Jim McNeill

Jim has spent over 40 years on the frontlines of polar exploration and environmental change. His passion was sparked at the young age of 16, on a winter Outward Bound Mountain course in the Lake District. From that moment on, there was no turning back.

Jim’s path has taken him from scientific research to military training, high-stakes business to life-or-death emergency response, all whilst leading some of the toughest expeditions on Earth. Every chapter demanded performance, leadership, and teamwork.

Since 2001, his Ice Warrior Project has transformed everyday people into polar pioneers, collecting vital data on climate change and putting it in the hands of the world’s leading scientists.

His ability to turn raw, often brutal experiences into unforgettable stories, laced with insight, humour, and purpose, makes him a commanding voice on leadership, motivation, risk, and human potential.

Jim McNeill’s latest venture, Ocean Warrior, launched in January 2023, is an ambitious 11-year commitment to uncover the true state of our oceans – exposing the unseen impacts of climate change in some of the most important and remote marine environments on Earth.

What sets Jim apart is how openly he shares the truths he’s learned about human performance under pressure. He speaks from experience, twice coming close to losing his own life on expedition, about what it takes to lead, adapt, and endure when conditions are anything but ideal.

Leadership, for Jim, means trust, clarity, and a deep sense of care, values he’s lived and led with on every high-risk expedition. His talks unpack these with refreshing honesty. Kindness and good communication are just as vital as strategy, resilience and strength.

At the heart of his work is a tireless commitment to climate advocacy. Through his explorations, Jim gathers vital scientific data to drive awareness of global environmental shifts, while also delivering citizen science and public engagement.

Jim’s storytelling style is both gripping and unapologetically human. He turns complex data and extreme experiences into messages that have true impact – authentic, inspiring, and impossible to forget.

Through Ocean Warrior, keynote speaking, his unique Icons Interviewed series and writing Jim McNeill continues to shape how we think about leadership, purpose, and the urgent need to protect our world.

His passion is infectious, his mission, more critical than ever.

Some Keynotes: Each talk focuses on a powerful theme but is specifically prepared for his audience and drawn from his real-world experiences in extreme environments, leadership, and environmental science:

Jim on… Critical Leadership

• What polar expeditions teach us about leading under pressure
• Lessons from commanding teams in life-threatening, critical crises
• How to lead with clarity, courage, and calm when everything is on the line

Jim on… The Edge of Human Performance

• Unlocking resilience and potential in extreme environments
• Stories of near death, endurance and survival
• How to push beyond perceived limits, mentally and physically

Jim on… Risk, Crisis & Calm

• Staying composed when the stakes are highest
• Real-world crisis management from firefighting to polar storms
• Tools for dynamic risk assessment and decision-making under pressure

Jim on… The Climate Frontline

• What 40 years in the Arctic reveals about our changing planet
• Firsthand observations of climate change
• Why Arctic science matters and how we can all contribute

Jim on… Purpose and Passion

• Finding your mission and making it matter
• The story behind the Ice Warrior Project
• How to align personal passion with global impact

Jim on… The Power of Ordinary People

• Citizen science and the future of exploration
• How everyday people can become explorers and make scientific discoveries
• Empowering others to be part of something bigger

Jim on… Jim McNeill

• The story of how an ordinary bloke managed to make a difference
• From a naughty schoolboy to an accomplished explorer
• Scientist, soldier, businessman, firefighter – an exploration of life

“Perfection. Few people put more of their heart and soul into their talk than you did. Such a great talk, such an important area of worth.”  TEDx Boston organiser

“Jim presented his amazing Ice Warrior program at our annual company conference. During his speech, he shared the key values that he feels are paramount to a high performing team. He appeared to all of us, as a person with a rich life history, brilliantly sharing genuine experiences, and thus hugely helped us reinforce the theme of our conference: One Team, One Ambition.” Bertrand Steip Moet Hennessy UK MD

“By reducing the time for real syndicate formation by at least four days (according to the instructors), Jim McNeill and Ice Warrior made a profoundly positive impact on the Strategic Command Course for our Senior Police Officers. So much so that even seven weeks after the event the participants are still talking about it. We will be booking Jim and his team in the future.” The National Police Training College

