CONFERENCE 2026
Thursday 3 December, 2026
AUCKLAND
The ripple effect.
Amplify your impact.
One bold move at a time.
2026 SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENTS...
Dame Sophie Pascoe
The team at Bold Steps are delighted to announce Dame Sophie Pascoe, New Zealand’s most decorated Paralympian, as a speaker at Bold Steps 2026.
It’s impossible to do justice to all of Dame Sophie's achievements in the pool, but her quick highlight reel includes 19 Paralympic medals (including eleven gold) across four Games, 17 IPC world titles, and multiple world records. In 2021, Dame Sophie became the youngest-ever Dame in the New Year’s Honours in recognition of her record-breaking accomplishments in the pool. She is a seven-time winner of Para Athlete of the Year as well as Para Athlete of the Decade in 2020 at the Halberg Awards.
A below-the-knee amputee following a lawnmower accident when she was a toddler, Dame Sophie is known for her raw honesty and offers refreshing insight into the ups and downs of life as an athlete and leaves a lasting impression on everyone she meets.
Jelena Dokic
The team at Bold Steps are delighted to announce Jelena Dokic, former world No. 4 tennis player as a speaker at Bold Steps 2026.
At just 16, she stunned the world by defeating world No. 1 Martina Hingis at Wimbledon, launching a career that saw her reach Grand Slam semi-finals and become a global tennis star. But her journey off the court reveals an even greater strength.
A two-time refugee, Jelena faced bullying, racism, and, most tragically, 15 years of abuse at the hands of her father – starting at age six. The trauma took a heavy toll, leading her to a breaking point at 22, battling depression, anxiety and PTSD.
She shared her story in two bestselling books, Unbreakable and Fearless, inspiring thousands by speaking openly about mental health, domestic violence, survival, and reclaiming power. Today, she is not only a respected commentator for NINE’s Grand Slam coverage with her number one documentary winning two awards, most recently a Logie, Jelena is also a passionate advocate for those who feel unheard.
Her story is one of unimaginable hardship and extraordinary courage - a reminder that even in the darkest moments, we have the strength to rise.
Bold Steps Conference 2025
