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Debra Searle

Determined Atlantic rower and entrepreneur

Specialist Subjects
Adventurer
Diversity
Environment
Motivation
Teamwork
Attitude
Risk
Goal-setting
Language:
English
Debra Searle

Determined Atlantic rower and entrepreneur

Biography

Debra Searle MVO, MBE is a truly inspirational woman. A professional adventurer, author and BBC presenter, Debra first hit the headlines when she set out to row across the Atlantic with her husband.  Unfortunately he had to be rescued so Debra, a novice rower, continued alone and rowed 3000 miles from Tenerife to Barbados. It should have taken them six weeks but, to achieve her goal, Debra ended up spending 3 1/2 months at sea alone, encountering 30′ waves, sharks, and force 8 squalls in her 23 foot plywood boat.

Her recent expeditions have included sailing around Antarctica, racing in the Monte Carlo Rally in a 1957 Alfa Romeo, various L’Etape du Tours, The Vogalonga in Venice, and becoming the first Briton to complete the gruelling Yukon River Quest with good friend Bruce Parry. Debra went on to lead a group of women known as The Sisterhood to a new World Record for Dragon Boating across the English Channel. This particular adventure created huge media interest in the UK due to a rather famous teammate – Kate Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge.

A specialist in corporate gender diversity and cultural change, Debra has worked with over 1,000 companies helping to inspire and shape their workforces. In 2015, she is combining her two passions for adventure and diversity and taking a group of businesswomen on an expedition to the Arctic Circle as part of a wider corporate diversity programme.  She is also the co-chair of the Women’s Business Forum based out of Buckingham Palace.

Debra is a regular presenter for the BBC, with credits including Grandstand, Extreme Lives, and Builders, Sweat and Tears.   Her spirit of adventure gained her an MBE from Her Majesty the Queen and she was delighted to be appointed a trustee of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme in 2003, the youngest and only female trustee working alongside His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh and His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex. Debra has been appointed Member of the Victorian Order (MVO) for her services to the Award.

Testimonials for Debra Searle:-

“We provided feedback forms to all participants and asked for a rating between 1(poor) and 5(excellent).   We received 170 completed forms and Debra scored a ‘5’ from every single respondent.   This is unheard of!   The comments were all super, for example - ‘ Best speaker I’ve heard at an IBM event – outstanding!’  Client Director, IBM UK Ltd   

“A big thank you for your talks today as part of our Build your Potential week.  It was an inspirational ending to the week and employees took away many positive messages about opportunities for self-development both on a personal and work level. Feedback was great.”  JP Morgan

 

 

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