Bonita Norris

Bonita Norris is an acclaimed mountaineer, motivational speaker and bestselling author who made history as the youngest British woman to climb Mount Everest. Just two years later, she became the first British woman to reach the summit of Mount Lhotse, the world’s fourth-highest mountain. Her extraordinary achievements in one of the world’s most dangerous and unforgiving environments have established her as an inspirational voice on resilience, courage and high performance. A natural storyteller, Bonita has spoken at hundreds of events worldwide and was named Best Speaker Storyteller at The Speaker Awards in 2024, as well as nominated for Cosmopolitan’s Woman of the Year.

Bonita’s journey began not on the mountains but in a university lecture theatre, where she first heard a climber share their story of Everest. With no prior climbing experience, she set herself an audacious goal: to stand on the top of the world. What followed was an intense period of preparation, fundraising and physical endurance that culminated in her successful summit of Mount Everest in 2010 at the age of twenty-two. Her ascent made national headlines and inspired a generation to believe that with vision, preparation and persistence, even the most impossible goals can be achieved. She is also the youngest person ever to both climb Everest and reach the North Pole.

In 2012, Bonita went on to summit Mount Lhotse, becoming the first British woman to do so, Mount Kilimanjaro, Ama Dablam, Mount Manaslu, Mount Imja Tse, and attempted to become the first British woman to successfully climb K2.. Beyond her expeditions, she has built a career as one of the UK’s most in-demand keynote speakers, combining gripping accounts of survival and perseverance with lessons on mindset, teamwork and overcoming fear. Her memoir, ‘The Girl Who Climbed Everest: Lessons Learned Facing Up to the World’s Toughest Mountains’, became an Amazon bestseller and a favourite among adventurers, business leaders and educators alike. She has since appeared on BBC Ideas, The Screw It Just Do It podcast and HSBC’s Power Up Your Goals, sharing insights into visualisation and personal achievement.

As an ambassador for Red Bull, Bonita continues to inspire people to redefine their limits and take on bold challenges. Her talks are renowned for their honesty, humour and emotional power, leaving audiences motivated to face their own mountains with courage and purpose. Whether addressing corporate teams, students or global summits, Bonita’s message is simple yet profound: the summit is not just a place on a map, but a mindset that anyone can reach.