Ken Hames Keynote Speaker

Ken Hames MBE is a former SAS Major who rose to lead Britain’s anti-terrorist squadron. One of the very few British officers to wear the red (Parachute Brigade), green (Royal Marines) and sand (SAS) berets, he served across multiple operational theatres and holds the South Atlantic Medal. Raised on his grandfather’s hill farm and forged in Special Forces mountain and Arctic units, he now distils that experience into clear frameworks for resilience, trust and performance.

An accomplished adventurer and broadcaster, Ken has led more than twenty major expeditions in extreme climates and terrains. He created and fronted sixteen documentaries across BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five, CBBC, Sky and Discovery: The Trek (1994), sponsored by Diana, Princess of Wales; the ground-breaking Beyond Boundaries series through Nicaragua’s jungles, Namibia’s desert and Ecuador’s Andes; and Mission Africa, where apprentices built a conservation eco-lodge in Kenya. His latest TV work includes Countryfile (2021–2023). An active conservationist and founder of two charities, he brings a purpose-driven, inclusive lens to every audience.

Awarded an MBE for charitable work and an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of Bristol, Ken is recognised for developing outstanding leaders and high-performing teams. He advises executive teams on high performance, culture and risk; delivers leadership masterclasses and a practical Leadership Manifesto; and coaches senior leaders to act as “guardians of the environment” in which their people can thrive. Clients include BP, Shell, Microsoft, Siemens, Airbus, Lufthansa, Bayer, Lloyds, E.ON, Subsea7, Stena, Transocean, Premier Oil and the Association of Chief Executives. A Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Society of Arts, he equips audiences with clear, actionable tools to respond, recover and excel in uncertainty.