JIM McNEILL - Explorer

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.

Jim is a seasoned explorer and compelling storyteller who transforms intense, real-life experiences into powerful lessons on leadership, motivation, and resilience. His latest project, Ocean Warrior, launched in 2023, is an 11-year mission to investigate the true condition of the world's oceans and the hidden effects of climate change.

Renowned for his honesty about human performance under extreme pressure, Jim shares hard-earned insights from his near-death experiences in the field. He emphasizes leadership rooted in trust, clarity, kindness, and communication—qualities he consistently models on high-risk expeditions.

Driven by a deep commitment to climate advocacy, Jim uses his expeditions to collect critical scientific data and promote public engagement through citizen science, shining a light on urgent environmental issues.