Speakers Profile - Adam Gilchrist










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Born in Belligen NSW in 1971, Adam is one the most universally respected and admired personalities in Australia today. Steve Waugh not only described Adam as a once in a generation cricketer, but as one of the best team mates he ever played with. A father of four and a devoted family man, he is an engaging, friendly and exuberant character. Well liked and respected by his peers, the media and the public alike. In his sporting, professional and charitable endeavours, he is totally committed to achieving excellence and integrity in the performance of all tasks presented to him. He is passionate about Australia and serving the community via a number of charitable and government appointed roles. Adam is a proven leader: a true role model on and off the cricket field who inspires people to achieve their best.

Adam played his junior cricket in country NSW from the age of 7. From his hometown of Lismore, he represented NSW and Australia at Under 19 level and at the age of 21 made his first class debut at the SCG in 1992. In 1997 Adam replaced Ian Healy in the Australian One Day side and two years later became Australia's test wicketkeeper for the next 96 consecutive test matches until his retirement in January 2008. He was an integral part of what was to become one of Australia's greatest ever cricket teams. In December 2000 Adam became the 43rd Australian Test Cricket Captain. In March 2002 he became the No. 1 ICC ranked batsman in the world. In January 2008 in his final test match, he broke the then world record for the most wicketkeeping dismissals in test cricket. In 2010 he was selected in ESPN Cric Info's Greatest Ever World XI alongside fellow Australians Sir Donald Bradman, Dennis Lillee and Shane Warne. In the same year he was voted the greatest wicketkeeper/batsman of all time.

Throughout his playing career and since his retirement from international cricket in 2008, Adam has performed a number of ambassadorial roles for various Australian corporations, government entities and charities. He has spearheaded a number of highly successful marketing and brand campaigns for Australian and international companies. Adam is the current host of the Fox Sports National Cricket commentary team. In addition to this pivotal broadcasting role, Adam has consistently been in high demand across all media platforms from TV, radio, on social media and print.

In 2008, Adam was appointed as Chairperson of the Australia Day Council. In that capacity, Adam was responsible for heading up the statutory body in charge of all matters relating to the annual Australia Day celebrations. That role included overseeing the selection process for the Australian of the Year and the various award winners from each State and Territory. Adam was required to chair a committee comprised of prominent Australians to run the organisation as well as oversee a permanent staff of 12 employees with an annual budget of nearly $10 million dollars. In 2014 Adam was appointed as the first Australian Education Ambassador to India. He attended a number of high level meetings and education based conferences throughout India with the Prime Minister and Minister for Education.

Adam is currently the patron of Ronald McDonald House Western Australia. This charity provides short term accommodation to the families of seriously ill children who live in regional areas but are forced, often at short notice, into the capital city to look after their child whilst undergoing treatment in hospital. Since 1998, Adam has spent considerable time visiting the centre to personally meet, support and actively encourage these families and their sick children. In addition to this direct, personal involvement, Adam headed up a $20million capital raise for the establishment of a 48 room facility for Ronald McDonald House at the new hospital extensions at Sir Charles Gairdner Perth. On behalf of the charity Adam has met and lobbied a number of corporate heads and industry leaders as well as liaising with the Western Australian Premier's department and other government instrumentalities to achieve the successful capital funding for the project. Adam is also a World Vision ambassador and represents that organisation both in Australia and throughout the world. In this capacity, he works closely with the organisation with respect to a number of World Vision projects operating throughout India and the sub-continent.

Adam represents integrity, commitment and leadership. His name and image is synonymous with these key values: a person who epitomises excellence in their chosen field but at the same time is universally regarded as someone who is accessible, humble and a genuine representative of people from all walks of life - the embodiment of the values that all Australians hold dear.