Ollie Phillips

Ollie Phillips is a former international rugby player, elite performance expert and keynote speaker recognised globally for his achievements in sport, leadership and endurance. Best known as England Rugby 7s Captain and the 2009 World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year, Ollie has built a reputation for helping organisations unlock high performance under pressure. His remarkable journey has taken him from professional rugby pitches to boardrooms, Olympic programmes and some of the world’s toughest environments, making him one of the most engaging and credible leadership speakers working today.

After studying Business at Durham University, Ollie began his professional rugby career with Newcastle Falcons, where he quickly established himself as one of the game’s standout talents. He later joined England Rugby Sevens, representing his country for almost a decade and captaining the national side for three years. During this time, he competed at the highest level of international rugby, including World Cups and global Sevens tournaments, while earning widespread praise for his leadership and resilience. Alongside his sporting career, Ollie also developed experience in the corporate world through roles with UBS Wealth Management, Accenture UK and eventually PwC, where he combined his understanding of elite performance with business transformation and leadership strategy. His passion for pushing limits also extended beyond rugby, with Ollie completing extraordinary endurance challenges including swimming the English Channel and sailing around the globe in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

Throughout his career, Ollie has achieved success across sport, business and adventure. In 2009, he was named World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year, cementing his place as one of the sport’s leading figures. He later moved into coaching and leadership roles, becoming Head Coach of Wales Women’s 7s and subsequently Head of Performance for Team China’s Olympic Ball Sports Programme, where he helped shape national high-performance systems across multiple Olympic sports. In business, Ollie held senior leadership positions at PwC, including Lead Partner for the Department for Culture, Media & Sport, overseeing major strategic and transformational projects during the COVID-19 crisis. He also foundedOptimist Performance, a consultancy focused on leadership, resilience and culture transformation. Alongside his professional achievements, Ollie is a four-time Guinness World Record holder, having led record-breaking expeditions at the North Pole and Mount Everest while raising millions for charitable causes. His work as an adventurer, broadcaster and business leader has made him a highly respected authority on resilience, teamwork and performing under pressure.

Today, Ollie is one of the UK’s most sought-after keynote speakers, known for delivering inspiring and practical insights drawn from elite sport, global business and extreme adventure. His talks focus on leadership, resilience, teamwork, culture, mindset and navigating uncertainty, subjects that are increasingly important for organisations operating in high-pressure environments. Audiences value Ollie’s ability to translate experiences from professional rugby, Olympic performance systems and world-record expeditions into practical lessons that businesses can apply immediately. Ollie’s unique combination of sporting excellence, commercial leadership and adventure ensures audiences leave motivated, challenged and equipped to perform at their very best.