Paul de Gelder

From shark attack survivor to global speaker, Paul de Gelder empowers organizations to embrace resilience, adapt to change, and turn adversity into unstoppable growth.

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I have not seen a speaker of this magnitude & impact in my lifetime. Paul de Gelder is an Inspirational Speaker about determination, resilience, having a positive attitude in life and making good choices for your path forward! I’m not sure what else to say except it’s a true real life story and hearing it first hand will stay with me for years to come. It’s moving, it’s powerful and Paul is able to tie it directly to your audience.

JoJo Conlan

Senior HR Leader, Amazon New York

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Why book Paul de Gelder for your next event

From elite Navy bomb disposal diver to shark attack survivor, Paul de Gelder is the ultimate embodiment of resilience. His extraordinary journey shows audiences how to overcome unimaginable setbacks and emerge stronger. He turns life-threatening adversity into inspiring lessons for any organization.
A global keynote speaker, Paul has shared his message at the United Nations, Fortune 500 companies, and major international conferences. His presence on the world stage proves his authority and credibility. Organizations trust him to inspire leadership, adaptability, and peak performance.
With over 25 Shark Week documentaries hosted on Discovery Channel, Paul is an internationally recognized storyteller. He brings gripping, real-world experiences to the stage, captivating audiences while delivering powerful tools for resilience and courage. His voice resonates far beyond entertainment.

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From Shark Attack Survivor to Global Inspiration on Resilience

From Navy diver to shark attack survivor, this extraordinary keynote speaker transforms trauma into triumph. With global recognition from the UN to Discovery Channel, he delivers powerful lessons on resilience, adaptability, and fearless leadership, equipping organizations to embrace change, overcome adversity, and thrive under pressure.

Keynote Speaker Paul de Gelder is internationally recognized for his extraordinary journey from elite Australian Navy bomb disposal diver to shark attack survivor, adventurer, and global voice on resilience. In 2009, a life-threatening shark attack cost him a hand and a leg during a Navy dive, yet Paul refused to be defined by tragedy. Instead, he rebuilt his life with determination, returning to Navy service within months and later becoming one of the world’s most sought-after motivational speakers.

Today, Paul de Gelder is known for inspiring audiences across the globe, from the United Nations to leading Fortune 500 companies. His powerful keynotes equip organizations with strategies to improvise, adapt, and overcome in times of disruption and uncertainty. Drawing from real-life experiences of survival, courage, and peak performance, he delivers tools that help teams embrace change, conquer challenges, and thrive under pressure.

Beyond the stage, Paul has hosted more than 25 Discovery Channel Shark Week documentaries and has been recognized among the Top 15 Inspirational Australians and Top 10 keynote speakers. His story has inspired global icons including Will Smith, Ronda Rousey, and Mike Tyson.

When you book Paul de Gelder for your event, you gain more than a speaker, you gain a catalyst for transformation. His keynote is not just a story of survival, but a blueprint for resilience, fearless leadership, and high-performance cultures in today’s unpredictable world.

Customer Reviews

JoJo Conlan Senior HR Leader, Amazon New York

Paul was absolutely fantastic. First standing ovation in 17 years of conference. Wonderful. He was perfect for our group, a fantastic story-teller and our audience was captivated by him. The response from our attendees was that he was the highlight of our week at conference. Would highly recommend him to anyone. Look forward to working with you both again soon, all the best.

David Maher

Paul de Gelder has an incredible story to tell. It is a story of overwhelming odds, brilliantly overcome through hard work, gutsy determination, and a great sense of humor. I knew in an instant that I needed Paul to tell his story to the Divers of the United States Navy. His effortless charm and engaging manner reels you in for the most motivating ride of your life. A man is not defined by what happens to him, he is defined by how he handles it. That makes Paul a most remarkable man!

Commander Michael Egan United States Navy, Supervisor of Diving

From the moment I met Paul in his hospital bed, I knew I was privileged. Horrendously mauled and recovering from such drastic surgery … I was overwhelmed by his aura, his positive outlook and his will to live. In eight years of reporting for 60 Minutes, Paul, without question is one of the most inspirational human beings I have met! Everyone, whoever they are, can learn so much from Paul… I know I have.

Peter Overton Reporter, 60 Minutes

I cannot say enough how much this meant to our audience - people are still buzzing about your performance on stage and how much it moved them. Thanks again for everything!

Shachar G. Scott Global Head of Brand Marketing, Snap, Inc.

Paul’s story is epic and needs to be heard. Our audience [predominantly marketers] were moved and inspired to take action in their lives and reframe their thinking!

Roman Tsunder CEO & Co-Founder PTTOW! & WORLDZ

Paul was the best speaker we ever had. I had many people tell me that, I even bought a book myself. He was a hit. He was someone that people could relate to.

Scott Brown Manager, Flight Standards FAA

Paul, I wanted to say a huge thank you – it was a pleasure and a privilege to meet you and have you give such an amazing keynote. I know from the incredible feedback that you made a massive impact on a lot of people, and can honestly say it was one of the most powerful and inspirational stories that our delegates have ever seen – even those that have been coming to the event for 30 years. I hope you enjoyed working with us and being part of our most successful event to date (11,500 delegates over the week!).

Innes Macleod Swift, Innotribe. SIBOS, London

Paul de Gelder's story is a total story told with gusto. You are just engaged right from the outset, captivated by his ability to move from one ‘bite-sized’ interaction to another, leaving each participant feeling more enriched.