“Nothing less than inspirational… an authoritative blend of raw experience with practical coaching… energised an already highly motivated group of senior executives.” PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP

“We were delighted when Jim agreed to speak to our Executive Team and we were completely gripped when he shared experiences from his truly remarkable career, from funny and emotive to absolutely terrifying.  Jim has a wonderful insight into people and how to motivate them which coupled with his strong determination to succeed makes him an excellent leader.  He was an inspiration to all of the team and certainly put into perspective how minor our challenges are when compared to the challenges of surviving a polar exploration.” Certsure   

“I cannot recommend involvement with Ice Warrior highly enough. This is an extremely professional, committed and driven organisation which has much to teach people about how to achieve their personal and business goals” Grant Thornton International Limited

“Can you pass on our thanks to Jim for giving us such an entertaining and fascinating account of his remarkable adventures.  He is an excellent speaker and engaged with our audience throughout the whole of his talk.  He was very friendly and amenable to work with and I really appreciated his patience in meeting our sponsors, committee and members.  It was a pleasure to have him with us and I hope he enjoyed his time with us too.  Over 750 of our members were in the audience and I think they all thoroughly enjoyed the evening.” Arts and Literature Society

“Excellent – very engaging, very relaxed style, with a good level of humour.  Jim talked about overcoming adversity by working as a team but also respecting each other as individuals and working with their strengths to help them and the team achieve why this was important.  The audience were very captivated and energised – lots of questions at the end and I’m sure the questions would have kept coming if we had the time.  Jim was very happy to stay and chat to people at the end, a very approachable person who is obviously very passionate about what he does which very much came across in his presentation.  I think a few people were even tempted to find out how to be part of one of his expeditions.” Pfizer

“An excellent presentation and content to his talks. Unfortunately, this voyage has only allowed for 2 talks to be held due to so many additional lectures with the Trunk show & port talks etc, but I believe Jim would also hold an excellent Q&A which I would be keen to include next time. I received only really positive feedback in regard to Jim’s talks.” Cunard – RMS Queen Victoria

“What Jim McNeill and his team are doing is pioneering of the most advanced kind. What he is planning pushes man beyond the boundaries and will take him to the most inaccessible places on Earth.” Lord Robert Winston

“Jim cleverly conveyed what he had to say with real passion, honesty and sincerity; his speech was motivational and inspirational, serving to educate, entertain and enrapt our audience. He also cleverly weaved humour into a speech which, ordinarily, dealt with a very serious subject matter – climate change. I believe this all helped to create a bond between him and his audience, which made what he had to say all the more authentic and impactful.  It goes to show how thought-provoking someone can be, when every one of the audience of invited guests takes the time to express their gratitude and thanks for having been invited.   Thanks Jim!” Elior, UK.

“Jim proved a highly amusing and engaging speaker who enthralled our audience with his tales of modern adventure. His personal insights into the effects of climate change were delivered with passion and detail. Everyone was both entertained and educated; we will definitely use him again.” Chairman – Sign-Up.To 



“Jim McNeill’s presentation to the Captain Scott Society on the subject of his “Ice Warrior” endeavours was colourful and entertaining but most of all it was thought provoking. Jim gave an honest and unsentimental view of the difficulties he faced in his quest for the four North Poles and also a clear assessment of how global warming is changing the face and nature of the Arctic. The extraordinary images used to good effect during the presentation were graphic, evocative and often dramatic. The knowledge Jim has acquired of the Arctic was obvious and allowed him to speak with authority and assurance.”  The Captain Scott Society 

“Many thanks for the wonderful lecture you gave to the Friends of the Scott Polar Research Institute. It was fascinating to learn so much about Sir Hubert Wilkins and all of his achievements” Cambridge University.

