Meet Jen
Jen Willis is a keynote speaker, storyteller, and mindset mentor with a life that’s been anything but conventional. From leadership roles in education to high-altitude mountaineering, her journey has spanned continents, classrooms, boardrooms—and some of the most remote corners of the world. She’s not your average speaker—she’s climbed mountains, literally and metaphorically, and knows what it means to rise when the odds are stacked against you.
Before she ever stood at 8,000 metres on Mount Everest, Jen spent decades working in experiential and outdoor education, guiding thousands of students through challenge, connection and service. She’s been a school principal, a global traveller, and a quiet disruptor of traditional leadership models—drawing on her background in positive psychology, narrative practices, and social and emotional intelligence to shape resilient, values-driven communities.
Jen has raised three incredible humans while living and working across four countries. Her life has moved between boardrooms, classrooms, and remote wilderness, reflecting a deep commitment to learning through experience and leading with purpose. She’s just as at home in alpine terrain as she is facilitating courageous conversations in a corporate setting.
In 2018, Jen was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). Rather than stepping back, she stepped into a new chapter—committing to live with clarity, courage and purpose. That decision eventually took her to the Himalayas, where she became the first Australian with MS to reach 8,000 metres on Mount Everest, raising funds and awareness for MS research.
Today, Jen speaks to audiences across Australia and internationally—bringing sharp insight, lived experience, and warm authenticity to every stage she steps on. Her talks are less about performance and more about permission: to reflect, to reconnect, and to rise—both personally and professionally.
Jen lives by the sea in Safety Beach, Victoria, on the traditional lands of the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation. She acknowledges their enduring connection to land, water and culture, and pays her respects to Elders past and present.
She is committed to equity, curiosity, and living adventurously.
Climbing Everest wasn’t just a test of physical endurance—it was an immersion into another world. Over several weeks, Jen moved steadily through the stages of the expedition, navigating the infamous Khumbu Icefall by headlamp in the freezing dark, crossing crevasses on ladders, and sleeping to the sound of avalanches rumbling through the night. She pushed through cold, altitude, and exhaustion, managing the added complexity of multiple sclerosis—challenges like bladder control, post-exertion fatigue, and difficulty regulating temperature that made every decision more layered and every step more demanding. There was the grief of a Sherpa’s passing, the eerie silence of a night spent alone at the South Col, and the final descent through the collapsing icefall as towering blocks broke away in the heat of the day. It was equal parts brutal and breathtaking—and every moment asked more of her than the one before.
Jen’s story is one of resilience, reinvention and rising—again and again. Drawing on decades of experience in education, leadership and personal transformation, she brings more than motivation—she brings a roadmap. Whether you're facing a major challenge or simply ready to live more boldly, Jen helps you reconnect with what truly matters and take meaningful action.
6 Things You Might Not Know About Jen
She dropped out of Year 12… and went on to complete five degrees,.
After being severely bullied for her intellect, Jen left high school early. She later returned to education and hasn’t looked back—completing degrees in outdoor education, secondary teaching, business management, and positive psychology.
She was the breadwinner of her family while raising three kids across four countries.
Determined to give her children a rich, global perspective, Jen worked full-time and lived with her family in Australia, the USA, South Korea, and Vietnam.
She’s not just a keynote speaker—she’s also a comedian.
In 2025, Jen made her stand-up debut and performed at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, using sharp wit and raw honesty to challenge stigma and celebrate the messier parts of being human.
She’s travelled to some of the most remote and remarkable corners of the world.
From the mountains of Nepal and India to the jungles of Colombia and the landscapes of Zimbabwe, Jen’s lived experience of diverse cultures and challenges continues to shape her worldview.
She raised a toddler and had a baby in an off-grid bush property—accessible only by a flying fox.
During her years in outdoor education, Jen lived without electricity, heating water over a fire and crossing a river daily just to leave home. It was wild, raw, and deeply formative.
She’s currently writing her first book: How Far Would You Go to Find Yourself?
Part memoir, part reflection on resilience and meaning, Jen’s book follows her path from heartbreak and hardship to high-altitude mountaineering and deep self-discovery.
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Master of Applied Positive Psychology, University of Melbourne
Master of Business Administration (Leadership) Charles Sturt University
Master of Education (Research), Monash University
Postgraduate Diploma of Education (Secondary), Monash University
Bachelor of Arts (Outdoor Education), LaTrobe University
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Social and Emotional Intelligence Coach Certification, Institute of Social and Emotional Intelligence
Narrative Practices Certification, The Dulwich Centre
Non-Violent Communication Foundation Training, Communication Group
Evidence Based EFT Practitioner Training, Evidence Based EFT
Professional Course in Positive Neuroplasticity, Dr Rick Hanson
Project Management Certification, Swinburne University
NLP Practitioner