Paralympic Champion, Crossbench Peer, UkActive Chair, Television Broadcaster & Northumbria University Chancellor Driving Inclusion
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson’s Biography:
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson is a former wheelchair racing champion, crossbench peer and one of Britain’s most accomplished Paralympians. She is a highly respected motivational speaker with a warm and relatable style, known for connecting elite performance to personal ambition. Her most celebrated sporting milestone is her 11 Paralympic gold medals, earned across five Games, alongside more than 30 world records that shaped a generation of wheelchair racing.
Tanni discovered wheelchair racing at 13 after experimenting with several sports, and by 15 she was already competing nationally. Her Paralympic debut came in 1988 where she won bronze in the 400 metres, the first indication of the extraordinary career ahead. While training and competing, she completed a degree in Politics and Social Administration at Loughborough University, a foundation that later strengthened her influence beyond sport. She rose quickly through international competition, winning six London Marathons and four gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, achievements that confirmed her status as one of Britain’s leading athletes. In 2005 she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, a recognition of her impact on disabled sport.
Tanni’s work grew even further after retiring from elite competition. In 2010 she entered the House of Lords as a crossbench life peer, bringing her insight and advocacy to national debates on disability rights, sport and welfare. She has held substantial leadership roles, including Chair of ukactive, Board Member of Transport for London and the London Marathon, and Chancellor of Northumbria University. Her broadcasting career has continued to flourish, most recently serving as an expert commentator for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and appearing in 2025 as a guest panellist on ITV’s Loose Women. These roles reflect her continued relevance at the heart of British public life.
Why Hire Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson?
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson is hired for her ability to translate exceptional personal experience into practical guidance for organisations. Her key themes include resilience, leadership, inclusion, planning for success and navigating challenge. These subjects matter to teams looking for clarity and direction, especially during times of pressure or change. Tanni brings honesty and humour to every event, offering examples drawn from competition, politics and public life that stay with audiences long after the session ends. Her perspective is grounded, informed and immediately useful, making her an outstanding choice for conferences, leadership programmes and company events.
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson’s Career Highlights:
Here are some of the key milestones that define Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson’s inspirational sports career:
- 2025 – Guest panellist on ITV’s Loose Women
- 2024 – Appointed Chair of the Aviation Accessibility Task and Finish Group
- 2020 – Became Chair of the Board of Trustees, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
- 2019 – Awarded BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2015 – Appointed Chair of UKactive
- 2010 – Made a Crossbench Life Peer in the House of Lords
- 2002 – Won her sixth London Marathon
- 2000 – Secured four gold medals at the Sydney Paralympics
- 1992-2002 – Held over 30 world records in wheelchair racing
- 1992 – Won her first London Marathon
- 1991 – Earned BA (Hons) in Politics and Social Administration
- 1988 – Made Paralympic debut at the Seoul Paralympics
Videos
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson’s Official Keynote Speaking Videos & Showreel:
Testimonials
“Tanni was an incredible speaker and extremely personable. Our clients have commented on how engaging the talk was and how it was almost like a conversation rather than a keynote speech. Thank you to Tanni.” – Allen & Overy
“Very engaging and open about her experiences. She had some very clear messages. Tanni was also very funny, and giving of her time.”- Leadership Foundation For Higher Education
“Tanni gave a real insight into what it takes to be a top athlete and to remain there for 16 years – an inspiration to all present.” – Guinness
“The presentation was outstanding. A talk that met the aims of the conference. The audience were completely engaged.” – Jewish Schools Conference
“An excellent key note presentation at the Towards World Class HR in the North West Conference. Thank you for your valuable contribution.” – NHS North West Conference
Tanni was great and her presentation very well received so overall a great result. Thank you to you and your team for helping make it happen. – Matt, MoD
“Please can you pass on our thanks to Tanni for joining us at our event at Hilton St Annes Manor last night. It was a pleasure to meet her and hear her inspirational journey. Feedback from delegates on the night was really good, and they were very engaged during the Q&As.” – Suzanne, AICPA, CIMA
“First of all, thanks for your help with Tanni and Levi at our recent event. Both speakers were excellent, and I was very impressed with Levi and his ability to speak seamlessly without any prompts. He must have done that quite a few times!” – Martin, Ten Thousand Hours
Speaking Topics
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson’s Official Keynote Topics:
- High Performance and Resilience
- Leadership and Decision-Making
- Diversity, Disability and Inclusion
- Teamwork and Communication
- Planning for Success
- Overcoming Adversity
How Much Does Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson Cost to Hire?
How Much Does it Cost to Hire Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson?
The cost of hiring Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson varies depending on your event format, location and schedule. For an accurate and tailored quote, contact a London Keynote Speakers Agency booking agent for expert guidance.