Simon Wheatcroft

Storyteller | Technologist | Adventurer | Inclusivity Consultant| Award-winning educator.

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Simon Wheatcroft's Biography

Tech pioneer, endurance runner and award-winning educator, Simon Wheatcroft, refuses to let blindness hold him back. Whether he is competing in ultra-marathons, climbing mountains or teaching students in the classroom., he combines the use of technology and his fundamental belief and trust in his own abilities and body to overcome what many would consider insurmountable barriers and achieve his goals. Simon's unique blend of ferocious drive, along with his background in technology and psychology, enables him to push the boundaries of possibility and challenge the audience to explore what they can achieve. Leveraging his experience of working with leading technology firms (IBM, MIT and Google), Simon now seeks to create the next generation of inclusive technology that will continue to enable himself and others to achieve what many bystanders would consider unattainable - always working to ensure the provided solutions address true needs and account for future implications. This has included creating such diverse technology as robotic control systems for individuals with motor neurone disease, AI machine learning switching systems and the sonification of data analysis. Simon has also improved the inclusivity and diversity of the hackathon scene by creating hackcessible - a user led accessible hackathon event. Simon entered the classroom to motivate the next generation of technology pioneers. Within a year Simon’s classroom teaching was identified as outstanding. This led to Simon winning the Pearson National Teaching Gold award for Outstanding New teacher. Born with a genetic eye disorder (Retinitis Pigmentosa) resulted in Simon becoming blind at 17. After a number of difficult years of adaptation, he headed to California with the intention of climbing a mountain and proposing to his girlfriend. Having never climbed or hiked up a mountain before, Simon’s view was: how hard can it be? While he managed to propose to his girlfriend (halfway up the mountain) the summit remained elusive as it was too dangerous for him to continue to the top. For the first time in his life Simon quit because he couldn’t see. It wasn’t the difficulty of the mountain; it was his lack of vision that defeated him on the day. Returning to the UK he vowed never to quit again because he was unable to see. Now all he needed was a new challenge. Making use of technology, he began a remarkable journey of learning to run outdoors totally unaided aside from the Smartphone app RunKeeper and his remaining senses as a guide. Over a period of seven months, he went from running between the goalposts on a football field to his first race of over 100 miles. Partnering with leading technology firms and using social media to find running partners Simon has gone on to run marathons and ultramarathons. In 2014, he decided that the 26.2 mile New York City marathon wasn’t enough, so he decided to start the race in Boston - over 250 miles away! Since then, Simon has continued to test the boundaries of what is humanly possible - becoming the first ever blind person to run solo the 4 Deserts Marathon in Namibia in May 2016. Simon continued his journey of expanding what is possible by entering the classroom. With a passion for computer science and a drive to have impact in his local community, Simon began teaching at a local school. Initially teaching training providers were unwilling to work with Simon due to his blindness. However, after being welcomed warmly by Outwood Academy Trust, Simon and the Outwood team began the journey of adapting the classroom. Simon created custom software and working on creating accessible content to deliver to the students. So seamless in fact that many students are not even aware of Simon being blind. This outstanding achievement was recognised by the Pearson National Teaching awards and in his first year of teaching Simon was awarded the gold award for outstanding teaching. Simon continues to push the boundaries in the classroom and work in challenging schools to help the next generation of tech pioneers. Simon hopes he can inspire students to create incredible technology that can change what individuals are capable of. Simon’s incredible achievements have garnered significant media attention worldwide. He regularly features on TV - with special features on the CBS News Sunday Morning Live programme and BBC Click - and in the news, including a feature article in the New York Times after becoming the first blind man to run the New York Marathon solo. Being blind means that Simon’s ability to adapt and use technology has enabled him to achieve incredible goals; from learning to run alone outdoors to crossing the Sahara Desert solo. His keynote talks on diversity, inclusion and technology draw on his remarkable achievements, push boundaries and motivate others to reimagine what is possible. Simon’s keynote titles include, but are not limited to: Running the line: understand how technology can be used and adapted to expand the realm of possibility for all and how the obstacles affecting a visually impaired person can be used to create a product to benefit the general public. Diversity in technology: understand how developing and adapting technology can break down barriers, increase diversity and create better solutions within a problem-solving community. Quitting and Failure: learn how to identify the delicate balance between what truly defines quitting vs failure and what can be learnt from adversity and failure and how it can result in a positive conclusion. Understanding the end goal: how working backwards allows you assess potential risks and then strip down and simplify life into achievable tasks and ambitions. Teamwork, leadership, and motivation: how to put together the best team for the job and use your vision to inspire them to achieve things they never thought possible. Diversity and technology: understand how embracing, developing and adapting technology can break down barriers, increase diversity and create better solutions. Excellence in the classroom - Simon has created an incredibly unique classroom environment that merges technology to bridge gaps and work seamlessly to overcome barriers.

