Ken is a real life action man. He has 25 years of military experience under his belt and is most unique in having served in The Parachute Brigade, the Royal Marines, and the Special Air Service. Ken’s operational experience is vast, ranging from guarding Nazi war criminal Rudolph Hesse, in... Read more
Ken is a real life action man. He has 25 years of military experience under his belt and is most unique in having served in The Parachute Brigade, the Royal Marines, and the Special Air Service. Ken’s operational experience is vast, ranging from guarding Nazi war criminal Rudolph Hesse, in Spandau Prison to the liberation of Port Stanley in the Falklands. Following an impressive military career, Ken Hames has brought a unique slant to the many documentaries that he has created and presented for television. The documentaries have proved Ken’s extraordinary ability to inspire and motivate even the most unlikely candidates. Ken is passionate about empowering people to transform their lives for the better.
His first documentary was a television series, called ‘The Trek’. In 1994, with the help of Diana, Princess of Wales, Ken was able to take twelve disadvantaged youngsters to the heart of Africa on a 500 mile trek over desert and mountainous terrain; the process transformed their lives and Ken still keeps in contact, many years on.
Ken has created and presented series such as, ‘Mission Africa’ – a 15 part series for primetime BBC1 where Ken took a group of young apprentice builders from the UK to Kenya to build the first eco lodge and game reserve to protect the endangered species that live there, working closely with the Born Free Foundation. This was then handed over to the local Samburu tribe as a sustainable business that also protects the wildlife.
Ken created and is the expedition leader on the groundbreaking ‘Beyond Boundaries’ series for BBC TV. This is now a successful brand with its own live event, bringing disabled people from all over the world together with their friends and families, motivating them to achieve seemingly impossible expeditions. He trains and inspired them into a team and the end result is life changing.
His first series for Channel 4 was the award winning, ‘Jungle Janes’, where Ken’s challenge was to turn a group of British women, non of whom had any expedition experience, into a cohesive team fit enough to take on the grueling jungles of Bourneo. It was enjoyed by millions who found this journey an inspiration. ‘Desert Darlings’ was broadcast on Channel 4 in spring 2003. Ken took couples across the Namib desert, placing their sometimes fragile relationships under the extreme pressures of an expedition.
Ken has also presented the highly praised series, ‘Greatest SAS Missions’ for Five in 2004, CBBC’s ‘Bring it On’, ‘Hero Factor’ for the Discovery Channel in 2002, ‘Battle Stripes’ for Sky in 2000, ‘Future Fighting Machines’ for the US in 2003, Channel 4’s ‘Shattered’ and ITV’s ‘Celebrity Fit Club’. Ken was also involved from the earliest stages in the design and development of ITV’s ‘I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here’.
Ken is an accomplished Mountain Guide skier and represented Great Britain in cross-country skiing. He played rugby for the Combined Services, is an expert in the great outdoors in all survival disciplines and is a keen amateur opera singer.
You can book Ken Hames through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Ken's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Ken Hames's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Ken tailored to your event.
Ken Hames speaks on a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Ken to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Ken Hames for events worldwide, subject to Ken's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Ken Hames is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Ken can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Ken Hames on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Ken can offer.
Ken Hames delivers keynotes in English. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Ken Hames's areas of expertise include a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. To get a clear sense of Ken's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Ken Hames can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in a range of business, leadership and industry subjects is relevant. Details of Ken's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Ken Hames is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Ken Hames, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Ken's current availability for your dates.