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Pen Hadow
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Pen Hadow Biography
Topics:
- Adventure
- Leadership
- Motivation & Teamwork
Pen Hadow is an explorer who proves the saying 'if you don't at first suceed, try and try again'. A wonderfully erduite and humourous speaker, Pen is fantastic for both motivational speaking engagements and after dinner speaking.
A First By Pen Hadow
In May 2003, Pen Hadow was catapulted to international fame when he became the first person to complete one of the last great polar challenges - solo, without re-supply, from Canada to the North Geographic Pole. This feat is thought by some to be harder than climbing Everest solo, without oxygen, and demands such a level of skill and endurance that all before had tried and failed. Even polar experts were beginning to think the challenge was perhaps impossible.
It had taken Pen 15 years, three attempts and an exceptional degree of commitment to achieve his dream. Indeed the undertaking had almost cost him his life on more than one occasion, when he broke through the ice and found himself swimming in the sub-zero waters of the Arctic Ocean, many hundreds of miles from the nearest help.
Growing Up
From an early age Pen’s nanny filled his head with tales of Scott and the other great explorers - 'the Antarctic Boys' as Pen came to know them. His father also told many stories of the sporting prowess and great deeds of Pen's illustrious ancestors, as far back as Tudor times. Among them was Douglas Hadow, a member of the seven-strong party led by Edward Whymper that made the first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865 - and one of the four who fell to their deaths on the descent. Pen discovered early the benefits that come with a high degree of compliance to sports training programmes, and applied these to his own extra-curricula endeavours.
Aged 15 he devised a punishing training schedule to enable him to attempt a traditional school marathon, which in 1977 was long before marathons had become a public participation sport. He completed the route in three hours and later learned it had not been done since 1927, fifty years earlier.
In the 1980's Pen became the youngest-ever executive at IMG sports organisation, where he concentrated on promoting the talents of international sports stars and sports events.
A decade later, in 1995, he set up the world's first specialist polar guide service, almost single-handedly opening up the Arctic and Antarctic to 'allegedly ordinary' people with his pioneering travel business, The Polar Travel Company. His vision was of empowering people from all walks of life to fulfil their polar ambitions.
In 1997 he organised, inspired and secured most of the funding for the first all-women's relay to the North Geographic Pole, thereby enabling 20 women, with no previous polar experience, from all backgrounds and age groups, to find fame and walk into The Book of Guinness Records. In so doing, he changed the perception of what many thought was possible in the polar regions.
Try and Try Again
Twice he had faced failure in his all-consuming mission to be the first man in history to reach the Pole, having walked - and swum - alone and without resupply the 480 miles across the Arctic Ocean from Canada to the North Geographic Pole. On his third attempt, when the Pole finally seemed to be within his grasp, Pen fell through the thin ice and very nearly drowned. When he then found he had lost a ski in the water, he realised he would have to complete the last 150 miles of this journey on foot.
During three months he saw nothing and nobody, save a small snow bunting. He ended up talking to his snowbrush, 'Mavis', his ski poles, and his sledge 'Baskers'. They became his friends and kept him company, as he averaged 7.5 miles a day battling his way up and down ice rubble, while pulling a 19-stone sledge, and swimming across stretches of open water, on his 480-mile odyssey, where the temperature was -28C to -46C 24-hours a day for the first 35 days.
Remarkably, just eight months later, in February 2004, Pen became the first Briton to trek, without resupply, to both Poles. He achieved this as he led ex-French Foreign Legionnaire Simon Murray (63) on a new 1,200km route to the South Geographic Pole, enabling Murray to become the oldest person by a decade to achieve the feat.
Working with the Environment
Pen currently works with the Met Office, the Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research, and other research and campaigning organisations dedicated to global climate change issues and the concept of carbon neutrality, to see how he can use his unique first-hand experiences on the Arctic Ocean to promote understanding amongst policy-makers and the public of these life-threatening issues.
Pen Hadow from completed the Catlin Arctic Survey, a three month pioneering scientific expedition to help determine the lifespan of the Arctic Ocean's sea ice cover. The expedition, which was backed by the Prince of Wales, supplies the raw data to scientific organisations for analysis including Nasa, the University of Cambridge and the US Navy.
Pen's findings was taken to the national negotiating teams working to replace the Kyoto Protocol agreement at the UN Climate Change Conference of Parties in Copenhagen in December 2009.
