Fiona Oakes

Fiona Oakes is a dedicated vegan, endurance athlete, and passionate animal advocate whose lifelong commitment to compassion and sustainability has made her a sought-after speaker on environmental and ethical issues. A vegan since the age of six, Fiona brings a powerful and authentic voice to the conversation around sustainability, living proof that peak physical performance can be achieved without reliance on animal products. Her work spans both the physical demands of elite sport and the hands-on care of animals, offering a unique and compelling perspective that resonates deeply with audiences seeking real-world examples of ethical living in action.

Fiona’s marathon career is as extraordinary as it is inspiring. Having completed over 100 marathons around the world, she has not only endured some of the planet’s toughest races but also triumphed in them. In 2012, she became the first vegan woman to finish the gruelling Marathon des Sables across the Sahara Desert. A year later, she won both the North Pole Marathon and the Antarctic Ice Marathon, demonstrating remarkable resilience and athleticism. Her achievements have earned her four Guinness World Records, including the title of the fastest woman to complete a marathon on every continent, all while fuelled by a lifelong plant-based diet. Fiona is also the founder and Race Director of the Running for Good Ultra, a demanding week-long race in the Moroccan Sahara that promotes climate change awareness.

Away from the finish line, Fiona devotes her time to Tower Hill Stables Animal Sanctuary, which she founded in 1996. Spread across six sites and home to over 500 animals – including more than 90 horses – the sanctuary is a living testament to her deep compassion and tireless work ethic. Her daily routine includes physically caring for the animals herself, embodying the very values she advocates for. Through this work, she continues to raise awareness about animal welfare and the importance of ethical choices in the fight against climate change.

Fiona’s authentic dedication, personal achievements, and ability to connect athletics with activism make her an incredibly powerful sustainability speaker. Audiences value her integrity, lived experience, and the tangible impact of her work – making her an ideal voice for inspiring ethical and sustainable change.