“Your thought-provoking contribution has been greatly appreciated and enjoyed by all and, without question, helped make the event the success it was”.  Chief Fire Officers Association

“Entertaining and fascinating… left all those in the room feeling humbled and inspired… any business serious about success should hear his message.” CEO, ITN Source

“Nothing less than inspirational… an authoritative blend of raw experience with practical coaching… energised an already highly motivated group of senior executives.” The National Police Training College

‘We were delighted when Jim agreed to speak to our Executive Team and we were completely gripped when he shared experiences from his truly-remarkable career, from funny and emotive to absolutely terrifying.  Jim has a wonderful insight into people and how to motivate them which coupled with his strong determination to succeed makes him an excellent leader.  He was an inspiration to all of the team and certainly put into perspective how minor our challenges are when compared to the challenges of surviving a polar exploration.’ PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP

“Can you pass on our thanks to Jim for giving us such an entertaining and fascinating account of his remarkable adventures.  He is an excellent speaker and engaged with our audience throughout the whole of his talk.  He was very friendly and amenable to work with and I really appreciated his patience in meeting our sponsors, committee and members.  It was a pleasure to have him with us and I hope he enjoyed his time with us too.  Over 750 of our members were in the audience and I think they all thoroughly enjoyed the evening.” Arts and Literature Society

“Excellent – very engaging, very relaxed style, with a good level of humour.  Jim talked about overcoming adversity by working a as a team, but also respecting each other as individuals and working with their strengths to help them and the team achieve why this was important.  The audience were very captivated and energised – lots of questions at the end and I’m sure the questions would have kept coming if we had the time.  Jim was very happy to stay and chat to people at the end, a very approachable person who is obviously very passionate about what he does which very much came across in his presentation.  I think a few people were even tempted to find out how to be part of one of his expeditions.” Pfizer

“An excellent presentation and content to his talks. Unfortunately this voyage has only allowed for 2 talks to be held due to so many additional lectures with the Trunk show & port talks etc, but I believe Jim would also hold an excellent Q&A which I would be keen to include next time. I received only really positive feedback in regards to Jim’s talks.”  Cunard – RMS Queen Victoria

“Considering the extreme danger inherent in the environments in which Jim McNeill is required to work he calmly turns his experiences into an enthralling, engaging and often very amusing talk which had everyone on the front of their seats throughout – most of whom were surely thinking “I’m glad it was Jim out there, not me”.  Jim is evidently very skilled and very brave and he reached both the young and adults in the audience.” The Binfield Winfield and Warfield Arts Week

“Anyone with a genuine interest in or love of the Arctic Polar Regions who has not had the pleasure of sitting through Jim’s superb talk ‘Exploring the Polar Regions’ has missed out on something special. The photography is stunning, particularly the landscapes and wildlife, his narrative is enthralling, informative and at times amusing but this is no sanitised version of the realities of life in such an environment. This is how it is. By the end, it seems as if you have experienced the harsh difficulties with him, lived through the trials and tribulations and you will be left looking around for your jacket as it feels as if the extreme cold of the freezing landscape photos has been reaching out to envelop you.  Cannot wait for the book to come out!”

“What Jim McNeill and his team are doing is pioneering of the most advanced kind..what he is planning pushes man beyond the boundaries and will take him to the most inaccessible places on Earth.” Lord Robert Winston

“Jim McNeill offers his audience an entertaining and fascinating insight into his truly remarkable adventures. His courage, unyielding determination and dedication to achieving the seemingly impossible left all those in the room feeling humbled and inspired. Any business serious about success should hear his message.” MD, TV

“The children thought that you were brilliant – the best yet – and there has been some tough competition!  I always think that even if you only change one persons’ life for the better and set them on the right path, then it is worthwhile.” Head Teacher

“The tales of Jim’s many Arctic expeditions are unique and thrilling. They are relevant to everyone that has undertaken a personal challenge, the fear of failure or the sacrifice for success each connect very powerfully with the audience.  There are some powerful learning’s for the commercial world.” Chairman

“Jim McNeill was our guest speaker for our aptly entitled ‘Ice Warrior Seminar’. Our aim was to headline the seminar with leading figurehead, advocate and spokesperson Jim McNeill, accomplished Arctic traveller, presenter, speaker and ITN Ice Warrior.”

“We talked to Jim about addressing the effects of global warming on the Arctic ice cap and bringing the reality of global climate change to our audience of invited VIP guests – comprising our most valued city firms, whose CSR policies were starting to become more specific in addressing their efforts to reduce their carbon footprints.   From the moment he took centre stage, he connected with the audience when he started at the very beginning, many years ago – an essential part of getting their attention and impacting upon them later with key messages. I suspect this made him even more credible and authentic.

