Danielle Brown
Growing up, Danielle never imagined a future in sport because she was terrible at most of the activities she tried. As a teenager, she was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a chronic pain condition that affects her feet. It wasn’t easy, but she learned that whilst you can’t control what happens to you, you can control your response to it.
On her fifteenth birthday, she discovered archery, and three years later, she jumped onto the international scene as world number 1, a ranking she held for her entire career. She also proved more than a few doctors wrong along the way by successfully juggling a law degree and achieving first-class honours.
At the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing, Danielle won gold. Two years later, she made history as the first disabled athlete to represent England in an able-bodied discipline at the Commonwealth Games, where she won the gold medal in the team event. Then, in London 2012, Danielle successfully defended her Paralympic title on home soil.
She set her sights on Rio 2016, but a change in classification rules meant she no longer qualified to compete in Paralympic events. Danielle’s sporting career ended overnight, not because her ability had changed, but because she no longer ticked the right box. It was a painful and disorienting moment. Her life was built around her sport, as was her identity, and she realised that everything she had learned on the field still had value: she just needed to use it differently.
Now, Danielle brings those lessons to new audiences. As a keynote speaker and inclusion champion, she helps people unlock the strategies, mindset and resilience it takes to thrive, especially when things don’t go to plan. Whether she’s speaking about performance under pressure, disability inclusion or women’s empowerment, her mission is the same. She wants to help people realise what they’re capable of and create spaces where everyone has the chance to succeed.
Topics that Danielle covers include:
• Resilience redefined: Discover how to think, prepare, and respond like a champion especially during times of adversity
• High-Performance Habits: Learn how to create small, sustainable habits that boost focus, consistency and results
• Adapting to Win: Gain practical tools to stay effective, motivated, and future-focused when facing uncertainty or disruption
• Performance Starts Within: Develop practical strategies that protect energy, sharpen focus and unlock long-term performance
• Rise! How to Excel Without Having to be Exceptional: Tackles the pressure many underrepresented people feel to outperform in order to be seen or respected.
• You Can’t Say That!: A safe space to practise inclusive language with confidence, curiosity and respect. Participants don’t leave with a script of “right” words, but with practical tools to listen well, ask questions openly and respond constructively when mistakes happen.
