One of the Most Successful Female Sailors of All Time, 3x Olympic Medallist, 2x World Champion, Recipient of the Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award & Co-Founder of Athena Pathway Programme & Big Plastic Pledge

Hannah Mills OBE is one of the most accomplished sailors in British Olympic history, having secured three Olympic medals, including back-to-back gold medals at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. A two-time world champion in the women’s 470 class, Hannah has become recognised not only for her elite sporting success, but also for her leadership in sustainability and equality within sport. As a speaker, she shares powerful insights into teamwork, resilience and high-performance culture, drawing upon experiences competing at the highest level under immense pressure. Hannah is also widely respected for her environmental advocacy and commitment to creating greater opportunities for future generations of athletes.

Hannah’s journey in sailing began with the Welsh National Optimist Squad, where she won the British Optimist Championships in 2001. She later represented Great Britain at the Optimist World Championships in both 2002 and 2003, achieving the best result by a British sailor at the event as first girl and fifth overall. Her transition into senior competition saw her claim silver medals at both the 2011 Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta and the Weymouth and Portland International Regatta. In 2012, Hannah won gold at the 470 World Championships before taking Olympic silver in London. She returned even stronger in Rio, winning Olympic gold in 2016, before defending her title at Tokyo in 2021. Alongside competing, Hannah joined the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team and co-founded Athena Pathway with Sir Ben Ainslie to support female and youth participation in sailing. She also established Athletes of the World and launched the Big Plastic Pledge to inspire environmental action across sport.

Throughout her career, Hannah has received widespread recognition for both her sporting achievements and wider influence. Early in her career, she was named UK Young Sailor of the Year and BBC Wales Young Sports Personality of the Year. She later earned the Female World Sailor of the Year Award and the prestigious Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award. In 2017, Hannah received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Chichester and was appointed an MBE, before being elevated to OBE status in 2022 for services to sailing and the environment.

Away from competition, Hannah has become an influential advocate for sustainability, inclusion and athlete welfare. Her ability to combine elite sporting lessons with meaningful social impact makes her an engaging and highly relevant speaker for corporate audiences, leadership summits and environmental events. Whether discussing performing under pressure, building successful partnerships or driving positive change, Hannah delivers authentic insights that resonate long after her presentations have ended.

Why Hire Hannah Mills?

Hannah Mills OBE is hired as a speaker for her inspiring perspective on leadership, resilience and achieving sustained success in high-pressure environments. Drawing upon her experiences as a double Olympic champion and world-class sailor, she delivers engaging talks on teamwork, communication and performing consistently at the highest level. Hannah is also highly regarded for her work in sustainability and inclusion through initiatives such as the Big Plastic Pledge and Athena Pathway. Her keynote speeches combine compelling storytelling with actionable lessons, making her a popular choice for conferences, corporate events, leadership programmes and environmental campaigns worldwide.