Heather Thomas is the skipper of Maiden who has just become the first all-female team to win an around-the-world yacht race. With over 88,000nm of sailing experience, she is an expert in yachting and ocean exploration. She now conducts speaking engagements sharing her story and also talking on topics such as leadership and teamwork.
As a yacht master, Heather has achieved significant milestones in maritime navigation, with her biggest achievement to date being the youngest female to win an around-the-world yacht race. She is passionate about Celestial Navigation and is now acting on this passion by mentoring others and teaching an IYT sailing syllabus to 12- to 18-year-olds. She aims to inspire young girls to dream big, a value that was instilled into her by her parents. She was the Race Skipper and Navigator of The Maiden Factor, a global ambassador for empowering girls through education, and led the team on to win the race across the world. Maiden is now the most successful British entry into an around-the-world race.
Heather's career has seen her take on many challenges working her way up from Deckhand to First Mate Skipper, making her journey one of resilience and determination. She has taken on a variety of roles and vessels in the marine industry, working in several teams and displaying her capability to work well in a team, which she discusses in her keynote speeches, relating to both the corporate world and her life at sea. As the skipper of the first all-female team to win an around-the-world race and the first British entry to win an around-the-world race, she now speaks on teamwork, leadership, and resilience by telling her stories of her adventures worldwide. Her speeches often focus on lessons learned from her adventures, emphasising the importance of clear decision-making under pressure and the dynamics of leading teams in unpredictable situations. She shares her insights on these topics, drawing parallels between life at sea and the corporate world.
Heather is an inspiration to many young girls as well as emphasising resilience and teamwork in both a corporate and personal life setting. If you are looking for an inspiring keynote speaker then hire Heather Thomas today!
How to hire Heather Thomas
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Heather Thomas 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.
Heather Thomas's official speaking topics are listed below:
- teambuilding
- resilience
- leadership
Official Feedback
"Her story is so relevant, not only to sailors and sportspeople but to all businesses and any area of life where the commitment to team spirit, focus on goals and people management skills are crucial to success" - Tracy, Founder of the Maiden Factor
"Heather delivered an inspiring and engaging presentation that captivated our audience from start to finish. Their storytelling ability, combined with their deep knowledge of sailing and perseverance, brought the adventure to life in a way that was both educational and motivational. The insights they provided into teamwork, resilience, and overcoming challenges were particularly valuable to our attendees" - Mark, Chairman of UKFSC
- 2024 - RYA Cruising Instructor for Sailing Holidays LTD
- 2024 - Training Skipper at Clipper Round the World Race
- 2024 - Race Skipper and Navigator of The Maiden Factor
- 2023 - Watchleader of The Maiden Factor
- 2021 - Skipper & Sailing Instructor of Broadreach
- 2021 - First Mate & Relief Skipper of Uhuru of London
