Jim McNeill has spent over 40 years on the frontlines of polar exploration and environmental change. His passion was sparked at the young age of 16, living in a snowbound sanctuary on a winter Outward Bound course in the Lake District. From that moment on, there was no turning back.... Read more
Jim McNeill has spent over 40 years on the frontlines of polar exploration and environmental change. His passion was sparked at the young age of 16, living in a snowbound sanctuary on a winter Outward Bound course in the Lake District. From that moment on, there was no turning back.
Jim’s path has taken him from scientific research to elite military training, high-stakes business, life-or-death emergency response, and ultimately, to leading some of the toughest expeditions on Earth. Every chapter demanded performance, leadership, and teamwork.
Through his Ice Warrior Project, he’s transformed everyday people into polar pioneers, collecting vital data on climate change and putting it in the hands of the world.
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.
Backed by decades of frontline exploration, Jim is now taking that same relentless spirit beneath the waves – exposing the unseen impacts of climate change in some of the most 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 life in the field, about what it takes to lead, adapt, and endure when conditions are anything but ideal.
Leadership, for Jim McNeill, 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 communication are just as vital as strategy and strength.
At the heart of his work is a tireless commitment to climate advocacy. Through his expeditions, Jim gathers vital scientific data to drive awareness of global environmental shifts, while also giving a platform to 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 land… authentic, inspiring, and impossible to forget.
Through Ocean Warrior, keynote speaking, and his unique Icons Interviewed series, Jim McNeill continues to shape how we think about leadership, purpose, and the urgent need to protect our world.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Finding your mission and making it matter.
The story behind the Ice Warrior Project.
How to align personal passion with global impact.
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.
The story of how an ordinary bloke managed to make a difference.
From a naughty boy at school to an accomplished explorer.
Scientist, soldier, businessman, firefighter – an exploration of life.