Jim McNeill

Polar Explorer and climate change expert.

Jim McNeill is an accomplished polar explorer, presenter and keynote speaker.
In January 2001 he 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 thrives on challenge and change and has selected, trained and led teams in all sorts of circumstances - in business, critical life saving operations and long term life-threatening situations such as his expeditions. 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 in the final throws of his first book. Jim was recently engaged as 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.

Throughout July and part of August 2007 Jim is the safety expert and guide for the BBC whilst they film the elusive wolves of Ellesmere Island in the High Arctic.  In 2007, Jim launched Desert Warrior - The first expedition will take place in Jordan later in 2007 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.

Jim has worked in the environmental science sector, trained in the army and has 12 years of blue-chip marketing communications experience at consultancy level. Today, Jim contributes to fire and rescue operations for the Royal Household and his local community.

As well as significant involvement in polar exploration Jim has a wealth of qualifications, skills and experience including:

• Graduate of The Institution of Fire Engineering – GIFireE.
• Associate Member International Emergency Technical Rescue Institute.
• Associate Member of the British Association for Immediate Care Scheme – BASICS.
• Emergency/Rescue Personnel Member of the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care at the Royal College of Surgeons of   Edinburgh.
• Royal 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.

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