SPORT SPEAKERS | MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING | BUSINESS SPEAKERS | MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKERS | LEADERSHIP SPEAKERS | WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP | RESILIENCE SPEAKERS | HIGH PERFORMANCE SPEAKERS

Ruby Tui

Olympic champion, World Cup winning Black Fern and bestselling author

Overview

Ruby Tui is an Olympic gold medallist, a Rugby World Cup-winning Black Fern and the author of New Zealand's bestselling book of 2022. On stage she brings the same energy that lit up the 2022 World Cup at Eden Park – open, funny, fearless and grounded in a hard-won mindset she now shares with audiences across the country.

Who is Ruby Tui? Ruby grew up in Wellington and Christchurch and overcame a difficult upbringing to become one of the world's best women's rugby players. She has represented New Zealand at two Olympic Games, won World Rugby's top sevens and 15s honours, and helped lift the 2021 Rugby World Cup at home in 2022. Her memoir Straight Up was the bestselling New Zealand-published book of 2022. She continues to play, commentate for Sky and speak across Aotearoa.

Career Highlights

  • Olympic gold medal, Tokyo 2020 (played 2021)

  • Olympic silver medal, Rio 2016

  • Rugby World Cup winner with the Black Ferns, 2022

  • Rugby World Cup Sevens winner, 2018

  • World Rugby Women's Sevens Player of the Year, 2019

  • World Rugby Women's 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year, 2022

  • Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year, 2017

  • Author of bestselling memoir Straight Up (2022) and children's book Little Ruby and Friends

  • Sky Sport commentator and ambassador for the HeadFirst initiative

Key Speaking Themes

  • Turning pain into purpose: mindset, mental fitness and resilience

  • High-performance team culture and the "people-first" Black Ferns model

  • Authentic leadership and showing up as yourself

  • Mental health and wellbeing in sport and work

  • Women in sport, equity and representation

What Your Audience Will Gain Ruby's keynotes leave rooms uplifted and clear-eyed. Audiences walk out with practical tools from "Ruby's training bag" for mental fitness, perseverance and bringing their whole self to whatever they do.

Ideal For

  • Corporate conferences and leadership events

  • Sales kick-offs and team days

  • Schools, education and youth-focused events

  • Diversity, women's leadership and culture programmes

  • After-dinner and awards keynotes

Frequently Asked Questions...

What does Ruby Tui speak about? Resilience, mindset, mental fitness, team culture, authentic leadership, and turning pain into purpose.

Has Ruby Tui written a book? Yes. Her memoir Straight Up was the bestselling New Zealand-published book in 2022. She has also written the children's book Little Ruby and Friends.

How many Olympic medals does Ruby Tui have? Two – a silver from Rio 2016 and a gold from Tokyo 2020 (played in 2021), both with the Black Ferns Sevens.

Did Ruby Tui win the Rugby World Cup? Yes. She was part of the Black Ferns side that won the 2021 Rugby World Cup, played at Eden Park in 2022.

Is Ruby Tui still playing rugby? Yes. She has continued playing for the Black Ferns and in Super Rugby Aupiki, and is also a regular commentator for Sky Sport.

How long is a typical keynote? 45 minutes is standard with Q&A optional. Fireside chat and longer workshop formats are also available.