My momentum overcomes all obstacles

Keynote speaker: Lifestyle and wellbeing

Profile

Jennifer Andrewes is a New Zealand-based communications professional, passionate walker, and storyteller whose life journey exemplifies resilience, transformation, and an unstoppable spirit. Her love for walking began thirty years ago in the French countryside, joining a local walking group while working as a language assistant in Dunkirk. Today, Jennifer is a seasoned pilgrim who has turned her personal challenges into inspiration for others.

Diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease, Jennifer uses walking not only to maintain her physical health but as a profound metaphor for overcoming life’s obstacles. Her remarkable pilgrimages include the Voie du Puy (2022), the Voie de Vézelay (2023), and the 2,400km Via Francigena from Canterbury to Rome (2024). In 2025, she will walk the Via de la Plata from Cádiz to Finisterre and is making plans to walk from Rome to Santiago in 2026.

A published author and former travel writer, Jennifer captivates audiences with her unique insights into the power of walking to shift perspectives and inspire change. Her blog, My Parallel Lives, and her acclaimed book, Parallel Lives: Four Seasons in the French Pyrenees, have garnered a loyal following. Her second book, chronicling her pilgrimage adventures across France, is set to be released in 2025.

Fluent in French and an aficionado of European culture, Jennifer is always in pursuit of the perfect croissant – though she’ll settle for an exceptional gelato.

Expertise

The power of walking to change your thinking
At the heart of Jennifer’s story is her belief in walking as a transformational tool. From a fateful 2008 sunrise walk that culminated in a leap of faith off a bridge, Jennifer realised that courage, one step at a time, could conquer fear.

When she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s a decade later, walking became her lifeline. Inspired by a story in The Brain’s Way of Healing, she wondered: could she “walk off” her symptoms? Five years and nearly 5,000 kilometres later, Jennifer continues to defy expectations, embodying her personal mantra: My momentum overcomes all obstacles.

The pilgrimage experience
Jennifer’s pilgrimages have been a testament to her resilience, blending physical endurance, mental clarity, and spiritual insight. Whether navigating the solitude of muddy trails in France or conquering the Alps’ heights, she shares stories of courage, camaraderie, and self-discovery that resonate with audiences from all walks of life.

A pilgrimage approach to life
Jennifer’s talks inspire listeners to adopt a pilgrimage mindset: shedding baggage, embracing simplicity, and finding strength and joy through faith and persistence. Her reflections on transformation, drawn from the metaphor of walking, encourage others to trust in the journey and uncover their own light within.

Topics

  • Leadership: Building resilience and leading through challenges.
  • Mindset: Harnessing the power of perseverance and adaptability.
  • Resilience: Turning challenges into opportunities.

Media and feedback

Jennifer has shared her story through various platforms, including as a panellist at the Confraternity of Pilgrims to Rome Virtual Conference (2024) and through regular video updates to pilgrims on her virtual pilgrimage during her Via Francigena journey.

Her audiences describe her storytelling as:

  • “Following you is interesting, enlightening and inspiring” – Jenny, Quillan, France
  • “Inspiring and uplifting” – Annette, Wellington, NZ
  • “A remarkable journey… so real and wonderful” – Claire, Wellington, NZ
  • “Your journey is a wonder” – Ana, Wellington. NZ
  • “Love your story from beginning to end. This is better than reading a good book.” – Grant, Brisbane, Australia

Publications

  • Parallel Lives: Four Seasons in the French Pyrenees
  • Upcoming (2025): A Will and a Way: On Foot Across France