top of page

Laura Reineke

Independent Campaign Strategist | Public Speaker | Channel Swimmer | Activist

“Helping charities and grassroots movements design and deliver impactful campaigns that inspire public action and policy change.”

​

  • Environmental and water advocacy
     

  • Community engagement and mobilisation
     

  • Public affairs and lobbying
     

  • Communications and storytelling

Upcoming Events: 
 

Laura-Instagram.jpg
  • Inspirational Talks

  • After Dinner Speeches

  • School Visits

"I challenge myself and hope in doing that I can inspire others to do the same."

Biography

​​

​

 

​

I am a campaign director, charity CEO, speaker and community organiser working at the intersection of environmental justice, public engagement and policy change. I design and lead campaigns that mobilise communities, influence decision-makers, and deliver measurable impact.

I am the founder of Friends of the Thames and Henley Music School, and creator of Henley Mermaids. Through this work, I have led national and local campaigns to protect rivers, hold polluters to account, and drive community-led action. I work closely with government, regulators, MPs, NGOs and the media, acting as a bridge between communities and decision-makers.

My campaigning has achieved national and international reach, including appearances on BBC Newsnight, coverage in The New York Times, and contributions to documentaries such as Jo in the Water and BBC Thames Water: Inside the Crisis. I use these platforms to elevate underrepresented voices and influence public debate on environmental issues.

Alongside my professional work, I am an ultra-distance open water swimmer, using endurance challenges to highlight environmental issues and inspire action. I completed the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming in 2025 and am currently pursuing the Oceans Seven challenge.

Across all my work, I focus on collaboration, clarity and impact—supporting organisations, communities and leaders to drive meaningful environmental and social change.

IMG_2534.JPG
LBC - Bathing Water Status
BBC Breakfast.jpg
Sky News - River Roding fly-tip
Woman and Home
Good Morning Britain - Water White Paper
NYT logo.png
BBC Morning Live - Kidlington fly-tip
Private Eye.jpg
Private Eye Logo.png

Inspirational Talks

  • Campaigning

  • Becoming an Accidental Activist

  • Intention Setting

  • Ultra-marathon swimming Bravery & Fighting off Demons

  • Body Confidence 

I hope to serve as an example of what is possible when you dare to dream big, work hard, and never give up.  My personal story is one of resilience, courage and determination.

  • Finding a Passion in Middle Age

  • Making Dreams Happen

  • Freshwater Biodiversity & the Threats our Waterways Face

  • Reinvention

  • The power of saying yes 

One of only 150 women to hold the Triple Crown of Marathon Swims.

#390

I am an experienced open water swimmer now embarking on the Oceans Seven challenge — one of the greatest endurance feats in the world of swimming, which no British woman has completed yet.

​

Having already completed all three swims that make up the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming — the English Channel, 20 Bridges swim around Manhattan Island and Catalina Channel. Laura one of only a handful of women over 50 ever to achieve it.

​

Oceans seven of the world’s most challenging channel swims, spanning the globe from New Zealand’s Cook Strait to Japan’s Tsugaru Strait.

Each crossing is more than an athletic test; it’s part of my wider mission to protect and celebrate the world’s rivers and oceans, using every swim to raise awareness for clean, healthy, and free-flowing waters for all.

world at one.jpg

World at One
BBC Radio 4

Reports that sewage dumping was up 60% on previous year.

Sky.jpg

Sky News

Views on the Cunliffe Report

download.jpeg

LBC with Nick Ferrari

Would you swim in the sea?

download (2).jpg

Meridian News

Cunliffe Report views

Swim out - Copy.png

SwimOut Podcast

Magnificent Vintage Women

"This morning you came here to North Islington, the smallest, and most densely populated constituency in the country & you gave us wonderful description, an utterly brilliant account of the work that FoTT does, your life and your community in Henley, and the determination you have to make the Thames clean by making the tributaries clean."

​

Rt Hon Jeremy Corbyn - Independent MP for Islington North, and former opposition leader.

Testimonials

Choppy.JPG

"It was so interesting to learn about endurance swimming, both the globe trotting aspect, but also the less glamorous bits!  Not only are you our first speaker to rock up in a swimsuit, you are also a force of nature and an inspirational speaker."

​

Women's Institute - Henley-on-Thames

230727000000040006.jpg

"Laura Reineke is a charismatic and engaging speaker who brings passion and energy to every conversation about our environment. At Greener Henley’s ‘Big Green Conversation: Our River’ at the Kenton Theatre in Henley, she captivated the audience with her knowledge and commitment to protecting our waterways. Her ability to connect with people and inspire action makes her a powerful advocate for the river, and we are grateful for the impact she has had in raising awareness about the challenges facing our river."

​

Kate Oldridge - Founder, Greener Henley

"Laura is a natural speaker, combining her trademark say-it-how-it-is style of honest and enthralling storytelling with a deep felt commitment to inspiring personal action and bringing about change, unafraid to hold powerful people to account and give voice to those that are often ignored."​

​

James Wallace - CEO River Action UK

Swims Completed

2020 - 2025

English Channel 5 person Relay

Thames Marathon x 4 coming second 2/4

Henley Swim Unlimited - 7k

Henley Classic x5

Wild Wye - 10k

Winter Swimming World Champs - Bled, Solvenia

Welsh winter swim, Snowdonia (came 3rd in 250m)

Summer Swimming Champs - Bled, Slovenia 5k

Club 2 Pub x2

Henley Mile

Great Fjord Swim, Ireland

Robben Island S.A

North Channel 4 person relay

Bristol Channel 4 person relay

English Channel Solo 15:23 (56k)

Scilly Isles 1-day event 15k

20 Bridges Manhattan Island 48.5k

Catalina Channel 20.5 miles

Attempting to become 1st British Female

English Channel
Catalina Channel

Cook Strait - Reserved 2026
Tsugaru Strait
Strait of Gibraltar - Reserved 2026
Molokai Channel
North Channel

​

​

If you'd like to become a sponsor, and help:

Inspire others.

Clean up the worlds waterways for future generations.

Witness a reversal in the decline of biodiversity in both freshwater and marine ecosystems.

GLL.jpg
WP Logo Black.png
Email Laura

Nominated Sue Ryder Woman of achievement 2016

Community Champion Award - 2018

Nominated Charity Champion - 2021

Nominated Charity Champion - 2022

Coronation Award 2023 - Her Majesty The Queen Consort & Royal Voluntary Service

bottom of page