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Katie Kelly OAM

Create an experience with Katie Kelly OAM

D&I Advocate, 2 x Paralympian

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About me

  • Paralympics
  • Sport
  • Sporting Events
  • Paratriathlon
  • Endurance Sports
  • Triathlon
  • Australian Paralympic Team
  • Rio Paralympic Games
  • Tokyo Paralympic Games
  • 2020 Tokyo Paralympics
  • Sports Business
  • Business
  • Marathon
  • Athletics
  • Ironman
  • Marketing
  • Public Speaker
  • Professional

Katie Kelly OAM PLY is a two times Paralympian and has the extraordinary achievement of winning Australia's first-ever Gold medal in Para-triathlon at the Paralympics in Rio with Olympian Michellie Jones (Sydney Olympian Silver Medallist) as her Guide. She is a passionate advocate for Diversity and Inclusion and set up Sport Access Foundation to help young Australians with a disability access sport.

Speaking engagements
Katie’s passion for championing diversity and inclusion has spanned a lifetime. Katie has extensive experience talking and sharing her story with corporates including AMP, PICA Group, Lake Macquarie City Council, Property Council of NT, Human Synergistics and many more. She draws on her own personal experience of disability in the workplace as well as sharing learnings on diversity and inclusion, and the story of being a 2x Paralympian.

Sport Access Foundation
In 2017, Katie established Sport Access Foundation, a registered charity, that provides sporting grants for young Australians living with a disability and improves their access to sport. The impact of this Foundation is significant with to date over 500 children applying for grants across Australia.


Usher Syndrome
Katie's journey of living with a genetic condition, known as Usher Syndrome, is one of tenacity and grit. Living with a combination of profound hearing loss, and gradual eyesight reduction presents significant and confronting challenges.

Her incredible perspective will enlighten and empower you to make a difference in the world in your own way.

Katie also shares stories that highlight the inequities, and barriers faced by those with a disability including in the workplace and in sports.

Diversity and Inclusion
Katie is an individual with a strong sense of social justice and has thrived in her own way to improve the opportunities for women in sport, and more recently for young children to access sport that is living with a disability.

Corporate executive
Before her Para-triathlon career began, Katie worked in marketing and communications with organisations such as the NRL, ANZ Stadium, NT Government and Tabcorp. 

Katie is now working for BlueScope, in their Social Impact and Inclusion team and continues her work as the Founder of Sport Access Foundation - www.sportaccessfoundation.org... 

Katie has a BA from Griffith University and Masters of Business from the University of Technology, Sydney. 

Awards, Director and Ambassador roles

  • Current – Patron, Australian Deaf Games 2023
  • Current - Director, Sport Access Foundation
  • Current – Ambassador, Inclusion Alliance (Deaf Sports, Blind Sports & Sport Inclusion Australia)
  • Current – Ambassador, Next Sense (formerly Royal Institute Deaf Blind Children)
  • 2020-2021  - Director, Deaf Sports Australia (three year term)
  • Current – Supporter, Usher Kids Australia
  • 2016 - 2020 - Ambassador: Harvey Norman and The PICA Group
  • 2016 - 2020 - Brand Ambassador: Magnetite, Hoka OneOne, Zoggs Australia
  • 2020 AIS ‘Share a Yarn’ Ambassador
  • 2020 QLD Paratriathlete of the Year Award
  • 2019 Finalist Australian Institute of Sports Award – Athlete Community Engagement Award
  • 2017 Finalist QLD Para athlete of the Year Award
  • 2017 Honorary Australian Award - OAM
  • 2017 Sir Roden Cutler Award, The Primary Club of Australia
  • 2017 Female Triathlete and Paratriathlete of the Year Award, Triathlon Australia
  • 2017 Finalist QLD Sports Award – Female Paratriathlete of the Year
  • 2017 Deaf Sports Australia Athlete of the Year
  • 2016 Finalist 2016 Paralympic Australia Female Athlete of the Year
  • 2016 Female Paratriathlete of the Year – ACT Triathlon

Community roles

  • 2013 - President, South Darwin Rugby Union Club
  • 2013 - Run Director, Parkrun, Darwin
  • 2010 - Cana House, Darlinghurst, supporting Sydney’s members in need
  • 2009 - Edmund Rice Foundation, Camp leader
  • 2009 - Madeline Sophie Barat Leadership programme, Bowral
  • 2008 - Media Officer, Australian Blind Cricket team, Sydney
  • 2005 - Media Officer, Australian Deaflympic Team, Melbourne
  • 2004 - Director, Deaf Sports Australia
  • 2003 - Sport needs more women forum, Australian Sports Commission, Sydney
  • 1995 - Community representative grants project, Armidale City Council, Armidale





Based in

Queensland

Available in

Need me to travel to your location? I will travel for opportunities in:
Queensland, Northern Territory, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia, Worldwide, United Kingdom, United States

Endorsements

Katie Kelly is exceptional. She is an exceptional para-triathlete, philanthropist and social welfare entrepreneur. Her achievements in just one of these fields puts her in the league of champion. That she has reached the highest levels of accomplishment in each of these fields means she is in a league of her own.
 Harvey Norman CEO Katie Page
Katie Kelly is a remarkably impressive Australian who has conquered disability through Usher Syndrome to win Gold for Australia at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games. Her victory in Rio, was one of the most inspirational I have seen in Australian sport. It had it all – courage, resilience, and a true team effort. She is also a community-minded person who is committed to giving back to sport and to Australian life more broadly. She is a genuine role model and leader
Sport Australia, Former Chairperson, John Wylie
It is incredible to think I’ve known Katie Kelly OAM for over 20 years as we have had many cross-overs through her sports marketing career that included time at Melbourne Storm, and in these recent years representing Australia at the Paralympic Games in Triathlon. Since her Gold Medal in Rio, Katie has set up her own Foundation, Sport Access Foundation. This is a wonderful reflection on Katie’s profound sense of gratitude and aspirations to give back and reflective of her ethos of always wanting to acknowledge the many opportunities that have come her way.
Paralympic Australia, former CEO, Lynne Anderson