Ricky Grace AM

Ricky ‘Amazing’ Grace is an Olympian, former professional basketball player, and one of Australia’s most respected motivational speakers. Born in Dallas, Texas, Ricky’s basketball career began at Oklahoma University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Political Science in 1989.

He arrived in Australia in 1990 and was recruited by the Perth Wildcats, where he spent the majority of his career in the NBL, winning four championships, earning two Grand Final MVP awards, and being named to four All-NBL First Teams. Today, Ricky is one of only five Wildcats players to have his jersey retired, and in 2010 he was inducted into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame.

Ricky represented Australia as a member of the Boomers at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, finishing fourth. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Notre Dame.

Off the court, Ricky has dedicated over 30 years to community engagement, running basketball clinics and developing leadership programs for at-risk youth. In 2004 he founded Role Models and Leaders Australia (RMLA), a program that supports youth education and leadership development and contributes to the federal government’s Closing the Gap initiative.

Ricky’s leadership and community contributions have been widely recognised: he was appointed Ambassador for Children and Young People WA in 2018, a Western Australian of the Year finalist in 2019, and in 2021 was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his significant service to Western Australia’s Indigenous community.

Ricky’s diverse African-American-Australian background, combined with his experiences in elite sport, education, and community leadership, enables him to inspire, motivate, and unite audiences. He demonstrates the power of teamwork, resilience, and inclusive leadership, delivering keynote presentations that engage, entertain, and empower.