Pac Rim 2008 Info
Thematic Keynote Speakers: Caroline Casey
Patricia Wood | Brenda Smith Myles | Manulani Aluli Meyer | Janet Cole | Jacquelyn Brand | Caroline Casey | Patricia A. Morrissey | Edward J. Kame‘enui
Tuesday April 15th, 2008: 9:00 am - 10:00 am in the Kauai Ballroom on the topic of Employment: Building a New Workforce that is Inclusive and Innovative
“You Don’t Need Eyes to Have a Vision”
Global X was mesmerized as Caroline told her personal story and how she was dealing with her own disability. Even though she is legally blind and can only see up to one meter, she managed to achieve, at age 34, the three dreams she had when she was a teenager: she was an elephant handler, she now works for herself, and she drove a race car at 185 km/h. As she puts it, “you don’t need eyes to have a vision!”
Global X loved what she said about disability: “It’s not about you!” Or about life: “We are all frightened, we all have obstacles, but we all have wonderful moments when we are heroes. We all have potential... It’s all about facing the demons and taking the risks.”
Her parting words as she was flying back to Europe: “It’s far better to be a dangerous dreamer than a day dreamer.”
Biography
Caroline Casey is one of Ireland’s most high profile women. She is the founder of the Aisling Foundation (“aisling” is Gaelic for dream and vision) and 02 Ability Awards became a household name for the successes she achieved during her 1,000 km solo elephant-back voyage across India and her circumnavigation of the world in eighty different forms of transport.
Adding to her achievements in 2006, Ms. Casey was appointed the first Irish Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum as well as becoming the first recipient in Ireland and the UK of an Ashoka Fellowship Award.
Ms. Casey was also awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws by National College of Ireland along with Martin Sheen, Actor, and Philip Tracey, Milliner, and appointed to the Task Force for Active Citizenship by An Taoiseach.
