Billie Jordan Travels from Christchurch, NZ

After surviving an abusive childhood and repeated trauma in the deadly Christchurch Earthquake in 2011, Billie Jordan used these experiences as a catalyst for igniting the potential of the senior citisens in her community on Waiheke Island - a small island off the East Coast of New Zealand.

Billie established The Hip Op-eration Crew; a hip hop dance group consisting of 27 members aged 65 to 98 years old. As their leader, and with high expectations of her team, she gave her dance group the audacious goal of being good enough, in just eight months time, to perform at the World Hip Hop Championships in Las Vegas. With no background in dance, hip hop or working with the elderly; and with a team of dancers whose average age was 80 (with many members who were blind, deaf, disabled or had dementia), she had her work cut out for her. In addition, her team didn't like hip hop, were resistant to change, weren't committed to the goal and didn't believe in their own potential.

In her presentation Billie shares her personal story and leadership lessons to show that, with a focus on the end goal and the ability to change mindsets to ignite people's potential, you can achieve something extraordinary!  Billie discusses the obstacles her group faced, and the tight relationship they formed with the only group of people who supported them on their journey - a group of young street dancers from Otara (the Bronx of New Zealand). Against all odds and with strong leadership, teamwork, togetherness and by changing people's mindsets, they achieved peak performance and made it to the World Hip Hop Championships and into the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest dance crew on the planet!

Billie's heart-warming story is unique, very engaging, impactful and truly inspiring. There are many laugh-out-loud moments and some tear jerkers too!

Billie was awarded a Queens Honour in 2016, was New Zealand Woman of the Year in 2016/2017 and won the New Zealander of the Year award in the Local Hero category in 2015. She has spoken at prestigious events around the globe including the USA, Scotland, Canada, New Zealand and Australia and has delivered a Tedx Talk to critical acclaim. She is the star of an award winning feature documentary film Hip Hop-eration, which has screened in cinemas all over the world, and now Hollywood plan on making her story into a block buster movie!

Billie creates a strong connection to her audience through her authenticity, vulnerability, courage and great sense of humour. She's a speaker no-one ever forgets!