Liz Johnson

Liz Johnson is a former Team GB Paralympic gold medallist, entrepreneur, and television executive producer who combines elite sporting achievement with commercial insight. She won gold at Beijing 2008, bronze at London 2012, and competed across four Paralympic Games before retiring in 2016. Following her swimming career, Liz co-founded The Ability People, an employment agency staffed exclusively by people with impairments, and was appointed executive producer by Whisper TV to cover the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. Her engaging presentations help organisations understand how resilience, adaptability, and reframing obstacles can drive performance, whilst demystifying disability and challenging perceptions with warmth and authenticity.

Days before competing at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, Liz Johnson lost her mother, yet she went on to fulfil a lifetime ambition by winning gold in the pool and dedicating her victory to the woman who had supported her journey from the very beginning. Introduced to swimming at age three as therapy for her cerebral palsy, Liz competed across four Paralympic Games, claiming gold at Beijing, bronze at London 2012 where she set a new Paralympic record, and earning the honour of reading the athletes' oath at the Opening Ceremony of her home Games. Her career spanned two decades of elite competition, from making the British team as a teenager to winning multiple IPC World Championship titles before retiring in 2016.

Beyond her achievements in the pool, Liz has built a career that combines entrepreneurial vision with broadcast expertise and a commitment to changing perceptions around disability. She graduated with a degree in business management and finance in 2008, later co-founding The Ability People, an employment agency staffed exclusively by people with impairments, which launched in 2018 and addresses recruitment inequality head-on. Her media career has flourished alongside her business ventures, working as a Channel 4 pundit during the Rio 2016 Paralympics and appearing regularly on programmes including BBC Breakfast and The Last Leg. In 2024, Whisper TV appointed her as executive producer to cover the Paris Paralympic Games, a role that saw her recognised by Clare Balding, Steph McGovern and Adam Hills for adding significant insight, warmth and impact to their broadcasts. Named one of the BBC's 100 Women in 2018, Liz continues to work across television, entrepreneurship and advocacy with equal commitment.

As a speaker, Liz helps organisations understand how resilience, adaptability and reframing obstacles can drive performance in any environment. Drawing on her experience of competing under extraordinary personal pressure, building a business that challenges conventional hiring practices, and navigating the media industry, she demystifies disability whilst offering practical insights into overcoming setbacks and maintaining focus when circumstances shift unexpectedly. Audiences leave her presentations with a clearer understanding of how to turn perceived limitations into competitive advantages, how to build inclusive teams that unlock untapped talent, and how to lead with authenticity when facing adversity. Her charisma and warmth make complex ideas accessible, ensuring that her message resonates long after the event concludes.