David Hempleman-Adams MBE OBE

Sir David Hempleman-Adams MBE OBE is a leading British Adventurer and inspirational speaker.

Sir David is an accomplished mountaineer who has climbed the highest peaks on all seven continents, including Everest (Nepal), Mt Vinson (Antarctica), Aconcagua (Argentina), Carstensz Pyramid (Indonesia), Elbrus (Russia), and Kilimanjaro (Tanzania).

He was a member of the team that, in 1981, undertook one of the fastest ascents of Mt McKinley. In 1983 he attempted a solo expedition to the Geographical North Pole. The attempt failed when, after 230 miles, he cracked several ribs and had to watch his food supplies dwindle whilst sitting out a severe ten-day storm.

In 1984, he was the first person to successfully complete a solo expedition to the Magnetic North Pole without the support of dogs, snowmobiles or air supplies. In 1992, he led the first team to walk unsupported to the Geomagnetic North Pole.

On January 5th 1996, David Hempleman-Adams became the first Briton to walk solo and unsupported to the South Pole. That same year, just weeks after reaching the South Pole, he sailed to the South Magnetic Pole, becoming the first person to reach both South Poles in the same year.

On May 15th 1996, he led the Ultimate Challenge – a team of novices skiing to the Magnetic North Pole. He became the only person ever to reach both the North and South Magnetic Poles in one year.

In early March 1998, David set off on a 600-mile journey that would place him in the record books as one of the world’s most successful all-round adventurers. Facing wind-chill down to -90 centigrade, he man-hauled his sledge to the North Pole across the constantly shifting ice of the frozen Arctic Ocean.

His success ended a 15-year odyssey and placed him in the history record books as the first person to complete the Explorers’ Grand Slam, a challenge which has seen him conquer the North and South Magnetic Poles, become the first Briton to walk solo and unsupported to the South Pole; and walk solo to the North Geographic Pole and scale the highest mountain in each of the seven continents, including Everest.

On April 6th 2003, Hempleman-Adams became the first person to ski, solo and unsupported, to the Geomagnetic North Pole. The daring journey involved dragging a Kevlar sledge, weighed down with over 100 lbs of equipment and supplies, for nearly 300 miles. David used all his mountaineering skills to climb and abseil through the hazardous, icy terrain. This achievement marked the 20th Anniversary of his exploring career.

Ballooning:

In 1998, David Hempleman-Adams turned to ballooning.

In December ’98, with only 30 hours of flying experience, David flew across the Andes. He took off in the Typhoo Challenger hot air balloon, in an open wicker basket, from a field in Chile.

The balloon rose to more than 32,000 ft before catching westerly winds that blew it across the inhospitable craggy peaks into Argentina – the total journey lasted 5½ hours.

David has gone on to set a number of ballooning records which include:

• First pilot to fly a balloon to the North Pole and back.
• Completed the longest solo flight by a British balloonist at 132 hours.
• First balloonist to fly solo across the Arctic Ocean.
• First pilot to fly solo in an open wicker-basket across the Atlantic, Canada to the U.K.
• Staged the world’s “highest” formal dinner party at 24,262 feet in a hot air balloon.
• Winning the 52nd Gordon Bennett Balloon Race.
• First flight across the Andes in a hot air balloon.
• Breaking the altitude record in an open basket at 41,198 feet.
• Winning the 2011 Americas Challenge Balloon Race.

Amongst many awards, David has been honoured with an OBE, an MBE and The Explorers Medal.

Sir David Hempleman-Adams – Speaker:

Without his motivational and team-building skills, Sir David Hempleman-Adams would be dead!

As a keynote speaker, David presents highly enjoyable and informative speeches which will inspire you and your team.

Drawing on his workplace experience and extensive adventures, David delivers tailored presentations that focus on the synergy between team building and working towards goals, whether in the marketplace or on mountains.