Keynote SpeakersAlan Chambers MBE is one of the world’s leading motivational keynote speakers on leadership, resilience, teamwork and peak performance. A renowned British polar explorer, Alan brings real-world lessons from the harshest environments on Earth and translates them into practical strategies for business, leadership and organisational performance.
Alan is trusted by global organisations to inspire teams, develop resilient leaders and drive performance under pressure. His keynote talks are engaging, authentic and highly relevant to today’s fast-moving corporate world.
👉 To book Alan Chambers as a speaker, enquire below or speak to our team.
A leadership skills and team motivation expert, he led the first British team to successfully walk unsupported from Canada to the Geographic North Pole.
As a result, Alan has led many annual expeditions to both the South Pole and the North Pole.
He has many other polar records, including taking his 9-year-old son to the North Pole and becoming the youngest father-and-son team to stand on top of the world!
“Alan’s amazing story and remarkable focus on the North Pole Trip truly inspired the team in their preparation for the World Cup.”
Martin Johnson MBE – Former England Rugby Captain
About Alan Chambers – The Explorer:
Born in Scunthorpe, he joined the Royal Marines in 1985. He spent 16 years as a Commando, operating in the Jungle, Desert, Arctic, and urban environments. He was also formally qualified as a diver, parachutist, paramedic, and survival instructor.
Between 1990 and 1994, Alan spent the winters teaching Arctic survival in the mountains of North Norway.
Chambers planned and led Britain’s first unsupported team to walk from Canada to the Geographical North Pole.
Following significant challenges, including evacuating team members, frostbite, and hunger, the group raised the Union Jack on top of the world just before midnight on May 16, 2000.
The expedition lasted a gruelling 70 days. Even with meticulous planning, the unpredictable quickly reminded Alan and his team of their humanity.
Alan’s team suffered near-starvation and a dwindling fuel supply while trekking 500 miles through the worst weather in over a century. They completed what some said was impossible.
The expedition demanded extraordinary commitment, focus, leadership, and teamwork.
Alan was awarded the MBE in the Queen’s 2000 New Year’s Honours list for determination and strong leadership in such adverse conditions.
Mission Spiritus Antarctica:
More recently, Alan trekked 1,130km unsupported across Antarctica. The challenge was part of Mission Spiritus Antarctica, a multi-faceted polar scientific expedition undertaking research into the global impact of nanoplastics on behalf of Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
They dragged heavily laden sledges for 58 days on the polar ice, battling some of the Earth’s most extreme conditions. To reach their destination, they trekked from Hercules Inlet on the edge of the frozen Antarctic continent.
Departing in December 2023, Alan Chambers and Dave Thomas arrived at the South Pole on 19th Jan 2024.
Alan’s other expeditions have included:
- Member of the first team to traverse Iceland during winter
- Led a team coast to coast across Greenland, launching Feet of Green – the UK’s most significant education-based expedition.
- Summited Mount Kilimanjaro with many groups as the team leader
- Completed the Yukon Arctic Ultra challenge
- Led the ‘Highest Classroom on Earth’ trek to Everest base camp (BBC doc)
- Leader of the ‘Coldest Classroom on Earth’ (BBC doc)
- Led the ‘Hottest Classroom on Earth’ (BBC doc)
- Leader of the ‘Fastest Classroom on Earth’ (Sky doc)
- Led the 2015 Head North expedition, leading Rugby World Cup Winners Lewis Moody, Josh Lewsey & Danny Grewcock to the North Pole.
- Leader of the 2018 Borne Arctic Challenge to the North Pole. Team Borne featured Jason Fox and Will Greenwood MBE.
Keynote and Motivational talks by Alan Chambers:
As a professional motivational speaker, Alan delivers presentations on teamwork, change and leadership to global audiences from a range of businesses, blue-chip organisations and educational establishments, including Harvard, London Business School, Dartmouth (USA) and Ashridge.
Alan Chambers’ talks are tailored to each audience and event, ensuring relevance and impact. He delivers practical, down-to-earth motivational business lessons.
Leadership Under Pressure
Learn how to make clear decisions, lead decisively and inspire trust when conditions are uncertain, resources are limited, and stakes are high.
Resilience & Mental Toughness
How to build resilience, manage setbacks and maintain focus in challenging environments – both professionally and personally.
Teamwork & High Performance
Lessons from expedition teams where collaboration, trust and accountability are essential for survival and success.
Change, Risk & Adaptability
How to embrace change, manage risk intelligently and perform effectively outside comfort zones.
Goal Setting & Sustained Motivation
Understanding what it takes to stay motivated over long-term challenges and deliver consistent performance.
Alan’s work with England Rugby and England Cricket:
- Sir Clive Woodward invited Alan Chambers to speak to the England Rugby Team in preparation for the 2003 Rugby World Cup. England won the World Cup that year.
- The England Cricket coach invited Alan to motivate the England Cricket Team before the 2005 Ashes. England won the Ashes that year.
- Both teams wanted to concentrate on project focus, maintaining direction in adversity and adapting to change.
“Alan gave us a presentation on how he got through an unsupported walk to the North Pole. An amazing journey of endurance, skill & strength. There were parallels to be shared, and he told us there would be blips and setbacks along our route. After the first test, I remembered what he had said”
Michael Vaughan – England Ashes Captain
Alan Chambers Book:
In 2018, Alan released his second book, Lead Yourself to Success: Ordinary People Achieving Extraordinary Results Through Self-Leadership.
This new book shows you how to develop a leadership mindset to get wherever you want to go in life, trust your judgment, and emerge on top of the world.
How to Book Alan:
To book Alan Chambers to speak at your event, please contact the agent for Alan, James Poole
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