When you have something that matters more than yourself it's amazing what you can achieve.
Mina Guli is a global leader, entrepreneur, and adventurer. As the founder and CEO of Thirst, Mina is committed to making a difference in the world. Following a successful 15-year career in law, finance, and climate change, Mina established Thirst – a non-profit changing the way we think about water.
Since its launch in 2012, Thirst has educated more than 2million students in China, trended on Chinese Twitter, set a Guinness World Record, run innovation competitions with the participation of over 700,000 students, and now works with thousands of qualified volunteers and schools across China with the support of the Chinese Government.
Previous experience
Athlete: Mina is a keen ultra-distance athlete, having started running only at the age of 22 after a severe injury. She runs to raise awareness and inspire action around the global water crisis and in doing so, has set three world firsts. In 2016 in just 7 weeks, Mina ran 40 marathons across 7 deserts on 7 continents, including Antarctica – a continent that left an indelible impression on her for its critical role in the water cycle. In 2017, Mina ran 40 marathons in 40 days on 6 continents down 6 of the World's great rivers – to promote the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 6 (water). Along each of her routes, Mina interviews local people and water experts, putting together a real and very visual representation of the water crisis we are facing. Currently available in short film format, Mina and the team are documenting these stories so they are accessible to the millennial generation. Incredible journeys whose messages about water have reached over 5 billion people.
Concerned about the pace of change, in 2018, Mina started #RunningDry – a campaign involving her running 100 marathons in 100 days for 1 reason – to make saving water so famous it's��s not just the right thing to do, but the only thing to do. After breaking her leg at marathon 62, thousands of people in more than 160 cities in over 50 countries and territories rallied in support, donating their miles and collectively building #RunningDry into a global movement for change.
Awards & Recognition: In recognition of her incredible achievements, Mina received YPO Global Impact and Innovation Awards and was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, one of Australia's most influential women, a “Global Visionary” by UBS and by Fortune Magazine in 2016 alongside Angela Merkel, Tim Cook, Jeff Bezos, and the Pope as one of the 50 greatest leaders in the world.
Current Work:
Mina is a highly acclaimed public speaker and frequent media commentator, featuring in hundreds of national and global newspapers, magazines, and television programs around the world including the New York Times, Fox, CBS, CNN, BBC, ITV, ABC, Guardian, Forbes, Fortune, CCTV, Al Arabiya and has spoken at the UN.
She is an advisor to the Chinese Government's sustainability program, on the Academy for the US$1miillion Global Teachers Prize, a Board Member for the Global Water Partnership, and a member of the inaugural board of the Antarctic Science Foundation.
Mina is currently recovering, mobilizing for change, and planning her next expedition.
Talking Points
Breaking through barriers - achieving personal and organizational transformation
Breaking through barriers - achieving personal and organizational transformation
Against all odds - finding your motivation, passion and vision
Against all odds - finding your motivation, passion and vision
Innovative and responsible leadership
Innovative and responsible leadership
The surprising amount of 'invisible' water we use in our everyday lives
The surprising amount of 'invisible' water we use in our everyday lives
China's next generation of conscious consumers
China's next generation of conscious consumers
Our changing world and our children's future
Our changing world and our children's future
Video
Mina Guli | Saxton Speakers
The founder and CEO of Thirst, Mina Guli is a global leader, an entrepreneur and adventurer passionate and committed to making a difference in the world. She is an inspiring speaker who combines passion for a critical cause with valuable personal leadership lessons for us all.Mina Guli | BSR Conference 2016 | Saxton Speakers
Mina Guli, CEO of Thirst and athlete who ran 40 marathons on seven continents to raise awareness of the water crisis, addresses the BSR Conference 2016. Mina is no stranger to driving meaningful change within corporations and organisations. She's the co-founder of Peony Capital, an investment company focused on developing climate-friendly projects, as well as the founder and CEO of Thirst, a non-profit with nearly 1.5 millions graduates and the endorsement of the Chinese Government. Let Mina share her learnings as a leader in organisational change and global strategies.Mina Guli | Keynote Address at the AISHK Sports Awards | Saxton Speakers
The founder and CEO of Thirst, Mina Guli is a global leader, an entrepreneur and adventurer passionate and committed to making a difference in the world. From simple beginnings in Australia, Mina's path has led her across to every continent of the globe, meeting a diverse array of people. She shares their stories with her global audience to further galvanise the growing community of champions for making meaningful change in addressing the water crisis. Invite Mina to share those thought-provoking stories with you and your community.Mina Guli | Running on Empty | Saxton Speakers
Mina Guli, founder of the #nonprofit Thirst, explains why #water scarcity is the greatest threat facing humankind today. Guli ran 29 #marathons in 38 days to raise awareness about the world's water shortage. Mina is incredibly passionate about ensuring future generations are in the best possible position to tackle the problems of tomorrow. It's what led her to found Thirst in 2012. Thirst collaborates with over 1,000 schools, utilises over 1,000 qualified volunteers, and has had nearly 700,000 students participate in its innovation competitions. Allow Mina to come speak at your next event to inspire the next generation of ambassadors and innovators in addressing the global water crisis.100 marathons in 100 days: Mina Guli's mission for water | Australian Story
Australian ultra-marathon runner Mina Guli wants everyone to know that the world is running out of fresh water. The 48-year-old athlete and CEO is on a mission to draw attention to the global water crisis. In order to do that she attempted a physical feat so extreme, most people would consider it impossible running 100 marathons in 100 days across the world. Mina is driven by urgency: By 2030, it's estimated the demand for fresh water will outstrip supply by 40 per cent But when her body literally broke during marathon 62, Mina thought all was lost. Unexpectedly, the campaign took on a life of its own on social media across the globe.Mina Guli's messages around water scarcity, water use and community engagement were close to our audience's heart and would and should resonate with all audiences as water is essential to al ... keep reading Australian Water Association