“He cleverly conveyed what he had to say with real passion, honesty and sincerity; his speech was motivational and inspirational, serving to educate, entertain and enrapt our audience. He also cleverly weaved humour into a speech which, ordinarily, dealt with a very serious subject matter – climate change. I believe this all helped to create a bond between him and his audience, which made what he had to say all the more authentic and impactful.  It goes to show how thought-provoking someone can be, when every one of their audience of invited guests takes the time to express their gratitude and thanks for having been invited.   Thanks Jim!”    Elior UK

“There are some powerful learning’s for the commercial world. Here Jim draws strong parallels to the business arena and provides some compelling insights into the key areas of leadership and teamwork that provide some invaluable and graphic lessons.”  Candour Event Marketing

“Jim proved a highly amusing and engaging speaker who enthralled our audience with his tales of modern adventure. His personal insights into the effects of climate change were delivered with passion and detail. Everyone was both entertained and educated; we will definitely use him again.” Sign-Up.To

“Jim McNeill’s presentation to the Captain Scott Society on the subject of his “Ice Warrior” endeavours was colourful and entertaining but most of all it was thought provoking. Jim gave an honest and unsentimental view of the difficulties he faced in his quest for the four North Poles and also a clear assessment of how global warming is changing the face and nature of the Arctic. The extraordinary images used to good effect during the presentation were graphic, evocative and often dramatic. The knowledge Jim has acquired of the Arctic was obvious and allowed him to speak with authority and assurance.” The Captain Scott Society

“Just to say thank you again for taking the time to meet with us yesterday and to help us to think about our team effectiveness in a new way along with inspiring us with your fantastic work and experiences.  I thoroughly enjoyed the sessions which you took us through and I know others did too.  We wish you the very best for your next expedition and the valuable scientific work which you are contributing too.  I’ll be following with interest.” The Cricket Foundation

“Jim has an incredible knowledge and understanding of how to survive and work in extreme climates, which he is able to communicate very effectively” Mark Beaumont – Explorer, Super Cyclist and BBC Scotland Expedition Cameraman

“Many thanks for the wonderful lecture you gave to the Friends of the Scott Polar Research Institute. It was fascinating to learn so much about Sir Hubert Wilkins and all of his achievements” Cambridge University.

“Your thought provoking contribution has been greatly appreciated and enjoyed by all and, without question, helped make the event the success it was”. Chief Fire Officers Association

“Anyone with a genuine interest in or love of the Arctic Polar Regions who has not had the pleasure of sitting through Jim’s superb talk ‘Exploring the Polar Regions’ has missed out on something special. The photography is stunning, particularly the landscapes and wildlife, his narrative is enthralling, informative and at times amusing but this is no sanitised version of the realities of life in such an environment. This is how it is. By the end, it seems as if you have experienced the harsh difficulties with him, lived through the trials and tribulations and you will be left looking around for your jacket as it feels as if the extreme cold of the freezing landscape photos has been reaching out to envelop you.
Cannot wait for the book to come out!” Ian, Mary and Shaka the Dog

“Thank you so much for a really interesting and entertaining evening last night.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself – and, although not quite the last to leave, I was very nearly the last! I thought Jim McNeill’s talk was fascinating.

“Absolutely brilliant” Clacton Arts

“Entertaining and fascinating… left all those in the room feeling humbled and inspired… any business serious about success should hear his message.” CEO, ITN Source

One to watch on BBC One – The Last Explorers http://bbc.in/sRwZoh – Jim had the pleasure of leading this expedition.

Jim McNeill spent 9 weeks on Ellesmere Isalnd, Arctic Canada working on the incredible documentary ‘Frozen Planet’ sequel to ‘Planet Earth’ with David Attenborough, this is currently being shown on BBC1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mfl7n

Watch out for Jim being interviewed during a documentary about Predators, this is to be shown on Channel 4 between Christmas and New Year.

Jim has also been involved in a documentary about a team of six led by Jock Wishart on an expedition to row across the Canadian Arctic, from Resolute Bay to the 1996 position of the Magnetic North Pole on Ellef Ringnes Island – ‘Rowing the Arctic’ to be shown soon on BBC http://www