Looking for a powerful public speaker but don’t know where to begin?
Maybe you want to inspire your crowd with a thought-provoking talk or presentation or organise a Q&A with some elite athletes? No matter if it’s a product launch, conference, fundraiser, corporate event or party, WheelPower’s speakers unique stories will ensure your guests have a memorable night.
Our speakers
- Chris Rattenbury
- Martin McElhatton
- Kevan Baker OBE
- Joyce Sheard
- Louise Hunt Skelley
Chris Rattenbury
Chris was an international Powerlifter for 17 years before retiring from sport in 2015.
He has represented England at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, as well as competing for GB at two World Championships and six European Championships. He’s highest ranking in his career was 4th in the World in his weight category and he was number one in Europe and Britain. Chris has been working with WheelPower for seven years and has spoken to over 40,000 people about WheelPower.
Martin McElhatton OBE
Martin is WheelPower’s Chief Executive and has worked for the charity for over 25 years.
After a spinal cord injury and rehabilitation at the National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Martin has represented Great Britain at wheelchair basketball including the 1984 Paralympic Games.
Martin has dedicated his career to transforming the lives of disabled children and adults with WheelPower’s mission to provide and promote wheelchair sport.
For his achievements on a national level Martin was honoured with carrying the Torch in the London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay.
With an unrivalled knowledge of our work at Stoke Mandeville, Martin will tell your guests about his life as an elite athlete, the UK’s proud Paralympic heritage, and how disability sport has transformed his life.
Kevan Baker OBE
You can hear Kevan’s story on how he took up athletics and became World Champion and four times world record holder. Kevan has been a paraplegic since a road traffic accident in 1979. Following his rehabilitation at Pinderfields Spinal Unit, Wakefield, Kevan took up athletics and competed in Discuss.
Four time Paralympian Kevan competed at Stoke Mandeville 1984, Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996. He won bronze medals at his 3rd + 4th Games.
Kevan became Chairman of WheelPower in 1996 and he will tell your guests about his life as an elite athlete, the UK’s proud Paralympic heritage, and how disability sport has transformed the lives of athletes.
Joyce Sheard
Joyce has an incredible association with WheelPower, having volunteered for the charity since 1980. For the last 10 years, Joyce has focused her work on the fundraising team. She has enjoyed every moment with WheelPower and the variety of wheelchair sports she has become involved with.
Joyce first started by helping to run the coffee bar and the information desk at our national and international events and progressed to becoming more involved in Powerlifting. She is currently the Treasurer for British Weightlifting Association for the Disabled (BWAD) and an IPC Category 1 Referee for Powerlifting.
After qualifying as a National Powerlifting referee in 1991, Joyce has now refereed at 4 Commonwealth Games. 3 Paralympic Games (including London 2012) as well as a multitude of International and National competitions.
Working within WheelPower and the Paralympic movement means you are part of a wonderful international family.
Louise Hunt Skelley
Louise made her Paralympic debut at London 2012 and then went on to represent ParalympicsGB in Rio. Competing in the women’s tennis Singles competition, Louise discovered disability sport at WheelPower’s National Junior Games, and immediately found a love for wheelchair tennis.
Louise was born with Spina Bifida and I was first introduced to wheelchair sport at Stoke Mandeville when she was just 5 years old.
WheelPower gave me much more than just a chance to try out a variety of sports. It was at Stoke Mandeville that I met many friends who I am still in contact with today and gave me confidence and ambition to believe in my abilities. I found my love for Wheelchair Tennis and Wheelchair Racing at Stoke Mandeville and I competed in both of these for many years.
Her ultimate dream came true when she represented Great Britain at Wheelchair Tennis at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Years of hard work, endless hours of training and travelling to compete finally paid off and she was very proud and privileged that her first Paralympic Games were in London.
In her career, Louise won three World Junior Masters titles and three Women’s World titles. She won 26 international Doubles titles and 9 international women’s titles.
