VWBF23 HEADLINER: Debra Searle
- Type Virtual Wellbeing Festival Headliners
- Start 03 Jul 2023 10:00
- End 03 Jul 2023 11:00
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Debra Searle is a professional adventurer and serial entrepreneur. Her expeditions have taken her across the Atlantic, around Antarctica, up to the Arctic Circle and everywhere in between. She has also launched five companies, is a published author and has presented over 40 programmes for the BBC.
Debra first hit the headlines when she set out to row across the Atlantic with her husband. Unfortunately, he had to be rescued so Debra, a novice rower, continued alone without a support boat and rowed 3,000 miles from Tenerife to Barbados. It should have taken them six weeks, but Debra ended up spending three and a half months at sea alone, encountering 30-foot waves, sharks, and force-eight squalls in her 23-foot plywood boat. Since returning from this adventure, Debra has undertaken solo and team expeditions across the globe. She has also represented Great Britain at European and World Championship level in Dragon Boat Racing winning bronze, silver and gold medals.
Debra’s spirit of adventure gained her an MBE from Her Majesty The Queen and she was delighted to be appointed a Trustee of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, spending a decade working alongside His Royal Highness Prince Philip and His Royal Highness Prince Edward. Debra has been appointed a Member of the Victorian Order (MVO) for her services to the Royal Family.
In 2022 Debra was ranked number three in the World’s Top 30 Motivational Speakers, after Simon Sinek and Tony Robbins, making her the highest ranking female motivational speaker in the world. The movie of Debra’s solo Atlantic row is currently in development in Hollywood.