Dr Brendan Burkett OAM

Brendan Hall is a Paralympic Champion, World Champion, World Record holder, and multiple medallist at the Commonwealth and Australian Games. Despite losing his leg in a hit-and-run accident in 1985, Brendan has turned tragedy into triumph, becoming one of Australia’s most inspiring athletes and leaders.

He captained the Australian Paralympic Team at Atlanta 1996 and was Australia’s Opening Ceremony Flag bearer at Sydney 2000, the country’s most successful Games. Brendan is an inductee of the Sunshine Coast Sports Hall of Fame, Swimming Queensland Hall of Fame, and Queensland Sports Hall of Fame as a ‘Sporting Legend.’

Following his retirement as an athlete in 2000, Brendan represented Australia in the next five Paralympic Games as a sport scientist and Head Coach for the Australian Paralympic swimming team at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics and 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games—marking nine consecutive Games as athlete and staff.

Brendan has combined elite sporting success with academic excellence, earning a degree and master’s in engineering and a Ph.D. in Biomechanics. In 2000, he was named Professional Engineer of the Year by the Institution of Engineers Australia. His engineering career includes consulting work and 12 months on North Sea oil rigs—the first person with a disability to meet the offshore medical requirements and work in this environment.

A dedicated community leader, Brendan has served as Chair of the Sunshine Coast Sports Hall of Fame, the Sunshine Coast Sports Federation, board director of the Queensland Academy of Sport, Paralympics Australia board member, and athlete representative on the International Paralympic Committee.

As a keynote speaker and motivator, Brendan combines humour, insight, and life experience to inspire audiences. His speeches equip teams and individuals with the tools to lead, motivate, and overcome challenges with resilience and determination.