SPEAKING VIDEOS
PHOTOS

Simon Wheatcroft: the blind ultramarathon runner who won't give up

Asics- Runkeeper Journeys- Simon Wheatcroft

Simon Wheatcroft Technology as an Enabler

SPEAKER TOPICS

Inspiring Speakers

Motivational Speakers for Schools

After Dinner Speakers

Family Speakers

Leadership Speakers

Risk Management Speakers

Start-Ups & Entrepreneurship Speakers

Health&Safety Speakers

Mental Health Speakers

Motivational Speakers

New Speakers

Diversity Speakers

Storytelling Speakers

Change Management Speakers

Workplace Culture Speakers

Technology Speakers

Simon Wheatcroft Keynote Topics

Adapt: How to Create a More Accessible World by Adapting Technology

Simon shows how technology can break barriers and create new opportunities for inclusion. Drawing on his own journey of running ultra-marathons unaided through adaptive tech, he demonstrates the transformative power of innovation when it’s designed with accessibility in mind.

This keynote inspires organizations to embrace inclusivity as a driver of progress. Audiences leave with a renewed understanding of how accessible technology can improve lives while unlocking creativity and growth.

Inclusive Design and Intuitive Experience

Our speaker explores the principles of inclusive design, emphasizing that the best solutions serve everyone. Simon highlights how intuitive experiences are born when technology addresses real human needs and anticipates future challenges.

This talk equips leaders and teams with practical tools to prioritize accessibility and usability. Attendees leave motivated to build products and services that empower diverse communities.

Quitting and Failure: How Facing Adversity Creates a Mindset to Achieve Your Goals

Simon shares his story of failure and perseverance—from quitting halfway up a mountain to becoming the first blind man to run solo across deserts and marathons. He shows how setbacks can forge resilience and fuel achievement.

This keynote encourages audiences to reframe failure as a powerful teacher. Participants walk away with a mindset that transforms adversity into determination and lasting success.

The End Goal: Minimize Risks by Examining Smaller Tasks

Simon reveals how breaking monumental challenges into smaller, achievable steps reduces risk and builds momentum. He draws from endurance running and technology projects to illustrate how this method ensures progress even under pressure.

This session offers leaders a practical framework for managing risk and complexity. Audiences leave with actionable strategies to achieve ambitious goals with clarity and control.

Implementation Intentions and the Ability to Handle the Unknown

Our speaker introduces the concept of implementation intentions—planning responses to uncertainty before it arises. Simon explains how this technique helps individuals and organizations stay calm, focused, and effective in unpredictable situations.

This talk provides audiences with mental tools to prepare for the unexpected. Attendees leave empowered to face uncertainty with confidence and adaptability.

Handling Risk in Life and Death Situations

Simon offers a gripping perspective on risk, drawn from extreme endurance races and life-threatening environments. He reveals how to assess danger, stay composed, and make effective decisions under immense pressure.

This keynote equips leaders with insights into high-stakes decision-making. Audiences leave inspired to handle risk responsibly while maintaining resilience in the most challenging circumstances.

Simon Wheatcroft's Biography

Leveraging his experience of working with leading technology firms (IBM, MIT and Google), Simon now seeks to create the next generation of inclusive technology that will continue to enable himself and others to achieve what many bystanders would consider unattainable - always working to ensure the provided solutions address true needs and account for future implications. This has included creating such diverse technology as robotic control systems for individuals with motor neurone disease, AI machine learning switching systems and the sonification of data analysis. Simon has also improved the inclusivity and diversity of the hackathon scene by creating hackcessible - a user led accessible hackathon event.

Simon entered the classroom to motivate the next generation of technology pioneers. Within a year Simon’s classroom teaching was identified as outstanding. This led to Simon winning the Pearson National Teaching Gold award for Outstanding New teacher.

