Mina Guli set to transform our world at Ozwater'19
by Water Source
Mina Guli is a global leader, entrepreneur and adventurer committed to transforming the world. As the first Ozwater'19 keynote speaker, she's set to inspire delegates to transform the world too.
Following a 15-year career as a leader in climate change that started with law but progressed quickly to the World Bank and co-founding boutique investment firm Peony Capital, Guli established Thirst, a non-profit that aims to solve the world water crisis by changing the way people think about water.
Since its launch in 2012, Thirst has educated more than 2 million students in China, had more than 600,000 participants in its innovation competitions, and now works with more than 1000 qualified volunteers.
To highlight the global water crisis, Guli completed the 7 Deserts Run in 2016, running the equivalent of 40 marathons across seven deserts on seven continents in seven weeks. A self-confessed "non-runner", she told the stories of some of those affected by the crisis during the run.
The success of the expedition encouraged Guli to undertake the 6 River Run in support of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation. She ran 40 marathons in 40 days along six of the world’s great rivers on six continents.
With media coverage around the world, Guli’s messages about water have reached more than 4 billion people, inspiring a generation of water heroes.
She has been recognised as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, named one Australia’s most influential women and one of Fortune Magazine's 2016 World’s Greatest Leaders.
On 4 November, 2018, Guli began her next challenge; Running Dry, a campaign of 100 marathons in 100 days around the world.
After 62 consecutive marathons, Guli was sidelined by an injury. However, people across the globe took up the challenge for her and over the next 38 days collectively ran the equivalent of 748 marathons for water.
Mina Guli is the first keynote speaker at Ozwater'19, where she will give her address on Tuesday, 7 May. To hear about her journey, register for the conference here.
