Alison Mowbray

summary

An Olympic Silver medalist, Alison was on the British Rowing team for seven years and competed in five World Championships and two Olympic Games.  You might have most recently seen her on a fishing trawler in Channel 4’s ‘Dangerous Jobs for Girls’.  But this is not your usual story of sporting excellence since the age of 5.  A sporting disaster area at school, Alison’s story strikes a chord with everyone who has overcome difficulty to find their place in the world and with those still struggling.  How does someone, at the age of 29 set out after their 1st Olympic medal: a 4 year goal that seems so remote that they don’t even dare tell anyone?  How does anyone who has spent their life as a strong individual manage to form part of a perfect team?  Find out how and feel inspired to go and make your own dreams happen.

biography

Dr Alison Mowbray

“Alison is every event organiser’s dream of the perfect motivational speaker. She mesmorised the audience and had them on the edge of their seats as she recounted her entertaining and inspirationall Olympic journey”  Herts is Ready for Winners Business Breakfast May 2009

An Olympic Silver medalist, Alison was on the British Rowing team for seven years and competed in five World Championships and two Olympic Games.  You might have most recently seen her on a fishing trawler in Channel 4’s ‘Dangerous Jobs for Girls’.  But this is not your usual story of sporting excellence since the age of 5.  A sporting disaster area at school, Alison’s story strikes a chord with everyone who has overcome difficulty to find their place in the world and with those still struggling.  How does someone, at the age of 29 set out after their 1st Olympic medal: a 4 year goal that seems so remote that they don’t even dare tell anyone?  How does anyone who has spent their life as a strong individual manage to form part of a perfect team?  Find out how and feel inspired to go and make your own dreams happen.

Dropped from the school Netball and Athletics teams Alison finally found her sport at the age of 18 when she stepped into a rowing boat for the first time at Liverpool University.  Alison kept rowing, with some success, but it was firmly on the back burner for many years while she pursued an academic career.  Having gained a PhD in Genetic Engineering from Cambridge University in 1997 and at the age of 26 she finally moved to London to attempt National selection.  She made the British rowing team that year and two years later achieved last minute qualification for the Sydney Olympics where she finished 10th in the single sculls.  It was not until then, at the age of 29, that an Olympic medal seemed even a possibility.  Before the Sydney Games was over Alison had decided she wanted to row for four more years, go to Athens and come back with a medal.

Balancing part-time teaching with full-time training Alison found the mindset and skills she had developed to get both her PhD and to get to Sydney crucial over the next four years.  In 2004 Alison was selected into the Quad Scull with Rebecca Romero, Frances Houghton and Debbie Flood and they went on to take the silver medal in the Olympic Games that summer.

Alison has since retired from international competition but is by no means sedentary.  She has learnt to dive, sail, windsurf and jive (!), run 3 marathons, cycled Lands End to John O’Groats, won her first 100 mile cycle sportive, hiked hundreds of miles and climbed dozens of mountains here and abroad. 

She believes that achieving your dreams and ambitions is due to goal setting, self-believe and transferable skills that can be learnt.  A theory she recently put into practice in Channel 4’s ‘Dangerous Jobs for Girls’ when she was one of 3 women to successfully take the guys on at their own game and ‘man’ a commercial fishing trawler in the South Australian Ocean.

Alison now balances her passion for the outdoors with work as an Inspirational Speaker to Business and Schools and as a Leadership Development consultant and executive coach for the company Lane4.  Her scientific background has also led her to develop interactive, informative and entertaining workshops and lectures on incorporating exercise and good nutrition into everyday life.  She is also a hard working Ambassador for London 2012.

Alison was born in Derby but grew up in Richmond, North Yorkshire where she still maintains close links.  The people of Richmond were so proud of her sporting achievements that they named a new road ‘Olympic way’ and an office suite on it ‘Mowbray House’.  Alison’s rowing career has taken her to Bedford, Cambridge, London and Henley on Thames and for the past few years she has lived in a village near Marlow in Buckinghamshire.

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Testimonials

Today I have been in a meeting where we had a motivational speaker, Alison Mowbray.  I have seen many motivational speakers in my career (especially with the larger life companies) and I must admit she is one of, if not the best I have ever seen.  She was funny and lively with a great story to tell which was around how she became a success after what appeared to be one disappointment after another. 
Lisa Williams, Axa-Sunlife Development Manager (Axa Conference)

I just wanted to send you my appreciation for taking the time to come and talk to us about your personal journey to the Olympics.  You were so inspirational and moved me close to tears on several intervals. I sincerely hope you realise just how much of an impact you have on people when you relay your story as it should give you a great sense of achievement.  You should be so proud - not only of what you have, but also of what you continue to accomplish through your open sharing with others.  I cannot even begin to describe just how I have benefited from listening to you from both a personal and business prospective.  Your ears should have been burning today as you have been a main topic of my conversation with people today, Thank you so much.  Margaret Lewis: Human Resources Advisor NHS Supply Chain

Despite being asked to speak at very short notice, Alison was thoroughly prepared, presented very well and used her experience to illustrate points she was asked to make.  She was very positively received by her audience of MPs, Peers, media and colleagues from the world of sport. She is open and friendly and showed endless patience having photographs taken and allowing the audience to see her Olympic medal.  The CCPR would highly recommend Alison to speak at any event.
Margaret Talbot: Chief Executive CCPR

It was fantastic to watch Alison with the kids and see the way they responded to her.
Barry Gardiner MP: Launch of the ‘Move It’ project for more sport in school.

I’m still using the nutritional information which we learnt - as improving my diet has made a large different to my energy and levels but also my moods! By eating the correct food, I now have energy to do more things in the evenings and I feel also more motivated and productive at work.  Dan Lewi: Dresdner Kleinwort Investment Bank

Alison’s enthusiasm and knowledge was just what I needed to help me make the first steps onto a healthy eating and exercise regime.  Within a short space of time I was already feeling the benefit - an increase in energy and more focused and motivated in several areas of my life. 
Richard Hunt: Nestle UK

Alison has spoken at many of our executive conferences and senior team building events.  Each time she has exceeded our expectations and energized the senior teams of key clients including Colt Telecom, Daler-Rowley and EDS.  What they liked most was her attitude, sense of humour, personal touch when addressing a large audience and the perception that she is very approachable despite her prestigious sporting achievements and busy speaking life.  Christian Mallissard, Eagle Performance Ltd

I have had the pleasure of being present in the audience on two occasions when Alison has been the guest speaker.  On each occasion she has spoken confidently and effectively to an audience of 400. She engaged both the young adults and their parents with her level of language, personal style and motivating content.  Alison is an eminently inspirational presenter; she conveys the sense of personal control and purpose which has enabled her to become a successful athlete in a way which is relevant to all individuals in her audience. She translates her own successes in rowing into a guide for success in life for all. Her own passion and motivation present a strong model which is all the more effective because she relates so well to our current experiences. She leaves a lasting and uplifting impression on all who are privileged to hear her.  I am pleased to recommend Alison to you for your next event.  Malcolm Churchill: Teacher, Wycombe High School