Jamie's story is that; in January 2014, he woke up paralysed from the waist down - what did he do next? Jamie climbed a mountain on his hands! He was diagnosed with a functional neurological condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). His journey has been life-changing. But, instead of focusing on a restricted life in a wheelchair, he has focused on living life outside the box. Jamie is a sports personality capped for wales in rugby in 2014 and currently play wheelchair basketball for Cardiff. He is the first disabled Squash player in the world to play squash in a Welsh Open Tournament and he's currently ranked in the world rankings.
Jamie developed a taste for adventure and become committed to showing that a disability does not rule your abilities; a message he is looking to share and spread. A multi-award winner. As well as receiving the Greatest Achievement Award in 2017, in 2016, he became the countries first Charles Holland Award winner of the “against all the odds” category for his 2015 Challenge where he completed 12 extreme challenges in 12 months and raised £250,000 for a range of charities across the UK. As part of that, Jamie hand-cycled 100 miles in only 13 hours and 4 weeks later, he became the first wheelchair user to ever complete the gruelling WAAT4 challenge (30k over the Brecon Beacons mountain range).
It has not always been awards and adventures; Jamie suffered from anxiety and depression after becoming, in his eyes, a burden on those around him. He is also severely dyslexic and has been diagnosed with a neurological condition, named Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. However, Jamie has faced his situation and through recognition of his journey, he has become inspired to launch a career in inspirational speaking, covering topics such as diversity, anxiety, depression, goal-setting, overcoming adversity and neurodiversity. Jamie has been a guest speaker for audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
In February 2024 we sat down with Jamie McAnsh and discussed the importance of diversity & inclusion in business and how he overcame adversity after waking up paralysed. Watch our new and Exclusive Interview with Jamie McAnsh.
How to hire Jamie McAnsh
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Jamie McAnsh for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
When he's at corporate events, Jamie is known to cover the following topics:
- Diversity & Inclusion
- Anxiety & Depression
- Goal-Setting
- Overcoming Adversity
- Neurodiversity & Dyslexia
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
Feedback from In-Person Events:
"Our professional learning day went incredibly well, and we are really grateful to have had Jamie as our guest speaker on the day - feedback so far from staff has been very positive. It has been a pleasure working with you throughout the organisation of our event." - Trish, Leadership Administrator & Professional Learning Coordinator, Minster Trust for Education
"The event went really well and Jamie was fantastic. All parents and students loved his talk and the messages it gave them in terms of the mindset needed to overcome adversity, show perseverance and the motivation needed to succeed in what you do. Thanks so much for suggesting Jamie as a speaker for the event and the organisation you and the team put into setting everything up." - Mr. Raye, Director of Sport, Oakwood Park Grammar School
"I just wanted to say thank you for your help in arranging Jamie's talk yesterday - everyone loved his speech and was fascinated by all the challenges he has overcome! He is a truly remarkable human being and his presentation outperformed my expectations. Really pleased with him." - Diana, Business Intelligence Analyst, TP ICAP
"Just a quick email to say thanks so much for hosting our Buzz Session today. What an inspiring story. Everyone in the office is chatting away about how they found your journey through life and how they relate to the ups and downs along the way. Best of luck with your next challenge, keep it up!" - Aegon
"Wanted to say thank you for organising and for Chris recommending Jamie - he was the perfect choice for our away day. He had such an amazing story to share and has achieved some pretty incredible things. I believe one of my colleagues is planning on getting in touch to do a talk to our mental health network as his journey has been extraordinary" - Jo, EDF Energy
"It was brilliant, thank you so much for sorting. He was not only an excellent speaker but such a great guest and person too" - Lucy, Bonhill Plc
"It went really well, Jamie was great and it really hit the right notes with the team" - Adam, General Sales Manager, Vanarama
"Yesterday’s meeting with Jamie was perfect! He exceeded our expectations and we can’t wait to share the video with the wider business next Wednesday. Everything he spoke about resonated with everyone on the call and I know he will have the same effect when it’s aired next week to the rest of the business." - Kim, Arjo
Such a huge thank you from Arjo!! The team loved the session today - as ever has had an impact on the team and thought-provoking and really appreciate how you made this relevant for the HR team. - Sarah, Arjo
"I speak for the management team of 60 colleagues when I say the session delivered by James was moving, inspiring, encouraging and motivating all rolled into one. I am pleased we chose James and I would happily recommend him to others depending on the requirements of their audience." - Glen, Whinfell Forest
"Jamie delivered an amazing session for our company as part of our Mental Health Awareness Week. His story was an emotional journey told with such honesty and somehow humour, leaving everyone in awe and inspired. I cannot recommend a speaking session from Jamie highly enough. He was a pleasure to work with throughout the process and has left a lasting impression on myself and everyone who attended the session." - Louise, Red Gate
"Thanks Jamie for an inspiring and entertaining talk focused on overcoming adversity, goal setting, and resilience. It has really helped the team reflect and refocus. Some great takeaways – be true to yourself, communicate, collaborate, and go at the pace that is right for you! Make sure you surround yourself with ‘radiators’ and not ‘drainpipes’ and recognise that we will all have ‘muddy puddle’ days, but we must have faith in the process and the people around you!" - Matt, Customer Care Operations Manager Europe, Illumina
"We thoroughly enjoyed Jamie’s presentation. It was inspiring, interesting, and very high energy." - Sam, GHO Capital
"I couldn't of asked for the day to plan any better, given it was our first work Conference. Jamie really made an impact on everyone there and we will certainly be keeping contact." - Samuel, Quality Governance Assistant Manager, NHS
"Jamie is an amazing person and performer. On stage and beyond, he is likeable, relatable, engaging and enthralling. His personal journey draws you in and enables him to share valuable lessons. As the (almost) opening act of a 3-day meeting on resilience and ambition in the face of adversity, he certainly energized the room. What was even more fascinating to see is the amount of side conversations he had with our team. My only remark, which I also made to him, is making the lessons, the take aways, more obvious and impactful, with text on slides, because not everyone remembers things the same way. Hearing and seeing work well together to create lasting memories." - Omnicom Media Group
