Dr Alison Thompson OAM is a global humanitarian and keynote speaker whose firsthand experience in the world's most devastating disaster zones offers audiences powerful lessons in leadership, resilience, and the extraordinary impact of collective action.
Her journey began on September 11, 2001, when as an investment banker, she rushed to New York's World Trade Centre with her first aid kit. She stayed nine months, offering disaster relief alongside ordinary, like-minded people. That experience sparked a lifelong mission.
Alison went on to found Third Wave Volunteers, a global movement of first responder volunteers who bring relief to disaster and war zones including Ukraine, Syria, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka. Following the 2004 tsunami, she established the first Tsunami Early-Warning Centre and education museum, which continues to thrive today. To date, she has deployed over 30,000 volunteers and delivered humanitarian assistance and medical aid to more than 18 million people.
Recognised as a 2026 Australian of the Year, Alison brings a compelling message to the stage: that everyday people, armed with even small skills, can drive transformative change. Drawing from her upbringing as a pastor's child and decades of frontline experience, she inspires organisations to build resilience, mobilise communities, and turn crisis into opportunity. Her keynotes leave audiences motivated to take meaningful action in their own lives and workplaces.