Speech Topics
- Motivation
- Climate Change
- Innovation
- And on Failure
- Leadership
- Team Performance
- Supporting Activities
For further information or to book Pen Hadow, call us on +44 (0) 20 8365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Pen Hadow Video
Pen Hadow Speaker Showreel - Click play to watch a short sample video clip of Pen Hadow. For more information on Pen Hadow please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0) 208 365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Outside of appearing and speaking at live corporate and private events Pen Hadow has a number of retail products available that can be purchased through Speakers Corner. For upcoming new book and product launches related to Pen Hadow then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0) 208 365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Pen Hadow Books
Solo: The North Pole: Alone and UnsupportedPrice: £7.99
SoloPrice: £17.99
Who Will Save Us?Price: £5.99
Pen Hadow News
A selection of relevant news related to Pen Hadow and Adventure stories. For more information on Pen Hadow or details as to how to book Pen Hadow for your corporate event, then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0) 20 8365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Pen Hadow warns that the Arctic will be ice-free within a decade
16th October 2009The findings of the Catlins Arctic Survey analysed by Cambridge University and the WWF have shown that the Arctic is melting at such a rate that it could be almost ice free within 10 years. The results of the expedition will be presented to a UN meeting in Copenhagen in December as further evidence that the world must reduce carbon emissions in order to prevent the Arctic melting at an even faster rate. Pen's expedition last winter, was blighted by technical problems, and after the high tech radar equipment to measure the ice thickness failed after the first few days, they were forced to continue with a simple ice drill.
16th October 2009The findings of the Catlins Arctic Survey analysed by Cambridge University and the WWF have shown that the Arctic is melting at such a rate that it could be almost ice free within 10 years. The results of the expedition will be presented to a UN meeting in Copenhagen in December as further evidence that the world must reduce carbon emissions in order to prevent the Arctic melting at an even faster rate. Pen's expedition last winter, was blighted by technical problems, and after the high tech radar equipment to measure the ice thickness failed after the first few days, they were forced to continue with a simple ice drill.
Prince of Wales patron for Pen Hadow's next endeavour
24th June 2008HRH The Prince of Wales has granted a rare patronage to "the incomparable and enormously experienced" polar explorer and environmentalist, Pen Hadow
24th June 2008HRH The Prince of Wales has granted a rare patronage to "the incomparable and enormously experienced" polar explorer and environmentalist, Pen Hadow
Polar explorer Pen Hadow launches World Responsible Tourism Day
3rd October 2007Polar explorer Pen Hadow puts World Responsible Tourism Day in the spotlight when he launches the day of action at on Wednesday 14 November 2007.
3rd October 2007Polar explorer Pen Hadow puts World Responsible Tourism Day in the spotlight when he launches the day of action at on Wednesday 14 November 2007.
Pen Hadow and Michael McGrath
22nd January 2007Motivational speakers, Pen Hadow and Michael McGrath, join forces to offer a unique double-act
22nd January 2007Motivational speakers, Pen Hadow and Michael McGrath, join forces to offer a unique double-act
The noughties - a decade of adventure
9th December 2009As we near the end of the 1st decade of the 21st century, the Telegraph has taken a look at the daredevils, adventurers and explorers who have pushed themselves to the limits and beyond. People who have pushed themselves to the boundaries of human possibility include Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Ann Daniels, Pen Hadow, Jamie Andrew, Tom Avery, Dee Caffari, and celebrities, Ewan McGregor, David Walliams, James Cracknell and Ben Fogle.
9th December 2009As we near the end of the 1st decade of the 21st century, the Telegraph has taken a look at the daredevils, adventurers and explorers who have pushed themselves to the limits and beyond. People who have pushed themselves to the boundaries of human possibility include Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Ann Daniels, Pen Hadow, Jamie Andrew, Tom Avery, Dee Caffari, and celebrities, Ewan McGregor, David Walliams, James Cracknell and Ben Fogle.
Kirsty Moore is the first woman pilot to train with the RAF's Arrows display team
12th November 2009The Red Arrows have made history by taking on their first ever female pilot. Kirsty Moore will join the Red Arrows, based in Lincolnshire, next season - which starts in 2010. The RAF said that until now no female fast-jet pilot had advanced far enough in their flying career to join the display team. Flight Lieutenant Moore, who has flown combat missions in Iraq, says it's a great honour to be chosen. Kirsty was based with a Tornado squadron at RAF Marham in Norfolk before she got this job.
