Ben Saunders

Ben Saunders is a record-breaking polar explorer, climate technology investor and acclaimed motivational speaker who transforms extreme expedition experiences into powerful leadership insights. He led The Scott Expedition, the longest human-powered polar journey in history, covering over 4,500 miles on foot in the polar regions, and holds the record for the longest solo Arctic journey by a Briton. Described by TED as 'a master storyteller', Ben now connects his hard-won lessons from the world's most unforgiving environments to real-world challenges, helping leaders and teams understand that success depends less on heroics and more on preparation, trust and resilience, whilst his work as a Sequoia Scout reflects his commitment to climate action.

After covering more than 4,500 miles on foot in the polar regions, Ben Saunders completed The Scott Expedition, the longest human-powered polar journey in history and the first successful completion of the route that defeated both Captain Scott and Sir Ernest Shackleton. The 105-day round trip from Ross Island on the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole and back again represents one of the most ambitious expeditions in a century, yet Ben's message to audiences has never been about heroics. Instead, he focuses on the unglamorous realities that make extreme achievement possible: meticulous preparation, unwavering trust, and the kind of leadership that sustains teams when conditions turn hostile. As the third person in history to ski solo to the North Pole and holder of the record for the longest solo Arctic journey by a Briton, he has witnessed first-hand the accelerating impact of climate change on the world's most fragile environments.

Ben's credibility extends well beyond his polar achievements. He serves as founding editor and publisher of Avaunt Magazine, acts as global brand ambassador for Land Rover and Canada Goose, and holds positions as a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and patron of British Exploring. His work now bridges adventure and investment through Kintanna, his climate technology fund named after an Antarctic mountain, and his role as a Sequoia Scout reflects a determination to leave the planet better than he found it. As an author, Ben wrote Shackleton and has been featured in influential books including ReWork, The Rise, Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up, and TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking. Described by TED, where he has spoken multiple times, as 'a master storyteller', Ben combines technical ingenuity with an explorer's spirit, translating extreme environments into accessible insights for leaders facing their own unforgiving terrain.

Whether addressing global corporations or pioneering start-ups, Ben connects polar expeditions to the real-world challenges faced by leaders and teams in every sector. His keynote presentations reveal how success in hostile environments depends less on individual courage and more on collective resilience, clear communication under pressure, and the ability to make sound decisions when the stakes are highest. Audiences leave with practical frameworks for building trust, managing risk, and maintaining performance when conditions shift unexpectedly. Speaking with honesty, humility and humour, Ben transforms ancient explorer tales and modern-day conquests into lasting lessons that help organisations understand what it truly takes to perform at their peak, push beyond perceived limits, and create the conditions where ambitious goals become achievable realities.