Hire Nic Russell | Inspirational Speaker on Grief, Resilience & Mental Health

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Prepare to be inspired,
motivated and moved.

It’s fair to say I’ve faced a lot of adversity in my life, from my heart transplant, mate ūtaetae (breast cancer), Parkinson's, and the death of Kenzie. Through it all, I’ve learnt a lot and created something meaningful.
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There’s an old Irish saying: “If you’re born to drown, you’ll never hang.” Grand. But what the feck do you do when life doesn’t offer neat ups and downs—it hurls a relentless bollix of the impossible? 

I never applied to be a poster child for resilience. I’m a bereaved mother, a breast‑cancer survivor, a heart‑transplant recipient, and I live with Parki. I’m also a charity founder, an author, a former scuba instructor who still dives for pleasure, a cold‑water swimmer, a marathoner and adventure‑racer, and once a spectacular DNF at iron distance—turned out I’d slipped into heart failure and didn’t know it. I lived off‑grid for two years on Motutapu. Adventure is a habit. So is telling the truth.

TeStimonials

“Nic spoke passionately and from the heart about fostering resilience at the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand National Conference - her presentation left a very deep and lasting impression on the audience. In all my dealings I found Nic to be a consummate professional who was a pleasure to work with.”

HRINZ

“Nic’s story is very powerful and although it moved me to tears, she manages to make it amusing. For someone who life has dealt so many blows to Nic is remarkably positive and upbeat. She is inspirational, enthusiastic and displays enormous courage. I would highly recommend Nic as a motivational speaker.”

People Potential

“Nic’s story is an extremely moving, compelling, and inspirational one which she delivers in a way which speaks to the heart of every person in the audience. Nic held the audience spellbound and we had an overwhelming response from attendees who were extremely touched by her story. I would highly recommend her as a keynote speaker.”

ING Life

What audiences take away

Language for the unsayable without making it heavier. A handful of decisions leaders can make now. Ways to communicate bad news without spin. Small habits that protect energy and dignity when the days are long and the news is worse. A reminder that we can do hard things together without pretending they’re easy.

Types of Talks

Keynote Speaker on Adventure, Resilience & Leadership

This isn’t a tidy tale of triumph. It’s about making a decent life when the script is shredded: grief that has no expiry date, a body that malfunctions, and a world that keeps moving anyway. It’s about refusing to be defined by death or illness, carving out joy on purpose, and finding the laugh in the bleak bits so you can breathe. I connect those realities to your room—leaders, HR, frontline staff, clinicians, educators, clients—so people leave with words they can use and decisions they can make this week.

Conference Speaker for NZ & Australia

If your conference needs straight talk that lands, book me as your conference speaker. I’ve spoken at TEDx and keynoted national events. I tailor each session to the brief: the sector, the challenges, the unsayable things people are carrying, and the outcomes you want. No pep rally—useful, human, memorable. 

Motivational Speaker (the useful kind)

If your programme calls it a motivational speaker, fine—use the label. What I deliver is plain‑spoken motivation built on lived experience: transplant life, Parki, marathons, ocean swims, off‑grid years, and running a national charity. Less “believe and achieve;” more “here’s how to keep going when you don’t get a choice.”

Guest Speaker for Clients & Communities

As a guest speaker for client functions or community events, I keep it candid and audience‑aware. Stories from the outdoors, hospitals and charity work become practical tools for teams and families: how to show up for each other, set boundaries, and keep dignity intact under pressure.

Professional Speaker — Formats & Practicalities

As a professional speaker, I offer keynotes (30–60 minutes), workshops (60–120 minutes with tools you can actually use), and after‑dinner talks that get people laughing and thinking without pretending the hard stuff isn’t there. I speak standing or seated. Give me a lapel or handheld mic, a screen, and a human who’ll press play when I ask nicely. I’m based in Auckland and available across Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.

Why HIRE me?

I’m Irish by birth, Kiwi by choice. He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata—people are what matter. I founded Kenzie’s Gift, a national charity delivering evidence‑based mental‑health support to tamariki, rangatahi and their whānau through serious illness and after death. I’m a writer—Bollix (Bateman Books) is on the way—and an outdoors lifer: marathons, adventure races, scuba, and the cold water that bites and clears the head. That mix shapes how I speak: direct, black‑humoured when needed, respectful of pain, and allergic to nonsense.

BOOK A TALK

Whether you have questions, comments, or just want to say hello, please get in touch.

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Lake Tekapō Cold Water Swim (TVNZ)

Each year I swim in Lake Tekapō with my friend Sarah, another bereaved mum. I set up a national cold‑water swimming fundraiser so others could jump in with us. There’s a short TVNZ documentary about the swim.

GALLERY

From my wild shenanigans, bold adventures, and the challenges that have shaped me over the years, these photos show the highs, the lows, and everything in between.