Shane Granger CommSec Adviser Services Luncheon

At our annual event, we always aim to feature one dynamite speaker to really bring down the house, capture our audience, and deliver a genuinely worthwhile talk that they will hopefully remember (and talk about) for a long time. Hands down, Paul de Gelder is the most memorable and inspirational speaker we have ever had. The audience reviews are all incredibly positive and are still coming in, a month later. No one moved a muscle during Paul's talk. He was masterful in his storytelling and his real-life experience is more than a little intense. But Paul was acutely aware of when to inject comedy and crafted a narrative that left every person feeling hopeful and inspired. He is best in class and I could not recommend Paul any higher!

Rip Esselstyn Plant Stock, NC

Dear Paul, we have already received a tremendous amount of positive feedback on your keynote session - including the audio-visual team that made it a priority to tell me that of the 6,000+ keynotes he has seen over the years, yours was by far the best one he has ever seen! So thanks again for sharing your story with our delegates. I know your story has made a personal impact in my own life.

Trish Redekop Project Manager, Atlantic Venture Forum, Critical Path Group

Dear Paul, the 46th CSDA Convention and Tech Fair held at the Grand Wailea in Maui was an outstanding success. We received so much positive feedback from your inspiring presentation and many stated that this was the best keynote speaker in the history of CSDA. Your mantra to improvise, adapt and overcome mesmerised the convention attendees and many recounted changes they planned to make to their lives as a result. Your incredible story against overwhelming odds will be long remembered as you motivated attendees both personally and professionally. On behalf of CSDA, thank you for such an outstanding presentation. Best wishes for a successful 2018 with all your new endeavors in Los Angeles.

Patrick O’Brien Executive Director, CSDA

Hi Paul, I just wanted to send you a message to say thank you as I heard you speak at the recent Nursery & Garden Industry conference in Hobart. What an incredible human being you are. I'm very happy to have heard you speak. I felt so moved. I have heard a lot of speakers in my time but you are number one!

Karen Smith Editor, Hort Journal Australia magazine

Paul, I would like to take a second, or three, of your time and thank you for your passionate presentation at the NSW Primary Principals' Association 2016 Annual General Meeting. As a scuba diving instructor I found your presentation to be on another level, which I'm still trying to comprehend... I know that this is going to take more than a couple of days to do so. I know that you have opened my eyes wide on how to motivate both my adult staff and the children of Australia that we are preparing for the future Australia. I wish you well sir, and know that the path you've walked has made it easier for me to walk after hearing the passion in your presentation today.

Greg Grinham Principal, Granville Public School

Paul’s presentation was superb and without doubt the highlight of our event. Our team was absolutely inspired by Paul’s courage and resilience. It was a privilege to be in the room to witness his presentation. We will happily recommend Paul to colleagues and friends for future events.

QANTAS regional sales conference

This man, his mindset, what he's overcome and what he's done with his life is nothing short of unbelievable. His resilience, patience and drive to want to move past this traumatic experience had us all eager to understand how he was able to recover and redesign his life. I love his simple, yet powerful message about not waiting, let's all do/say what we need to today!

Audience member at EO Detroit

Keynotes

KEYNOTE BY SPEAKER PAUL DE GELDER:

Never Say Die: Turning Pain into Power"

Paul de Gelder shares his powerful story of resilience, emphasizing its critical role in personal and professional growth. Through his experiences, including overcoming a life-threatening shark attack, Paul demonstrates how embracing uncomfortable change can catalyze growth. He draws lessons from his military background, highlighting the importance of discipline, teamwork, and adaptability in high-risk environments.

Paul provides insights into recovery's psychological and physical challenges, offering strategies for developing a resilient mindset, including the power of positive thinking and self-belief.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Embrace change for growth.
Learn from adversity.
Apply discipline and teamwork.
Develop mental and physical resilience.
Cultivate positive thinking.

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KEYNOTE BY SPEAKER PAUL DE GELDER:

Courage Under Pressure: Leadership in High-Stakes Environments

From his diverse background, Paul de Gelder offers valuable leadership insights from extraordinary life experiences. He discusses how adventure and leadership intersect, sharing personal stories from his time as a military paratrooper and clearance diver.

Paul emphasizes decision-making and problem-solving strategies in high-pressure environments, navigating change and uncertainty, and fostering effective teamwork through trust, communication, and mutual support. He underscores the role of courage in leading oneself and others through adversity, reinforcing key leadership principles that inspire courage and resilience.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Master crisis decision-making.
Navigate change effectively.
Foster teamwork and trust.
Lead with courage and resilience.
Embrace adaptability.

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KEYNOTE BY SPEAKER PAUL DE GELDER:

Beyond the Surface: Discovering Purpose in Life & Work

Paul de Gelder guides audiences to discover their purpose and passion in life and work. He shares his journey of aligning personal and professional aspirations, emphasizing strategies for overcoming self-limiting beliefs and embracing personal growth.

Drawing from his adventures as a Shark Week host, Paul highlights the importance of following one's passion, taking risks, and stepping outside one's comfort zone. He discusses crafting a fulfilling career path by aligning values with professional choices, continuous learning, and maintaining work-life balance for personal well-being and meaningful relationships.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Overcome self-limiting beliefs.
Follow your passion.
Align values with career.
Pursue continuous learning.
Maintain work-life balance.

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KEYNOTE BY SPEAKER PAUL DE GELDER:

Uncaged: Thriving Through Fear & Change

Paul de Gelder explores the transformative power of facing fears and embracing change. He shares personal experiences with fear and change, highlighting their significance in personal growth. Paul offers strategies for managing fear and embracing calculated risks, drawing from his military experiences and encounters with dangerous waters. He provides lessons in courage and resilience from surviving a shark attack, emphasizing the importance of mental fortitude.

The presentation encourages audiences to view change as an opportunity for growth, adapt to new circumstances, and step outside their comfort zones to unlock their full potential.

KEY TAKEAWAYS: