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Warren MacDonald

Warren MacDonald

Keynote Speaker: Adventurer, Author & Motivational Speaker; Double Above the Knee Amputee

Warren MacDonald Biography

Warren Macdonald’s inspirational survival story began in April 1997 with his accident on North Queensland’s (Australia) Hinchinbrook Island. Climbing to the Island’s tallest peak, he became trapped beneath a one-ton boulder in a freak rock fall. Two days later he was rescued, only to undergo the amputation of both legs at mid-thigh.

Just ten months later, he climbed Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain using a modified wheelchair and the seat of his pants.

In 2003, he became the first double above-knee amputee to reach the summit of Africa’s tallest peak, Mt Kilimanjaro (19,222 ft). Later that same year, in a spectacular effort requiring more than 2,800 pull-ups over 4 days, he climbed America's tallest cliff face, El Capitan. Warren is also the only above knee amputee to make an ascent of Canada’s landmark frozen waterfall, the 600 ft “Weeping Wall” in Alberta.

Warren’s bestselling first book, A Test of Will is the subject of the “Trapped under a Boulder” episode of the Discovery Channel series “I Shouldn’t Be Alive”.

His film documenting the epic four-week journey to Federation Peak, Australia most challenging mountain summit, The Second Step, has been acclaimed worldwide, screening on National Geographic Television and winning eight international awards including Grand Prize at the prestigious “Banff Mountain Film Festival”.

Warren has appeared on numerous news and current affairs programs, including “Larry King Live”, “The Oprah Winfrey Show”, and “The Hour” with George Stroumboulopoulos.

Warren works with businesses and associations looking to develop their resilience and to help foster a mindset shift towards “out of the box” thinking through his work as a Keynote Speaker.

Warren lives in Canmore, Alberta with his partner Margo Talbot.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Warren MacDonald and other top speakers and celebrities.

Warren MacDonald Speaking Topics

One Step Beyond: Setting and Reaching Impossible Goals

It’s all well and good to set seemingly impossible goals – the kind that has your team looking at you like you’re nuts, like this time you’ve really lost it… The solution? You need them to see what you see. You need to inspire your team to follow you; to show them what is possible when you’re prepared to go One Step Beyond: beyond ordinary, beyond conventional, and beyond perceived limitations.

It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

Take a lesson from someone who has seen his world change on a scale few could imagine. Waking from the operation that claimed both legs, Warren faced a whole new world and a whole new reality. Navigating such change takes courage, and the number one tool in creating our future is PERCEPTION.

We need a vision for the kind of world we want to live in. You can react with fear, apathy, or straight out denial, or you can respond from a place of possibility. We have an opportunity now to create something new; something better. But we need to see it first, and Warren Macdonald can help us form that vision for a better world.

In this keynote presentation, Macdonald shares the lessons and tools he’s used to create a remarkable life from what many would have considered a “game over” scenario.

Challenge of Change: Finding Opportunity in Adversity

We’ve all heard it a million times: “change is constant,” “the only certainty in life is change,” “change or perish.” We all know it; what we need is for someone to show us how to deal with it. Macdonald’s Challenge of Change presentation will help your group realize that challenges brought on by change hold endless opportunities for innovation and personal and professional growth - that it is possible to not just survive, but to thrive despite adversity.

Next Level Quality of Care: A Patients Testimony

Healthcare workers face the fallout every day for themselves and their patients. Then when we add all the changes going on in healthcare, it’s easy to forget why you got into the healthcare profession to begin with. One of the strongest connections Warren feels with an audience is when he gets to share his patient story with those in healthcare. He has seen firsthand what work healthcare professionals do; He’s been there, on the receiving end. Warren had never even been in hospital until that night, after being rescued off of the side of a remote mountain, and then wheeled on a stretcher into your world…Ten days in intensive care, a month in the first hospital, then seven months of rehabilitation; learning how to live as a double above knee amputee. Whether you’re a front line practitioner or clinician, a caregiver, caseworker or a hospital administrator, what you do changes lives.

Warren’s story represents someone who really could feel sorry for himself but instead has pulled himself up (literally) to excel at living a meaningful and productive life. He will share his patient testimony to show how you should never forget that you make a difference in the lives of so many. His story is awe inspiring and reminds healthcare workers that they are in a position to help/hinder others, including themselves. Warren will help your maintain your belief in the human spirit that exists in each one of us!