12th November 2009The Red Arrows have made history by taking on their first ever female pilot. Kirsty Moore will join the Red Arrows, based in Lincolnshire, next season - which starts in 2010. The RAF said that until now no female fast-jet pilot had advanced far enough in their flying career to join the display team. Flight Lieutenant Moore, who has flown combat missions in Iraq, says it's a great honour to be chosen. Kirsty was based with a Tornado squadron at RAF Marham in Norfolk before she got this job.
Around the world in about 100 days
10th November 2008Competitors get off to a flying start in the sixth Vendée Globe race, watched by up to 300,000 people at Les Sables d'Olonne, near La Rochelle.
10th November 2008Competitors get off to a flying start in the sixth Vendée Globe race, watched by up to 300,000 people at Les Sables d'Olonne, near La Rochelle.
Lewis Gordon Pugh takes his global warming campaign to Everest
28th September 2009The adventurer, environmentalist and speaker, Lewis Gordon Pugh has announced that his latest intrepid expedition will be to swim across a glacial lake on Mount Everest to highlight the dangers of climate change. The thrill of adventure drives people do some quite remarkable things. Throw in a campaign and you have some people who will go to extremes to make sure their campaign is heard. Lewis Gordon Pugh, the swimmer who is going to dive into melted ice on Everest to highlight climate change, is one of these people. Lewis plans to swim under the summit of Mount Everest. Something nobody has ever done before. He is hopimg to draw further attention to the cause he swam accross a patch of open sea at the North Pole for, ahead of a conference in December in Copenhagen on replacing the 1997 Kyoto protocol on reducing greenhouse gases.
28th September 2009The adventurer, environmentalist and speaker, Lewis Gordon Pugh has announced that his latest intrepid expedition will be to swim across a glacial lake on Mount Everest to highlight the dangers of climate change. The thrill of adventure drives people do some quite remarkable things. Throw in a campaign and you have some people who will go to extremes to make sure their campaign is heard. Lewis Gordon Pugh, the swimmer who is going to dive into melted ice on Everest to highlight climate change, is one of these people. Lewis plans to swim under the summit of Mount Everest. Something nobody has ever done before. He is hopimg to draw further attention to the cause he swam accross a patch of open sea at the North Pole for, ahead of a conference in December in Copenhagen on replacing the 1997 Kyoto protocol on reducing greenhouse gases.
Lewis Gordon Pugh plans a swim in the icy waters of the Himalayan Glaciers
22nd September 2009Endurance swimmer Lewis Gordon Pugh spends much of his time delivering keynote speeches and trying to bring to the world's attention the problems of ignoring climate change. Previously he has swam 20 minutes in the North Pole to highlight the problems in the Arctic. His latest venture is to swim in the icy waters of the Himalayan Glaciers to raise awareness of a source of water for 1.3bn people which could be gone within 25 years
22nd September 2009Endurance swimmer Lewis Gordon Pugh spends much of his time delivering keynote speeches and trying to bring to the world's attention the problems of ignoring climate change. Previously he has swam 20 minutes in the North Pole to highlight the problems in the Arctic. His latest venture is to swim in the icy waters of the Himalayan Glaciers to raise awareness of a source of water for 1.3bn people which could be gone within 25 years
The Human Polar Bear: Lewis Gordon Pugh on the Discovery Channel
28th June 2010Tonight environmentalist and keynote speaker Lewis Gordon Pugh features in an incredible documentary on the Discovery Channel about his swim in the Arctic ocean – a feat thought impossible prior to his achievement.
28th June 2010Tonight environmentalist and keynote speaker Lewis Gordon Pugh features in an incredible documentary on the Discovery Channel about his swim in the Arctic ocean – a feat thought impossible prior to his achievement.
Pen Hadow Reviews
Pen Hadow has spoken and appeared at a number of recent corporate events. Please find some client speaker testimonials and reviews for Pen Hadow for a number of these events and conferences. If you would like some additional information as to how to book Pen Hadow for your corporate event, then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0) 208 365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
"You have a gift - and should use it. Few can communicate with a level of engagement and intensity like that."
"Just to say how much of a success this was. Pen spoke extremely well and his talk was deeply moving at times, you could have heard a pin drop!"
"Jonathan Dimbleby, Pen Hadow and Simon Murray gelled to provide one of the most revealing, provocative and entertaining evenings we've had the privilege to organise."
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