Janine Shepherd

Janine Shepherd is an inspirational speaker and writer whose books have become classics in the survivor genre. Janine's recently published memoir, DEFIANT: A Broken Body is Not a Broken Person, chronicles her life as champion cross-country skier in training for the 1988 winter Olympics, whose life changed forever when she was hit by a truck during a bicycle training ride in the Blue Mountains of Australia. The accident left her with permanent disabilities. Doctors said she'd never walk again and never be able to have kids. Not only did Janine learn to walk again, she learned to fly. She's earned her licenses as both a pilot and an aerobatics instructor. Janine went on to have three children. Janine was awarded the Order of Australia, her nation’s highest honor, in recognition of her service to the community and her tireless efforts in raising awareness for spinal cord research, . She is an ambassador for Spinal Cure Australia and Red Bull’s “Wings for Life” and a contributor to Deepak Chopra’s workshops. Janine was the youngest — and only female — director of Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), and has earned numerous awards within the aviation industry. Her story has been featured on 60 Minutes, This is Your Life and CNN's Turning Points with Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Janine's remarkable life events ultimately captured the interest of a prominent film company, which produced the feature length movie, aptly titled, "Never Tell Me Never." Her inspirational TEDx talk, “A Broken Body Isn’t a Broken Person,” has been viewed almost 2 million times over various platforms. Janine was recently named an "Architect of Change" in Maria Shriver's “Sunday Paper.” Janine lives in Wyoming but is frequently traveling the globe delivering keynotes and sharing her inspirational message of “defiance," encouraging us all to grow beyond our preconceived limits. For more information, visit janineshepherd.com.