John Blashford-Snell has written over 13 books covering numerous adventures around the world.
He was also responsible for creating ‘Operation Drake‘ and ‘Operation Raleigh’, two organisations launched for numerous expeditions and challenges for young men and women from all over the world, which continue today.
John has appeared on a variety of wildlife and exploration television programmes. His ‘talks’ cover expeditions, travel, motivation and communication and all of his presentations are illustrated with slides.
His recent expeditions have taken him to Mongolia and Colombia.
His lecture on “The Legend of Livingstone” uses Stanley’s original magic lantern slides and his voice is highly popular.
John Blashford-Snell | Keynote Public Speaking
John continues to inspire and entertain people around the globe with his talks on exploration, leadership and problem-solving for his global clients.
John Blashford-Snell | Keynote Speaking Topics
In Elephant’s Footsteps: John has designed a brand new lecture entitled In Elephants’ Footsteps, it describes his adventures and experiences whilst working with elephants in Asia and Africa and seeking to protect them. It has some exciting images and film clips.
The Wake of Drake: The Illustrated presentation describes JBS’s work with young people (17-24) on the circumnavigational voyages of Operations Drake and Raleigh 1978 – 1991 with the patronage of HRH The Prince of Wales. The aim was to develop leadership under challenging conditions, whilst performing scientific work and giving aid to remote communities.
Close Encounters With Wild Animals: With dramatic slides and video clips, JBS describes meetings with wild beasts including the giant elephants of Bardia, Nepal and tiger, lion, crocodile and gorilla.
With the Wai Wai in Guyana: JBS tells of his 2010 project assisting the Wai Wai tribe in a remote part of Southern Guyana.
The Path Between the Seas: The story of the search for the pre Panama canal water route believed to have existed in Nicaragua.
Operation Drake: The story of the first of the great global youth expeditions. At the suggestion of HRH The Prince of Wales, a new type of enterprise took young explorers of many nations into the far corners of the earth to face challenges and dangers that turn boys into men and girls into women – and give the older staff some grey hairs in the process!
Using an airship and a splendid sailing vessel, it attracted thousands of applications. Strongly supported by the American and British media, ABC, Survival Anglia TV and especially Capital Radio on London.
The content can be in a serious or humorous vein on exploration, expeditions, travel, leadership, team building, motivation, communication and inspiration.
The Eighth Wonder: The discovery of strange underwater ruins and wrecks by a large team of Royal Engineer divers off Paphos, Cyprus.
The Conquest of the Blue Nile: The story of one of the most famous expeditions of the twentieth century. A team of British servicemen and scientists make the first complete exploration and navigation of the infamous rapid-strewn Blue Nile in the mountains of Ethiopia. Supported by the Daily Telegraph and Survival Anglia TV, the voyage of discovery has been likened to a real life “Raiders of the Lost Ark”.
The Dahlak Quest: A remote and mysterious Red Sea archipelago is found to contain massive rays, sharks, exotic bird-life, mysterious wrecks and hundreds of blind people. Supported by the Daily Telegraph.
In the Steps of Stanley: On the centenary of Henry Morton Stanley’s trans-African expedition, JBS led 160 strong international team of medical experts, biologists and soldiers to carry out scientific exploration of flora, fauna and disease of the 2,700 mile Zaire (now Congo) River. With the backing of the Daily Telegraph and Survival Anglia TV, and using special jet craft and giant inflatables, this is an epic adventure.
In Darkest Africa: The Story of Stanley and Livingstone: With magic lantern pictures used by Sir Henry Morton Stanley in his own lectures and other early images, JBS tells the incredible story of 19th century adventure and discovery. Stanley’s voice from an early recording will also be played. The lecture covers all Stanley’s epic expeditions as well as the finding of Dr David Livingstone.
The Legend of Livingstone: To mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of the famous explorer, JBS uses early images and magic lantern slides to tell the life story of this remarkable man’s expeditions and his fight against slavery.
Operation Raleigh: Following the success of Operation Drake, a new enterprise was launched by HRH The Prince of Wales. The adventures of the many thousands of young venturers were only part of the story. The real value was what they did to help the environment, wildlife and the people of the areas in which they worked; and what they did for their own communities on their return. Widely covered by the media.
Mission to Magdala: The story of the amazing rescue in 1868 of some 60 diplomats and missionaries held captive by Emperor Theodore of Abyssinia on a 9,000 foot mountain. JBS tells of his visit to the remote site where General Sir Robert Napier’s expeditionary force defeated the despotic ruler.
A Life of Adventure: From the birth of whitewater rafting, over mountains and deserts, through jungle and swamp and beneath the sea, JBS takes his audience through his adventurous life, including the quest for a giant mammoth-like elephant in Nepal. A very popular, amusing and fast-moving presentation with dramatic film and amazing archival slides, suitable for audiences of all ages.
Searching For Lost Civilisations: The Kota Mama Expeditions: A massive project involving fascinating archaeology and an epic adventure by traditional reed boats on the rivers of South America, to unravel some of the mysteries of the past. Featured by the Daily Telegraph, Sunday Times, Daily Mail and BBC.
On a Wing and a Prayer: The story of the Kota Mama VI expedition seeking a giant meteorite in the Bolivian Amazonas area. Involving the first use of paramotors on scientific exploration and the delivery of a pedal organ to a remote tribe. Supported by The Daily Mail and featured on BBC.
The Grand Adventure: An incredible story of the delivery of a grand piano to a tribe of Amerindians in a remote part of Guyana. Supported by the Daily Mail and filmed by BBC.
