The 26-year-old electrician-turned-endurance athlete whose story of resilience, purpose, and community impact left the room moved, motivated, and laughing in equal measure.
Known across the country for his extraordinary feat of running 4,000 km across Australia, from Perth to Bondi Beach, in just over 46 days, Nedd became the fastest Australian to complete the journey and the second fastest person in the world to ever do so.
Nedd’s signature mullet was gone, a symbolic move that he explained was about evolving and embracing change.
“It was time to move on from the mullet and keep moving forward with who I am. It just didn’t feel like me anymore,” he said.
Driven by a desire to create meaningful change, Nedd set out to raise $1 million for homelessness charity We Are Mobilise. By the time he reached Bondi, where he was welcomed by over 10,000 Sydneysiders, he had more than doubled his target, raising a staggering $2.5 million.
Speaking candidly at the conference, Nedd’s presence was a mix of humility, humour, and hard-earned wisdom. Appearing in a moon boot, the result of breaking a marathon record just weeks earlier in South Africa and a huge bike ride, he talked about pushing through limits, committing to decisions, and finding purpose in discomfort.
“When I say I’m going to do something, I do it. It’s not just the running, it’s the small habits you commit to daily that stack up and carry you through.”
“The importance of total focus, when someone actually follows through with what they say, the trust and reputation you build from that is incredible. That’s the reason I’ve gotten to this point,” he said.
Nedd’s journey into running was surprisingly relatable; during COVID lockdowns, too many “choccie milks and meat pies” spurred him into action.
Within weeks he was running full marathons, and just a few months later, he completed his first 100 km ultramarathon. By July, he’d set his sights on crossing the continent.
Nedd spoke of the anxiety he felt before running across Australia, and the emotional weight of reaching Bondi Beach.
“Running into Bondi was complete utopia. I wish everyone could experience that feeling. If I could bottle it and drink it, I would. Even if it was just my mum and dad at the finish line, I would’ve felt just as happy, because we did something real, and we helped a lot of people,” he said.
Since then, his impact has only grown. In October 2024, Nedd completed the Uncomfortable Challenge, a 1,000-mile run in 12 days. At one point, the pain and swelling in his feet were so extreme he had to keep increasing his shoe size.
The challenge raised over $3.7 million for Mobilise.
Today, Mobilise has helped house 480 people, with plans to reach over 3,500 by the end of 2027, a goal Nedd believes they’ll surpass with continued support and awareness.
“By day five, my feet were so blistered and infected it got pretty gnarly,” he said. “But I got it done and I finished it in front of nobody, just the way I like it.”
Despite his meteoric rise in public life, Nedd remains grounded, constantly in awe of the opportunities now coming his way.
“I was thrown into the public eye after the run, and it’s still such a shock being asked to speak at events like this. It blows my mind.”
His parting advice to the room was simple. “Be patient with results, but incredibly impatient with action.”
