The Magnificence of Humanity – Lessons from Adversity
A special evening with Michelle Mills-Porter FPSA
Twenty years ago, a group of divers set off from a small Dive Centre in Harwood Park for a Christmas holiday in Sri Lanka. But on the third day, their world changed forever.
They were caught in the Boxing Day Tsunami – The most catastrophic natural disaster in modern history. More than 250,000 people lost their lives. Sri Lanka suffered devastating loss, with over 30,000 lives taken and the deadliest rail disaster the world has ever seen occurring just miles from where the group was staying.
Remarkably, every single member of the dive team survived.
That same team, driven by gratitude and purpose, came together upon their return to the UK and formed the Hikkaduwa Village Fund – a grassroots charity that, with the support of friends, family, and the Bromsgrove community, raised an astonishing £100,000 in just six months to help rebuild lives in the region that had given all they had to look after them.
Now, two decades on, one of those divers – local businesswoman and internationally renowned speaker Michelle Mills-Porter – returns to honour that moment, the team who stood together in crisis, and the community that made the difference.
Michelle will be delivering her flagship keynote – a powerful and inspiring talk born from this experience and usually commanding a £7,000 fee – for just £30 a ticket, as a heartfelt thank you to the community that helped turn tragedy into hope.
This one-off event will offer a rare and moving insight into the power of adversity to unite, transform, and reveal the true magnificence of humanity. It is not just Michelle’s story – it is the story of the team, the town, and the extraordinary good that can come from the darkest of days and a lesson for society today and in the future.
About Michelle:
Michelle Mills-Porter FPSA, ADHD, is the National President of the Professional Speaking Association, an award-winning, and TEDx speaker and human behaviour expert. Raised in Bromsgrove and now a long-time Cofton Hackett resident, Michelle continues to inspire audiences worldwide with her insights into collaboration and human potential. Her husband Stuart – also a member of the original dive team and owner of the renowned Clean Car Company, still stands beside her, as they both remember and honour the journey that changed their lives.
BEHIND THE CURTAIN THE MAGNIFICENCE OF HUMANITY
Bromsgrove Golf Centre 6:30pm on 31 July 2025
An extraordinary event marking the 20th anniversary of the Boxing Day Tsunami In gratitude to the community of Bromsgrove and the surrounding areas, who raised £100,000 in just 6 months!
With Michelle Mills-Porter FPSA ADHD TEDx and Internationally-acclaimed Speaker, National President of PSA UK&I, Human Behaviour Expert and Tsunami Survivor
Tickets are £30 Incl. VAT purchase by scanning the QR code below.
Includes Graze Board Buffet
