Monty Halls

Monty Halls – Explorer & leadership Speaker

Monty is a former Royal Marines Officer, who has specialised in lecturing on change, on the creation of nimble, reactive cultures, and in dealing with the unexpected. In this he has vast experience. During his time as a commando he worked for Nelson Mandela as the South African nation navigated a period of supreme upheaval.

He then went on lead expeditions in some of the most unpredictable environments on earth, and was awarded the Bish Medal for services to exploration. This led to a career in the production of wildlife and adventure documentaries for the BBC, National Geographic, and Discovery. Of these the best known are the three hugely popular BBC series ‘Great Escapes’, where he lived on the west coasts of Scotland and Ireland with his dog Reuben.

He has written thirteen books, and is a regular contributor to magazines and newspapers. His latest book, on the origins of the Commandos, is due out this year. This is a tale of initiative and leadership in the face of profound change, resulting in an elite culture that helped turn the tide of WW2.

Latterly he has worked in sustainability and conservation, working with international partners to create a marine sampling system that can be used by ordinary people with no scientific training. The resultant system is now being used throughout the UK.

As a speaker he is in demand nationally and internationally, speaking on topics such as leadership under duress, team culture, and operating in stressful environments. His messaging is built around the power of strong culture, and how it can be a still point in a turning world. It is a message that is more resonant than ever in the current climate. 

SPEAKING TOPICS

Monty Halls is passionate about speaking, and some of his speech subjects include –

Adventure: A high octane journey through three decades of exploration, adventure, and working with diverse communities throughout the globe. This is a talk backed up with world class images, footage from Monty’s award winning adventure and travel documentaries, and tales of pure adrenaline and wonder from every environment imaginable.

Change: From a career in the Royal Marines, to being part of a military group assisting Nelson Mandela, to leading teams in some of the most demanding and kinetic environments on earth, Monty Halls knows about change. This presentation is a unique perspective that explores our reactions to change, describes methods of making the most of the opportunities it presents, and galvanises audiences jaded with the usual messages of from motivational speakers. This is a talk based on genuine experience, with real take-home messages and models.

Leadership: From the rarified world of Commando Forces, to International expeditions with diverse teams, and working with elite sports teams and businesses facing challenges and change, Monty has delivered leadership talks and events across a vast spectrum. The key to the success of these events is making the content thought provoking, allowing the participants to generate and air their own thoughts on effective leadership. This acknowledges that every business, every environment, and every individual is different when it comes to effective leadership. And yet the same over-arching principles apply! Therein lies the great mystery of leading well – Monty explores these themes based on decades of experience with diverse organisations.

The Environment: Monty is President of the Galapagos Conservation Trust, a Global ambassador for the Durrell Wildlife and Conservation Trust, and a highly respected figure in the world of environmental and natural-history programming. This talk not only explores the challenges that face us all in environmental terms, but also offers solutions on a personal and corporate level. It answers that crucial question “What can I do?”, and is an upbeat, positive approach to the issues that face us all as global citizens.

Team Building: Creating a coherent team or project group can be a challenge, Monty Halls has done this for three decades, whether as a Royal Marines Officer, a leader of diverse expeditions to environments throughout the globe, or with businesses and elite sports teams. The key is to make the process dynamic, enjoyable, and engaging. The end result is a presentation and a process that explores the capabilities of any team, that celebrates their diversity of skills, and establishes a clear culture and ethos.