MATT FENN
Speaker, Runner, Change-Maker
ABOUT
Endurance athlete and change-maker Matt Fenn has an impressive track record, but it’s what lies ahead that’s so inspiring.
What began as an idea and a means to raise mental health awareness in New Zealand has quickly become a way of life for Matt: the advocate and spirited runner tackling some world records in the process. Such feats have earned him the title of New Zealand’s Forrest Gump.
Matt’s mission speaks to the resilience of the human spirit, highlighting the importance of communication, understanding, love and support. As a speaker he is deeply passionate, down-to-earth and relatable, creating the approachable environment necessary for radical change, with heart.
“New Zealand’s Forrest Gump”
— NZ Herald
SPEAKING
Matt regularly speaks at all occasions from in the workplace, large keynotes, schools and sports teams.
His focus in approach is to lead with vulnerability. Telling his own story and communicating key lessons from this that can be taken away and engaged with. Balancing the big picture inspiration with real life tangible strategies that can be implemented.
Something Matt has learnt through doing school talks in the mental health space is that our message and words are received with far more weight when we open up and show vulnerability first.
Hear more about Matt’s story on the Beyond the Surface Podcast.
Matt’s Recent Journey
5x50KM in 5 days
Matt’s very first event - Running 50km Ultra Marathons for five days in a row across the North Island in support of the charity Cure Kids.
24HR Run w/24KG Weight Vest
Ran continuously for 24 hours wearing a 24kg weighted vest around a track covering 107.2km in support of Mental Health.
654KM Run
Matt embarked on a 654km run in under a week; each kilometre representing a New Zealander who lost their life to suicide the year before.
EVEREST x Baldwin St
Ran up and down the world’s steepest street, Dunedin's Baldwin St, aiming to reach the height of Mt Everest.
421KM Run
Aiming to run more 1000km continuously, Matt travelled 421km on foot running through the night before stopping for medical concerns.
3401KM Run
To close 2023, Matt ran over 3400km - over 1.5 times the length of Aotearoa in 61 days raising money for Gumboot Friday.
MEDIA
BARKERS BLOG
SEVEN SHARP
BREAKFAST
STUFF NZ
ONE NEWS
NEWSHUB