James Levelle

James Levelle is an award-winning filmmaker with a passion for adventure and the natural world.

His film career kicked off in 2007 when international NGO, Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) sent him to document child labour in India’s cotton fields, and then to war-town Africa to capture deadly pirate fishermen off the coast of Sierra Leone.

These dangerous expeditions not only gave him invaluable filmmaking experience, they also opened his eyes to the power of film and its potential to make a difference

Contact Great British Speakers today to book adventurer and award-winning filmmaker James Levelle for your next event.

Type Of Speaker

Exploration & Military High Performance Keynote Motivational Nature & Wildlife Presenters Resilience Speaker Travel

More About James Levelle

James Levelle went on to direct the acclaimed ‘Eco Crime Investigators’ series for National Geographic, where he went undercover in China and Tibet to expose the criminal trade in tiger bone and skin. He then took on the lethal multi-million pound illegal logging industry in Southeast Asia.

Whilst undercover operations gave him a rush, the most awe-inspiring part of these adventures is all the time he spent filming the wildlife, such as India’s last wild tigers, and endangered orangutans in the Indonesian rainforest.

Since then, James has worked in some of the world’s most extreme environments, directing and producing some of TV’s most groundbreaking and successful shows, including Alaska: Gold Rush, Primal Survivor: Amazon, Free Ride: South America, and Race For the Future.

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Free Ride: South America: This adventure series saw James and U.S adventurer Rob Greenfield attempt to travel the world with no plans and no money.

Gold Rush: Together with friends Parker Schnabel, Rick Ness, and wilderness guide Karla, James joined unaided over a mountain range, lakes, and the mighty Yukon River for 600 miles.

In 2019, James was part of the documentary Lost Treasures of the Maya, a series which followed a group of archaeologists harnessing the power of laser mapping technology alongside old-school exploration styles to better understand Maya civilisation.

He has featured in publications such as The Telegraph, The Times, and The Financial Times, and is a regular voice across television and radio.

James Levelle | Other Work

He has had the honour of presenting the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Awards at Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace, and hosted the Royal Foundation’s ‘Generation Earthshot Prize’ at the UN Climate Conference.

James Levelle | Speaker

James is a highly sought-after public speaker, with stories exploring the power of human relationships, overcoming adversity, the spirit of adventure, and the lessons he has learnt from nature. Whether inspiring corporate CEOs or school children, each of his talks are tailored to the audience and the client.

Whilst his passion still lies in exploring the world in weird and wonderful ways, he has started to focus his energy on the people and places local to him in an effort to connect with the community and create better ways of being.

His work for and with young people is incredibly important to him, though he’s just as massively motivated to inspire positive change in adult hearts and minds.

James Levelle | Speaking Topics

– Overcoming Adversity

– The Power of Human Relationships

– Lessons Learnt From Nature

– The Adventure Mindset

– How the Spirit of Adventure Can Transform the Way We See the World

James Levelle hire award-winning filmmaker speaker book at agent Great British Speakers

James Levelle | Charity Work

James continues to produce films for a range of international charities, including the CREES Foundation, the Environmental Justice Foundation, WildAid, Race2Recovery, The Prince’s Trust, and Row2Recovery.

– EJF: Filming pirate fishing in Sierra Leon and child labour in India’s cotton fields

– WildAid: Their mission is to end the illegal wildlife trade in our lifetimes, such as shark fin, rhino horn, and elephant ivory

– Race2Recovery: A unique group of British and US drivers set a new World Record as the first ever amputee drivers to race the most dangerous motor rally on the planet, the Dakar

– Row2Recovery: Promotion to generate interest and support their fundraising campaign in aid of injured British servicemen and women

– The Prince’s Trust: Shining a spotlight on amazing young people

Call +44 1753 439 289 or email Great British Speakers now to book adventurer and wildlife campaigner James Levelle for your next live event.

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Testimonials

With his refusal to be beaten down… If he had to take a cat to be put down, he would still sound like Lord Flashheart geeing up the troops for battle.
The Guardian

Thank you for your contribution to the Society’s Spring 2023 Monday Night Lecture series. Your lecture clearly captivated the audience with the extraordinary expeditions you have undertaken. I wouldn’t be surprised if a number of them book onto your regional tour dates!
Royal Geographical Society

We were delighted to be able to welcome James to St James’s Palace as a guest presenter for one of our Gold Award Presentations. James gave an inspiring talk to over 100 young people, sharing his experiences and encouraging them to continue setting goals for their own future.
Duke of Edinburgh Awards

James was very interesting and fun to listen to, with some very inspiring stories. The audience of young people were fully engaged and were very keen to ask him some questions to find out more about his past adventures and future plans.
Paul Waterworth – English-Speaking Union

James gave an exhilarating talk illustrated by some breath taking video and still photographs. His passion and commitment to his expeditions to many parts of the world and his documentary making in the cause of social justice and humanitarian and ecological issues was obvious. What was so special and different, however, was his enthusiasm for those causes and his belief that, despite everything, humankind has a goodness about it that we need to nurture.
Director, OneLeap

James’ presentation to the Sixth Form pupils at North Bridge House Canonbury on his film ‘Free Ride’ – documenting his attempt to cross South America in ten weeks without any money – was mind-blowingly inspirational and motivating. James is undoubtedly passionate about adventure, the planet, and the plight of those less fortunate than himself. His adventure took him to places and introduced him to people that he would never have seen or met in any other way.

He spoke from the heart about the people he met along the way, what he had to do to earn a few dollars, and the pressures the adventure took on his relationship with his co-presenter Rob. Given the obsession many young people today have with technology, fashion, social media and money; James’ story is both humbling and refreshing; to quote a line from his adventure, ‘the more convenient life is, the less you get out of it’.

His passionate talk to my pupils will most definitely have inspired some of them to think about travel, adventure, and that anything really is possible. I sincerely hope James comes back.
Deputy Head, Northbridge House Senior School

James visited King’s and gave two talks to our new year 9 pupils. The boys left inspired and ready to face the challenges of the new academic year in a new school. Many pupils gave the talks 9/10 or 10/10 when asked for feedback and several wrote about it a month later as the highlight of their induction activities. James is both a passionate and considered speaker who connected to his audience and left a lasting impression on them, relating fascinating and powerful stories of his adventures and the lessons he learnt from them.
Deputy Head, King’s College Wimbledon