SSF UK is delighted to announce that Bonita Norris, record‑breaking mountaineer, author and motivational speaker, will open this year’s Future Vision: Resilience Rebooted Annual Conference as our keynote speaker.
Bonita Norris is a truly extraordinary speaker with a story that resonates deeply - not just for the remarkable feats she’s achieved, but for how human, honest and relatable she is. At the age of 22, Bonita became the youngest person in the world to reach both the summit of Mount Everest and the North Pole.
What makes her story even more remarkable is that just two years earlier, she had never climbed a mountain. Her journey from complete novice to standing on top of the world is one of grit, determination, and radical self-belief.
Since then, Bonita has gone on to climb some of the highest and most dangerous peaks on the planet - including Everest (8,849m), Lhotse (8,516m), and Manaslu (8,163m). She’s skied to the North Pole and made a bold attempt to become the first British woman to summit K2 (8,611m) - widely regarded as the toughest mountain in the world. Her pioneering spirit and boundary-pushing mindset saw her nominated for Cosmopolitan’s Woman of the Year.
In 2022, her bestselling book The Girl Who Climbed Everest captivated readers, sharing not just the highs and lows of her expeditions, but the personal lessons in resilience, mindset and courage that underpin every adventure.
With over 15 years' experience as a keynote speaker, Bonita has delivered more than 750 motivational talks to audiences around the globe. She is widely recognised as one of the most powerful and engaging storytellers on the circuit - bringing energy, warmth, and clarity to every stage she steps onto. Her keynotes are ideal for opening or closing conferences, leaving audiences feeling inspired, empowered, and equipped to take meaningful action in both their personal and professional lives.
Bonita’s talks are rooted in the belief that we all have mountains to climb - whether it’s overcoming setbacks, navigating uncertainty, or finding the strength to lead ourselves and our teams through change. Her message is clear: we have more power, potential, and resilience within us than we often realise. And with the right mindset, anything is possible.
What sets Bonita apart is her ability to tailor her keynote to the unique themes and goals of your event. She takes time to understand your audience and your messaging, weaving it into her story with effortless authenticity. The result is a truly bespoke experience, filled with memorable takeaways and lessons on mindset, marginal gains, teamwork, and mental resilience that will stay with your audience long after the event ends.
Bonita doesn’t just inspire - she connects. Her story is extraordinary, but her delivery is grounded, warm and accessible. Audiences see themselves in her journey, which makes her message all the more powerful.
We can't wait to welcome Bonita to the SSF UK stage, this November at Emirates Old Trafford and we know her message will energise, challenge and inspire our shared service community.
