The Future Business Forum is proud to welcome Mark Visser, internationally recognised big wave surfer, mindset coach, bestselling author, and elite performance specialist, as a keynote speaker for the 2026 Forum in Townsville.
Known globally as “The Night Surfer”, Mark is best recognised for achieving the impossible. After years of preparation and intense mental conditioning, he made surfing history by becoming the first person to ride the notoriously dangerous 40–50ft waves at Jaws (Pe’ahi), Maui, in total darkness. The achievement, now known worldwide as Night Rider, pushed the boundaries of human performance and demonstrated the power of preparation, mindset, trust, emotional control, and leadership under pressure.
But this keynote is about far more than surfing.
For over 13 years, Mark has worked alongside some of the world’s highest-performing teams and individuals, including Kelly Slater, Steph Gilmore, Australian SAS, US Navy Seals, Olympic athletes, AFL clubs, elite sporting organisations, and billion-dollar technology companies. His work focuses on helping individuals and teams perform consistently in high-pressure environments while building resilience, trust, emotional intelligence, and strong leadership cultures.
Mark has also worked closely with Melbourne Football Club senior coach Simon Goodwin during the club’s historic AFL premiership-winning period, as well as supporting Richmond Football Club leadership programs during their breakthrough premiership success.
In a rapidly changing environment where businesses, leaders, and organisations across North Queensland are navigating uncertainty, workforce challenges, economic pressure, disruption, and the need to continually adapt, Mark’s keynote offers practical and powerful insights into how individuals and teams can strengthen mindset, improve decision making, embrace uncertainty, and continue performing when pressure is high.
This is not a motivational talk filled with clichés. It is a raw, authentic, visually powerful session grounded in real-world experience, elite performance psychology, leadership, and human behaviour.
For North Queensland business owners, leaders, government organisations, educators, industry representatives, and teams, this keynote will challenge perspectives, inspire action, and provide practical lessons that extend well beyond the stage.
Mark Visser’s session is set to be one of the standout experiences of the Future Business Forum and a must-see keynote for organisations and individuals wanting to build stronger teams, stronger culture, and stronger leadership in an increasingly unpredictable world.