One Step Beyond: Setting and Reaching Impossible Goals

Warren MacDonald Videos

Find Your Connection | Warren Macdonald | TEDxAjman
Warren MacDonald - Adventurer, Author and Motivational Speaker
Warren Macdonald on Relevance

How do I book Warren MacDonald to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Warren MacDonald for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Warren MacDonald, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Warren MacDonald or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Warren MacDonald for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Warren MacDonald, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Warren MacDonald are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Warren MacDonald, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Warren MacDonald speak about?

Warren MacDonald is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Personal Growth, Adventure, Peak Performance, Authors, Business Leadership, Health, Empowerment, Overcoming Adversity, Inspirational, Diversity, Disability, Writing, Motivational, Athlete, Business, Literary, Sports, Resilience and Culture.

Where does Warren MacDonald travel from?

Warren MacDonald generally travels from Vancouver, Canada and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Warren MacDonald?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Warren MacDonald for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Warren MacDonald for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Warren MacDonald or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Warren MacDonald is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Personal Growth, Adventure Speakers and Peak Performance. The estimated speaking fee range to book Warren MacDonald for live events is $20,000 - $30,000, and for virtual events $10,000 - $20,000. Warren MacDonald generally travels from Vancouver, Canada and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Neal Petersen, Roger Crawford and Les Brown. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Warren MacDonald for an upcoming event.

Warren MacDonald Speaking Topics

  • One Step Beyond: Setting and Reaching Impossible Goals

    It’s all well and good to set seemingly impossible goals – the kind that has your team looking at you like you’re nuts, like this time you’ve really lost it… The solution? You need them to see what you see. You need to inspire your team to follow you; to show them what is possible when you’re prepared to go One Step Beyond: beyond ordinary, beyond conventional, and beyond perceived limitations.

  • It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

    Take a lesson from someone who has seen his world change on a scale few could imagine. Waking from the operation that claimed both legs, Warren faced a whole new world and a whole new reality. Navigating such change takes courage, and the number one tool in creating our future is PERCEPTION.

    We need a vision for the kind of world we want to live in. You can react with fear, apathy, or straight out denial, or you can respond from a place of possibility. We have an opportunity now to create something new; something better. But we need to see it first, and Warren Macdonald can help us form that vision for a better world.

    In this keynote presentation, Macdonald shares the lessons and tools he’s used to create a remarkable life from what many would have considered a “game over” scenario.

  • Challenge of Change: Finding Opportunity in Adversity

    We’ve all heard it a million times: “change is constant,” “the only certainty in life is change,” “change or perish.” We all know it; what we need is for someone to show us how to deal with it. Macdonald’s Challenge of Change presentation will help your group realize that challenges brought on by change hold endless opportunities for innovation and personal and professional growth - that it is possible to not just survive, but to thrive despite adversity.

  • Next Level Quality of Care: A Patients Testimony

    Healthcare workers face the fallout every day for themselves and their patients. Then when we add all the changes going on in healthcare, it’s easy to forget why you got into the healthcare profession to begin with. One of the strongest connections Warren feels with an audience is when he gets to share his patient story with those in healthcare. He has seen firsthand what work healthcare professionals do; He’s been there, on the receiving end. Warren had never even been in hospital until that night, after being rescued off of the side of a remote mountain, and then wheeled on a stretcher into your world…Ten days in intensive care, a month in the first hospital, then seven months of rehabilitation; learning how to live as a double above knee amputee. Whether you’re a front line practitioner or clinician, a caregiver, caseworker or a hospital administrator, what you do changes lives.

    Warren’s story represents someone who really could feel sorry for himself but instead has pulled himself up (literally) to excel at living a meaningful and productive life. He will share his patient testimony to show how you should never forget that you make a difference in the lives of so many. His story is awe inspiring and reminds healthcare workers that they are in a position to help/hinder others, including themselves. Warren will help your maintain your belief in the human spirit that exists in each one of us!

  • One Step Beyond: Setting and Reaching Impossible Goals

Warren MacDonald Videos

Find Your Connection | Warren Macdonald | TEDxAjman
Warren MacDonald - Adventurer, Author and Motivational Speaker
Warren Macdonald on Relevance

Warren MacDonald News

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