You don't need a crisis to live a better life
Alex is a motivational speaker whose story is grounded in resilience, perspective, and purpose.
In early 2024, Alex was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma—one of the rarest and most aggressive forms of cancer—and given a two percent chance of survival. Rather than surrender to the odds, he chose to face the challenge with the same mindset and grit that defined his career in high performance sport.
Over more than two decades, Alex has held senior leadership roles across New Zealand and Canada, including High Performance Manager for New Zealand Football during the historic 2010 FIFA World Cup and Chief Technical Officer for Ontario Soccer. At Sport New Zealand, he helped shape national approaches to talent development and wellbeing, including Balance is Better (a national Talent Plan), with a focus on helping young people find joy and stay connected to sport.
Alex’s personal journey now underpins his work as a speaker. Faced with a terminal diagnosis, he and his family relocated to Canada to pursue treatment. Through months of chemotherapy, major surgery, and significant setbacks, Alex discovered that the real story wasn’t about cancer—it was about love, hope, and how we choose to live.
Authentic, humorous, and deeply human, Alex speaks about perspective, wellbeing, and living with intention. His message is simple and powerful: you don’t need a crisis to live a better life.
Talking Points
Perspective
Even in tough moments, it is important to remember that perspective shapes how we experience the world
Perspective
Can control vs. can't control
How to accept that many aspects of our lives are out of our direct control.
Can control vs. can't control
Healthy Habits
Prioritiosing your own wellbeing and the habits that help.
Healthy Habits
The power of support
The “Power of support” having that support person and a support network.
The power of support
She'll be right....until she is not
Not letting being stuborn and proud get in the way of your health.
She'll be right....until she is not
He Tangata, The People
The importance of the people in your life.
He Tangata, The People
Be good
Life is too short, so why not brighten up people's day vs. make it harder
Be good
