Motivational Resilience Expert & Certified Professional Speaker; Paralympic Gold Medalist; Founder of Carabiner Mentoring
Cam Calkoen Biography
Cam Calkoen is a New Zealand-based Certified Professional Speaker known for his work in motivational speaking, disability advocacy, and social entrepreneurship. Born with cerebral palsy, Calkoen was told his greatest challenges would be walking and speaking. Despite these predictions, he became an athletic gold medalist, a charitable fundraiser, a social entrepreneur, and a globally recognized keynote speaker.
As a competitive athlete, Calkoen was a full-time competitor in his teens, aspiring to represent Aotearoa New Zealand at the Paralympics. He won gold medals and ranked among the top 10 athletes worldwide in the T36 category for athletes with cerebral palsy. After winning championships in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada, he extended his efforts internationally, working in Japan and contributing to projects such as building a tuberculosis ward and a library in Vanuatu. His athletic career laid the foundation for his transition into professional speaking.
Calkoen's journey into public speaking began when he was invited to share his story at a school in Sweden. Despite initial apprehension about his speech, he received a standing ovation. He is represented by a leading speakers bureau in Australasia and is among their most frequently booked speakers. Calkoen has delivered keynote addresses across New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Europe, and the Pacific, working with organizations including Toyota, AMP, Heineken, McDonald's, KPMG, and Microsoft. He has also presented a TEDx talk, "Live for Awesome," at TEDxQueenstown.
Beyond his speaking career, Calkoen has demonstrated a commitment to community impact. At age 21, he became one of the youngest recipients of a Paul Harris Fellowship from Rotary, an honor he has received twice, for his role in establishing the YES Disability Resource Centre as the leader of a $4 million project. He founded the Carabiner Mentoring program, connecting his network with young disabled individuals to help them achieve their goals. Calkoen was also a finalist in the Kiwibank Young New Zealander of the Year Awards and has been named New Zealand Speaker of the Year.
Calkoen's keynote, "Turning Rejection into Affection," details his experiences raising $4 million for community projects, building a successful speaking business, and climbing Kilimanjaro. He also hosts the podcast "Awesomeness with Cam Calkoen," where he discusses how he transformed perceived weaknesses into strengths and opportunities for global travel. Calkoen addresses corporate teams, students, and conference audiences, focusing on motivational strategies, overcoming adversity, and the power of resilience.
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Cam Calkoen Videos
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How do I book Cam Calkoen to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Cam Calkoen for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Cam Calkoen, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Cam Calkoen or any other speaker of your choice. -
What are the speaker fees for Cam Calkoen
Speaking fees for Cam Calkoen, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Cam Calkoen are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Cam Calkoen, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Cam Calkoen speak about?
Cam Calkoen is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Disability, Inspirational, Motivational, Overcoming Adversity, Personal Growth, Sports Motivation -
Where does Cam Calkoen travel from?
Cam Calkoen generally travels from New Zealand, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
Who is Cam Calkoen’s agent?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Cam Calkoen for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Cam Calkoen for your next private or corporate function. -
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AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Cam Calkoen or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
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Cam Calkoen is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Cam Calkoen for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Cam Calkoen generally travels from New Zealand and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Jeff Hobbs, Griffin Pinkow, Peter Dankelson, Katherine Wolf and Jacob Thompson. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Cam Calkoen for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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