Billi Bierling is an inspiring keynote speaker, author and high-altitude mountaineer.
She has reached the summit of six 8,000m peaks, including Mount Everest, and scaled three of them without the use of supplemental oxygen. She was the first German woman to summit Lhotse, Makalu (together with Heidi Sand) and Manaslu.
Her role as Managing Director of the Himalayan Database, the world’s most authoritative record of Himalayan expeditions, makes her talks unique — her insights are not only personal, but research-based, rare and unmatched.
Adding to her exceptional perspective, Billi also has extensive experience as a communications expert in humanitarian aid, giving her a deep understanding of leadership, risk, and resilience in extreme environments.
Her keynotes blend breathtaking adventure with expert analysis — a unique perspective only she can offer.
Credit: Julie Hunt/SWI swissinfo.ch
In 2024, Billi participated in the Forbes Women’s Summit. She took part as an interviewee and conducted a breakout session during which she shared her lowest and highest points and explained how she ended up in her current position. The motto of the talk was “Say yes, and see what happens!”
In summer 2024, Billi was the keynote speaker at the 8th World Congress on Wilderness and Mountain Medicine in Snowbird, Utah.
“I heard a captivating talk by the keynote speaker, Billi Bierling. Billi is an avid and accomplished climber, summiting six of the world’s +8,000m peaks including Everest. She has even done a few without the aid of supplemental oxygen. The Bavarian native spoke extensively about other climbers, highlighting accomplishments and recognizing many that history has overlooked. She now conducts interviews for the Himalayan Database in addition to serving as a communications expert for Swiss Humanitarian Aid.”
Patrick Burns MD FAWM DIMM
ACEP WM Section Chair Elect
Read the full testimony here
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