Pen Hadow Biography
Pen Hadow, Global Explorer, Motivational Speaker & Environment Consultant, inspires audiences with his extraordinary story of achievement in one of the most challenging environments on Earth.
Background and career
In 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 to be harder than climbing Everest solo, 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 impossible.
After 15 years, three attempts and an exceptional degree of commitment, Pen achieved his dream. The undertaking almost cost him his life more than once, when he broke through the ice and found himself swimming in the sub-zero waters of the Arctic Ocean, many hundreds of miles from help.
As a child, Pen’s nanny (previously Scott of the Antarctic's son's nanny) filled his head with tales of Scott and the other great explorers. His father told 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 Edward Whymper's party that made the first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865 - and fell to his death on the descent.
Pen discovered early the benefits that come with a high degree of compliance to sports training programmes.
Aged 15 he devised a punishing training schedule to enable him to attempt a traditional school marathon which he completed in three hours. This had not been done for fifty years.
In the 1980's Pen became the youngest-ever executive at IMG sports organisation, and 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 with his pioneering travel business, The Polar Travel Company.
In 1997 he organised the first all-women's relay to the North Geographic Pole, enabling 20 women, with no previous polar experience, to walk into The Guinness Book of World Records. He thus changed the perception of what many thought was possible in the polar regions.
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.
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.Pen has also completed the Catlin Arctic Survey, a pioneering scientific expedition to help determine the lifespan of the Arctic Ocean's sea ice cover. His findings was taken to the national negotiating teams working to replace the Kyoto Protocol agreement at the UN Climate Change Conference of Parties in 2009.
Speaking Topics
Pen Hadow, Global Explorer, Motivational Speaker & Environment Consultant, inspires audiences with his extraordinary story of achievement in one of the most challenging environments on Earth.
• Motivation – finding it & keeping it
• Pioneering mindset & breakthroughs
• Team performance & improvement
• Resilience
• Goal setting & setbacks
• Risk v rewards
• Global environmental change & corporate sustainability
• Peak Performance (in the toughest environments)
For further information or to book Pen Hadow, call us on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 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)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Pen Hadow News
A selection of relevant news related to Pen Hadow, After Dinner Speakers, Keynote Speakers and Motivational Speakers, Adventure Speakers, Leadership Speakers, Sustainability Speakers and Teamwork Speakers stories. For more information on Pen Hadow or details as to how to book Pen Hadow for your corporate event, please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Pen Hadow’s Great Arctic Challenge
3rd May 2012
Pen Hadow - Polar Explorer, Environmental Adviser & Inspirational Speaker, launches a new challenge for 2013.
The noughties - a decade of adventure
9th December 2009
As 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.
Pen Hadow warns that the Arctic will be ice-free within a decade
16th October 2009
The 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 2008
HRH 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 2007
Polar 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 2007
Motivational speakers, Pen Hadow and Michael McGrath, join forces to offer a unique double-act
Ronnie O’Sullivan Wins Fifth World Title
7th May 2013
Snooker player, Ronnie O’Sullivan beat Barry Hawkins to win the Betfair World Championships at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
Self-Help Books; A Billion Dollar Industry
30th April 2013
Self-help books are increasingly popular among the British public than ever before and an increased number of us are turning to self help books in the hope that they will solve lives problems.
Olympic Champion, Sir Chris Hoy, Retires
19th April 2013
Sir Chris Hoy has decided to retire from cycling after winning six Olympic Gold medals and becoming the most successful British Olympian ever, taking the title from Sir Steve Redgrave.
Mike Forde Links Business to Football
18th April 2013
Business speaker and one of the UK’s leading sports executives, Mike Forde has compared the ideas and practices used in professional football to those used in business environments.
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)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Had to let you know how everyone was so inspired by your speech and kept your messages top of mind throughout the meetings. Your name came up repeatedly, as did your approach to challenges: attention to details, foreseeing simple incidents, judgement calls, self discipline, use of imagery. It was fantastic. It would have been great to have had you there the rest of the days. The synergy and chemistry were evident.
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.
Minister, ladies and gentlemen, I am anxious to be following Pen Hadow who speaks so brilliantly and who lays down the challenges and dangers we face so clearly.
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!
Thank you for participating at the Young Leaders event in Paris last week. Your presentation was the perfect finale to our first ever gathering of our Young Leader membership. The feedback from attendees was universally positive with many commenting on how inspiring it was to hear about your remarkable journey.
Pen's contribution to the evening and particularly the presentation was a real bonus and I was equally grateful that he engaged with so many people during the evening. Pen - you are now an inspiration to many of the team, and I hope we can develop this further some time in the future.
... the more he described the outrageously challenging conditions and situations he has overcome, the more I and the others around me found ourselves wanting to go on a polar expedition ourselves, so engaging is his style - He's a charismatic personality who can shift people's perception of what is achievable
Pen Hadow is a truly inspirational man... You could hear a pin drop when he was speaking as people were just so interested in his stories.
You have a gift - and should use it. Few can communicate with a level of engagement and intensity like that.
We enjoyed Pen's speech whilst drawing parallels with what we did it was also a refreshing change from our own environment, the language we use. Please pass on my gratitude to Pen for an excellent speech it was just what we wanted.
Outstanding in every respect ... amusing, terrifying, engaging, inspiring. Terrific
Pen's faultless delivery, captivating anecdotes and straightforward honesty about his extraordinary achievements held us all in his thrall. He is the living embodiment of achievement through sheer hard work, determination and fastidious planning. He inspires everyone he touches and reminds us that there is everything to play for.
Pen went down very well when he was here speaking to our clients - our major clients were blown away by his achievements, it was a great lunch and a real pleasure to meet Pen and I am grateful to him for giving up the time to honour this commitment.
Pen Hadow experience was genuinely inspirational and motivating. Having launched Marks and Spencer Plan A initiative on the need to tackle the enormous challenge of climate change, it was fantastic to hear from someone who has experienced global warming issues with their own eyes.
The man, quite simply, is an inspiration. He is truly a much-needed modern day romantic hero. There were touching moments, tearful moments and stirring moments, but we all left wishing there could be a little bit of the remarkable Pen Hadow within us.
Pen was fab! His presentation style worked really well. We have had an overwhelmingly positive response from our membership. The icing on the cake was his willingness to be a part of our whole day. He made a point of turning up at a Children Tea party and I saw him surrounded by kids telling them about his experiences. All in all, a great guy, who can be relied upon to deliver an inspirational, and fun session.
Property conferences have a reputation for ensuring sleep for all attendees! However it can fairly be said that Pen's approach to his incredible achievements in the polar regions came as a complete breath of fresh air to the 140 delegates. He genuinely captivated the audience with a humbling, matter-of-fact repartee so seldom heard any more. He has made a big impact on our audience and we would thoroughly recommend him as a highly professional speaker full of integrity and obvious grit. Many attendees have said he was truly the highlight of their day
One of the best speakers we've ever had, in 200 lectures over 18 years, given by Britain's best known adventure speakers.
For further information or to book Pen Hadow, call us on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
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