Born with a genetic eye disorder (Retinitis Pigmentosa) resulted in Simon becoming blind at 17. After a number of difficult years of adaptation, he headed to California with the intention of climbing a mountain and proposing to his girlfriend. Having never climbed or hiked up a mountain before, Simon’s view was: how hard can it be?

While he managed to propose to his girlfriend (halfway up the mountain) the summit remained elusive as it was too dangerous for him to continue to the top. For the first time in his life Simon quit because he couldn’t see. It wasn’t the difficulty of the mountain; it was his lack of vision that defeated him on the day. Returning to the UK he vowed never to quit again because he was unable to see. Now all he needed was a new challenge. Making use of technology, he began a remarkable journey of learning to run outdoors totally unaided aside from the Smartphone app RunKeeper and his remaining senses as a guide.

Over a period of seven months, he went from running between the goalposts on a football field to his first race of over 100 miles. Partnering with leading technology firms and using social media to find running partners Simon has gone on to run marathons and ultramarathons. In 2014, he decided that the 26.2 mile New York City marathon wasn’t enough, so he decided to start the race in Boston - over 250 miles away! Since then, Simon has continued to test the boundaries of what is humanly possible - becoming the first ever blind person to run solo the 4 Deserts Marathon in Namibia in May 2016.

Simon continued his journey of expanding what is possible by entering the classroom. With a passion for computer science and a drive to have impact in his local community, Simon began teaching at a local school. Initially teaching training providers were unwilling to work with Simon due to his blindness. However, after being welcomed warmly by Outwood Academy Trust, Simon and the Outwood team began the journey of adapting the classroom. Simon created custom software and working on creating accessible content to deliver to the students. So seamless in fact that many students are not even aware of Simon being blind. This outstanding achievement was recognised by the Pearson National Teaching awards and in his first year of teaching Simon was awarded the gold award for outstanding teaching.

Simon continues to push the boundaries in the classroom and work in challenging schools to help the next generation of tech pioneers. Simon hopes he can inspire students to create incredible technology that can change what individuals are capable of.

Simon’s incredible achievements have garnered significant media attention worldwide. He regularly features on TV - with special features on the CBS News Sunday Morning Live programme and BBC Click - and in the news, including a feature article in the New York Times after becoming the first blind man to run the New York Marathon solo.

Being blind means that Simon’s ability to adapt and use technology has enabled him to achieve incredible goals; from learning to run alone outdoors to crossing the Sahara Desert solo. His keynote talks on diversity, inclusion and technology draw on his remarkable achievements, push boundaries and motivate others to reimagine what is possible.

Simon’s keynote titles include, but are not limited to:

Running the line: understand how technology can be used and adapted to expand the realm of possibility for all and how the obstacles affecting a visually impaired person can be used to create a product to benefit the general public.
Diversity in technology: understand how developing and adapting technology can break down barriers, increase diversity and create better solutions within a problem-solving community.
Quitting and Failure: learn how to identify the delicate balance between what truly defines quitting vs failure and what can be learnt from adversity and failure and how it can result in a positive conclusion.
Understanding the end goal: how working backwards allows you assess potential risks and then strip down and simplify life into achievable tasks and ambitions.
Teamwork, leadership, and motivation: how to put together the best team for the job and use your vision to inspire them to achieve things they never thought possible.
Diversity and technology: understand how embracing, developing and adapting technology can break down barriers, increase diversity and create better solutions.
Excellence in the classroom - Simon has created an incredibly unique classroom environment that merges technology to bridge gaps and work seamlessly to overcome barriers.

Simon Wheatcroft is ready to inspire your teams!
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Simon Wheatcroft testimonials

Bruce Daisley

VP Europe, Twitter

“I first saw Simon when he was the top rated speaker at the IAB conference in 2014. He subsequently came and spoke to the UK Twitter team. The talk was informal, warm and deeply inspiring. Simon has a perspective on life, technology and – yes – running that is captivating to hear”.

Ed Couchman

Facebook

“We invited Simon to speak out our annual UK & Ireland conference. His amazing journey and experiences truly inspired the team and made them think more deeply about their own untapped inner strengths. Simon delivered his speech with great humility and humor that only made it more powerful and resonate more strongly with the audience. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending Simon as a motivational speaker”.

Matt Brocklehurst

Product Marketing, Google

“Simon spoke at Google’s flagship Think Performance conference for C-level execs and simply stole the show with his moving and memorable stories of how advances in tech, specifically smartphones and now Google Glass, allows him to achieve his extraordinary goals”.