Presentation title: Restoring Lives Through Mercy Ships
Samantha Clarke is a Victorian Ambassador for Mercy Ships Australia and a passionate storyteller, community builder and advocate for purpose led change.
Mercy Ships operates hospital ships that bring free, life changing surgery to people who would otherwise have little or no access to safe medical care. In this presentation, Samantha will share the powerful work of Mercy Ships through moving patient stories, the extraordinary commitment of volunteers who fund their own travel and time onboard, and the lasting impact safe surgery can have on individuals, families and entire communities.
Her career has taken an unexpected and fascinating path. Samantha began her working life as a hairdresser, where she first discovered the power of listening, connection and personal stories. She later moved into the world of politics, working for a Prime Minister, before building a career across community engagement, membership, leadership and impact driven organisations.
Today, Samantha brings that unique mix of lived experience, communication and heart to her work with Mercy Ships. She is passionate about connecting audiences with the human stories behind global surgery and showing how compassion, skill and generosity can restore hope and transform lives.
