KATY PARROTT
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
ADVENTURER / ATHLETE
BIO
Described as ‘Tinkerbell crossed with the Terminator,’ Katy was a finalist in the BBC Series Special Forces: Ultimate Hell Week in 2017. This experience inspired her to join the Army Reserves, where she trained as a Combat Medic and deployed to Armenia, Georgia, Afghanistan, Norway, and Pakistan.
Her time on the show sparked a desire to test her physical and mental limits further, leading her into the world of ultra-running. In 2018, she finished as the 3rd female in her first 100km race. Katy is now a Montane Athlete, supported in endurance events and mountain expeditions globally.
In late 2020, Katy faced a major challenge when an accident required her to undergo major knee reconstructive surgery. Despite a tumultuous year of rehab, she made a remarkable comeback, competing in the Montane Lapland Arctic Ultra (185 km) just 15 months post-surgery, finishing 4th overall and 2nd female. Refusing to let her injury define her, she has also fast-packed mountain ranges, run the length of Devon, and completed an Ironman in memory of a teammate she lost while climbing Broad Peak in 2022.
Katy is passionate about self-leadership, a growth mindset, and breaking stereotypes. By sharing her stories of endurance, overcoming setbacks, and tackling challenges with a ‘can-do’ attitude, she hopes to inspire others to approach their own goals with positivity and self-belief.
Testimonials:
"I invited Katy to speak to Junior Soldiers at the Army Foundation College, specifically to inspire the young women starting their Army careers. Her talk embodied the essence of adventure, challenge, and resilience, sparking the imagination of both the young soldiers and their Staff.
She has a delightful blend of fun and charm which, combined with her phenomenal feats of endurance, make for a captivating listen. Her humility and tales of recovery, when things go wrong, ensure she is always relatable to us mere mortals.
Katy Parrott is not just a speaker; she's a catalyst for personal growth and unwavering resilience."
Colonel Simon Farebrother MC
" There are people that do things that I don’t feel driven to do. Some people go on journeys that I never intend on taking. Some people place themselves in unnecessary situations that will never seem necessary to me. Then there is Katy Parrott. Katy helps make it make sense.
I don’t often ‘find myself’ in the words of others, but it took an exemplary human, who has done some ‘ultra’ things to remind me that an open and optimistic mindset, enjoyment in the journey, seeing setbacks as opportunities for growth, and choosing to respond full of possibility rather than with defeat is entirely who I am and it’s just all relative.
Katy might inspire you to do ultra things or she might inspire you to just keep being the best version of yourself, either way, everyone needs a little bit of Katy in their life."