Ari Seirlis matriculated at Hilton College, studied at UCT, led a team of Bushmen Trackers in the Angolan War as a Lieutenant and Parabat, and completed an IMM at the Natal Technikon.

Ari broke his neck in a diving accident in 1985 rendering him a quadriplegic. After 6 months of Hospitalization and Rehabilitation, he returned to complete his studies, and thereafter started his own business, a clothing manufacturing concern.  

After many successful years of trading, Ari owns Markplan Designs, specialising in “signage”.
He started a bank, “Mobility Plus” which finances mobility aids and assistive devices, which banks are reluctant to finance.
Ari Seirlis is presently the National Director of the Quadriplegic Association of South Africa, implementing their Strategic Plan “Rolling out Vision & Success for Quadriplegics”.
Ari delivers always, with wit, humor, strong style, and piercing honesty, a message that will change the lives of most in the audience.
Ari’s background as a finalist in the Durban Chamber of Commerce "Business Person of the Year", having established a personal relationship with Christopher "Superman" Reeve and now a leader in the disability sector, allows diversity in his topic and delivery.
"Has someone taken your fly today" is a talk using an analogy of the art of fly fishing to Business leadership and strategy.
Ari's passion was fly fishing before his accident, and now he's back on the water again, but with a new philosophy that changes the purpose of fly fishing.
The presentation of the fly, is the key element in succeeding in attracting a trout, and so the very same when attracting new customers, new staff and new ideas.
"Thanks for the Erection, now how do I get something on the end of it" presents the issue of sexuality and relationships in work and home.
Having experienced a spinal cord injury where the reality of erectile dysfunction was saved by the advent of oral medication, Ari used the research and development period to understand that the erection doe not guarantee sex, attitude and relationships are far more affective than erections.
This talk, is very funny, not "below the belt" and very real.

It emphasizes the importance of the software in relationships, not necessarily the hardware.
"Diving to Success" is his spine chilling and inspirational life story of the fateful day of Ari's accident until today.
Hard hitting, humorous, straight talk of a mind-shift that had to be made in order to ensure survival of not only himself, but a whole family unit.
Adversity, goals, achievement beyond all expectations and yet his aim was just to get back onto the path he had trodden before.
Now he's rolling in his old foot prints, with a few secrets on how do it.
This talk will sober you, inspire you, and challenge you!

Community Involvement

Honorary Member of The Rotary Club of Kloof
Vice-President of The Association for Persons with Physical Disabilities
Management Member of SPINAL REHAB CENTRE (Phoenix)
Chairman of AMASONDO (private suite for the disabled at Kings Park)
Executive Management of Quadriplegic Association of Kwazulu-Natal
Chairperson of Quadriplegic Association of South Africa (1997 – 2001)
National Director of the Quadriplegic Association of South Africa (2001 - )
The Ari Seirlis Wheelchair Fund (donating wheelchairs in the community: 310 to date)
Board of Directors of Aurora Hospital
Board of Directors of R.P.Moodley School
Board of Directors of MiniTown Charities (PTY) Ltd.
Editing Board of Rolling Inspiration magazine
Board of Directors of SASHA (S.A. Sexual Health Association)

Business Achievements

Secretary of The Sign Association of Kwazulu-Natal
Member of The Institute of Marketing Management

Other interests include

Member of Durban Undersea Club
Wheelchair Rugby
Reading
Snorkelling
Fly Fishing