Her rapid rise earned her early accolades, including the Hockey Writers Club UK Player of the Year Award as early as 2003. Alongside her playing commitments, Kate contributed to athlete welfare and governance, having been elected to the British Olympic Association Athletes’ Commission, underlining her respected voice within the sporting community.
Her achievements are nothing short of extraordinary. Throughout her 375 appearances, she scored 49 goals and accumulated 19 medals, culminating in the unforgettable Olympic Gold at Rio 2016. Along the way, she collected a World Cup Bronze, two Commonwealth Games Silver medals and several prestigious personal honours, including multiple GB and England Player of the Year awards and induction into the European Hall of Fame. Even after retirement, her impact continued to be recognised, including being awarded the National Lottery Spirit of Sport Award. Appointed MBE in 2015 and later OBE in 2017, she remains one of the most decorated figures in British hockey.
Following her professional playing career, Kate moved into coaching, punditry and advocacy. She has served as Head Coach for Hampstead & Westminster Ladies XI, provided expert commentary for BT Sport and the BBC across major tournaments, and supported numerous equality initiatives as an Ambassador of the Women’s Sport Trust and Access Sport. She also Co-Chairs the International Hockey Federation Athletes’ Commission and is currently Assistant Coach for Field Hockey Canada. As Co-Founder of Be Create Inspire Ltd and co-author of ‘Winning Together’, she continues to champion positive team culture, equality and high performance worldwide.
Why Hire Kate Richardson-Walsh?
Kate is hired as a speaker for her powerful ability to translate elite sporting values—resilience, teamwork, communication, inclusion and leadership—into real-world lessons for organisations. Warm, articulate and deeply authentic, she draws on decades of high-pressure experience to inspire audiences to perform under pressure, build winning cultures and embrace diversity. Her Olympic journey, paired with her work in governance, coaching and advocacy, makes her one of the UK’s most compelling voices on team dynamics and high performance.
Kate Richardson-Walsh’s Career Highlights:
Below showcases Kate Richardson-Walsh’s career throughout adventure, environmental advocacy and public service:
- 2025 – Featured on the Olympic Channel Podcast
- 2023 – Assistant Coach of Field Hockey Canada
- 2021 – Co-Founder of Be Create Inspire Ltd
- 2021 – Co-Author of “Winning Together: An Olympic-Winning Approach to Building Better Teams”
- 2019 – Co-Chair of the Athlete’s Commission for the International Hockey Federation
- 2018 – Head Coach for Hampstead & Westminster Ladies XI
- 2017 – Awarded the National Lottery Spirit of Sport Award at the Sports Journalist’s Association British Sports Awards
- 2017 – Inducted into the European Hall of Fame
- 2017 – Presented with the England Hockey Member of Honour, the highest honour in English hockey
- 2017 – Appointed OBE for Services to Hockey
- 2012 – Ambassador of the Women’s Sport Trust & Athlete Ambassador for Access Sport
- 2012 – Member of the British Olympic Association’s Athletes’ Commission
- 2007 – Named Great Britain Hockey Athlete of the Year
Videos
Kate Richardson-Walsh’s Official Keynote Speaking Videos & Showreel:
Testimonials
“Kate was amazing, her talk was so inspirational and she was so humble and honest. The feedback from our customers and staff following the event and Kates talk has been so positive they really took so much away from it, as did I.” – Sarah, Events & Education Manager, Straumann Group
“Kate was fantastic! We had really great feedback, our delegates rated the guest speaker 4.87 out of 5. She was a true professional, we were experiencing some technical issues and Kate was able to deliver an excellent, motivating presentation. Feedback from our delegates: ‘Kate Richardson-Walsh was the highlight of the whole event’, ‘Kate was very interesting and inspirational’, ‘Kate was incredible, she brought her medals for us to look at and made time for pictures’ and ‘The guest speaker Kate was a great add-in she was very positive and I for one felt that she left a positive impact on how I deal with things in the future’.” – Lisa, Operational Capabilities Command, Immigration Enforcement, Home Office
“Kate is a true role model, and I was delighted that she joined me and my leadership team to share her story. Kate’s honest and personal account of the importance of working as a team to achieve your goals and win left me reflecting on how my team can continue to get the best from ourselves and each other through our equivalent to the gold standards, and of course our ‘Superpowers’! Kate’s passion for her sport and her story are clear to see and we were honoured that she shared not only her successes, but also the challenges she faced and how she overcame them.” – Paul, Managing Director, Lloyds Banking Group
“Bang on in terms of the topics and challenges that we are facing, both as an executive team as well as throughout the teams within the organisation itself. In fact, when you talked of some of the challenges, some of my Management Committee members and I had thought that you had been listening to our committee earlier the same day! I have to say that your delivery is excellent, and so authentic. Many thanks for sharing your experience, your journey, your stories and the personal challenges that you faced yourself. I can relate to each and every one, and it is heartwarming to know that sometimes we are not quite as alone at the top as we might sometimes think.” – Mike, CEO, BMW Group
Speaking Topics
Kate Richardson-Walsh’s Official Keynote Topics:
- High Performance Teams & Culture Transformation
- Authentic Leadership
- Resilience & Sustained Performance
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
- Leading Through Values
- Mental Health & Wellbeing
- Women’s Leadership & Representation
How Much Does Kate Richardson-Walsh Cost to Hire?
How Much Does it Cost to Hire Kate Richardson-Walsh?
The cost of hiring Kate Richardson-Walsh depends on your event format, location and duration. For an accurate quote tailored to your needs, contact a London Keynote Speakers Agency booking agent for expert guidance.