020 8914 8966
020 8914 8966
“It really was one of the best presentations I have heard in quite some time. I really appreciate the time you took to blend the entertaining stories of your adventures with a structured break out groups considering aspects of leadership, resilience and adversity – all essential skills for survival in the current NHS!”
Fionn Bellis, Director of Medical Education RDUH
Mark Agnew – Best-selling Author Of “There Will Be Headwinds” & TEDx Keynote Speaker
Mark Agnew is a world-first record-setting explorer, resilience expert and keynote speaker who helps organisations thrive through uncertainty. Best known for leading an expedition that became the first team in history to kayak the entire Northwest Passage, he has translated extreme environments into practical lessons for business. His experiences facing real risk, rapid change and team pressure have positioned him as a sought-after voice on resilience, motivation and performance. Today, he works with global organisations to help teams embrace challenge, adapt under pressure and build lasting resilience.
Speaker Topics:
- Resilience for the Modern Workplace
- Ownership and Accountability
- Thriving in Adversity and Uncertainty
Credentials and Impact
Mark’s impact is rooted in a career that blends academic grounding, journalism and elite exploration. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Politics and Sociology from Newcastle University, which underpins his analytical approach to leadership and human behaviour. Early in his career, he worked internationally as an English teacher before moving into consultancy, where he ran operations alongside a company founder and managed high-level client relationships.
He later transitioned into journalism, holding editorial and reporting roles across respected publications. As Outdoor and Extreme Sports Editor for the South China Morning Post, he covered adventure, geopolitics and global risk, sharpening his ability to communicate complex ideas clearly. His career culminated in leading record-breaking expeditions, including a 103-day Arctic journey from Baffin Bay to the Beaufort Sea. These experiences now inform his work helping businesses such as Google, EY, and John Lewis develop resilient teams capable of thriving through disruption.
Publications and Media
Mark is the author of There Will Be Headwinds, a critically recognised exploration memoir shortlisted for the Boardman Tasker Prize. He has also written extensively as a journalist, contributing to major international publications. His work and expeditions have been featured across television, print and digital media, including ITV, Sky News, The Times and the Daily Mail, reaching audiences worldwide.
Why Book Mark?
Mark is booked as a resilience and leadership speaker for his rare ability to combine high-energy storytelling with practical business insight. His TEDx talk “Exploring Motivation and Resilience“, drwaing on moments of extreme uncertainty, including a defining Arctic encounter that inspired his Find Your Polar Bear framework. Audiences value his ability to make change feel exciting rather than threatening, delivering clear, actionable takeaways for every team member. A Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and European Adventurer of the Year, Mark brings credibility, humour and lived experience to every stage, leaving organisations better equipped to perform under pressure and grow through challenge.
To book Mark to speak at your event, call SpeakOut on +44 (0) 20 8914 8966. Alternatively, complete our contact form to begin your enquiry.
