In January 2001 Jim McNeill conceived the idea of combining his professional rescue expertise with his polar expeditioning into a long term vision known as the Ice Warrior Project.
Jim has worked in the environmental science sector, trained army personnel to use mountains safely and has 12 years of blue-chip marketing communications experience at consultancy level. Last year he resigned his fire and rescue operations for the Royal Household, to engage in “professional exploring”.
Throughout his career Jim has selected, trained and led teams in key business situations, where the reputation and share value of corporations is won and lost on strategic and tactical media relations; to critical life saving situations, where effective leadership and hands on teamwork are key to preserving the lives of car crash victims; through to longer term life-threatening situations in extreme climatic situations with multiple risks over long periods of time. Jim thrives on challenge and change. He has a passion for leadership and getting the very best performance out of individuals and teams, at any level.
He has written for numerous publications, scientific papers and is currently writing his first book. Last year Jim was ITV News’ own “Ice Warrior” reporting directly from some 200 miles into the Arctic Ocean on the actual effects of global warming on the Arctic ice cap - bringing the reality of global climate change to audiences around the globe.
Next year the story will continue on ITN as he attempts to be the first person in history to reach the Northern Pole of Inaccessibility at the very centre of the Arctic Ocean. He is going alone and without re-supply on a treacherous journey of 735 miles and 75 days duration. At the same time he will gather crucial climate data for the US National Snow and Ice Data Center (NASA supported work). He will also be writing a weekly diary piece about his expedition for BBC Online and a national newspaper.
Jim spent most of this summer on Ellesmere Island in the Arctic where he was guide and safety advisor for the BBC’s Natural History Unit. Jim located the elusive Arctic Wolf for the BBC and has written a diary about the wolves and their environment for BBC Online.
The first expedition will take place in Jordan later this year and will take a team of trained novices to re-establish (using Bedouin stone markers) a part of the ancient Silk Road which has been lost for over 300 years. The team will also conduct crucial scientific work particularly focused on global climate change.
As well as significant involvement in polar exploration Jim has a wealth of qualifications, skills and experience.
• Graduate of The Institution of Fire Engineers - GIFireE
• Associate Member International Emergency Technical Rescue Institute
• Associate Member of the British Association for Immediate Care Scheme – BASICS
• Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Certificate – PHEC November 1996
• Emergency/Rescue Personnel Member of the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
• Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service – Brigade instructor first-aid training
• Rescue Emergency Care Advanced First Aid for the Arctic
• Fellow of The Royal Geographic Society – FRGS

As a person, Jim believes that consideration for others, an enthusiasm for life and broad-based experience makes for a balanced soul and says his greatest attributes are empathy, initiative, a good measure of common sense - and the ability to communicate and motivate.
46 year old Jim is married to Lori, has two daughters, Kirsty, 25 and Helen, 21, a 9 year old son, Mac and currently lives in Royal Berkshire, England.

Serious Stuff

Leadership
The world of leadership training is full of people that create jargon and lists of “must-dos” - and then the inevitable book or three in a similar vein. No matter what the audience, Jim “rolls up his sleeves” and talks about what he calls simple and dynamic leadership based on reality, simple characteristics and a goodly degree of common sense. If you want a no-nonsense, working talk anecdotally portrayed by dipping into Jim’s three “pools” of personal experience, then this is the talk for you.

Motivation
It is when people are at the extreme end of their “tether”, absolutely physically and mentally shattered and you have to ask them for more, (without question or even murmur) that you really get to know something about motivation. Are there any tricks, techniques, tools? Jim discusses and draws parallels.

Performance
Jim describes himself as having a passion for getting the very best performance out of everyone; individually or collectively as a team. Having recently trained 51 people from all walks of life and every echelon of society to become competent sea ice travellers and 26 of those people having reached the Geomagnetic North Pole, he certainly has something useful to offer on the subject.

Incident Leadership and Planning for Disasters
Jim can present a keynote speech or workshop based on incident leadership, situation and critical crisis management, communications, risk assessment and dynamic risk assessments etc. Anecdotal evidence is drawn from Jim’s operational fire service work, Royal Household fire precautions work and Arctic expeditionary work.

Climate Change Issues
The subject of global climate change has moved on. It’s clear, it’s here! The Arctic has long been recognised as a barometer of what is going on and International Polar Year has focussed people’s attentions on watching the barometer. Jim’s Ice Warrior Project plays a crucial role in gathering the scientific raw data and in delivering the reality of climate change to its audiences around the globe. Having started his working life in 1980 measuring the environmental impact of agricultural practices, which included ground-breaking work on the depletion of the ozone layer, Jim has had an extraordinarily close relationship with the Arctic Region over the past twenty three years and is exceptionally well qualified to talk first hand about the changes he has seen.

Lighter Notes

Selection
Being able to select suitable candidates to become polar explorers from a public call for volunteers demands that you are pretty observant and it is these observations of human behaviour that Jim recounts in an almost stand-up comedic style. Great for the after dinner chortle!

Things that go wrong
A humorous collection of mishaps, failures, accidents and near disasters, Jim is the master of all with polished and accomplished experience in fire and rescue, business and expeditionary fields.

Life on Expedition….in the freezer!
Over the twenty two years of Jim’s Polar expeditions there must be only a few questions left that Jim hasn’t answered about what it is really like on expedition, spending so much time in such incredibly adverse conditions. Jim challenges the audience to come up with a novel one whilst flitting through an array of humorous happenings.

Safety Skill Set and Qualifications

Safety consultancy for the film industry

Safety management in polar, mountainous and desert regions
Safety planning
Safety audit
Risk assessment
Dynamic risk assessment
Safety team selection, provision and training
Medical emergency planning, training and exercising
Critical crisis management
Key person safety
Contingency planning
Equipment specification, testing and procurement
Location selection and advice
Medical team selection and provision
Fire team selection and provision

Recent Testimonials
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.
Sue Thexton – Managing Director, ITN Source

Why it worked for us:
Ice Warrior: Jim McNeill with Ice Warrior has helped turn ordinary people’s dreams into a reality. An extraordinary man enabling ordinary people to take the ultimate challenge of Arctic exploration.
Arctic Exploration: 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.
Commercial Connection: 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.
John Gillett - Chairman Candour Event Marketing

Jim proved an 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.
Julian Salisbury - Chairman, The Captain Scott Society

The presentation Jim gave (to my marketing leadership group) was nothing less than inspirational. He combined an authoritative blend of raw experience with practical coaching on leadership skills which has further energised an already highly motivated group of senior executives. We plan to bring him back and extend our learning with him to our wider team.
Jon Geldart, Director of Marketing, PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP