Achievement Speakers

Alan Hansen was one of the most successful British soccer players of all time, until a knee injury ended his playing career in 1991.

A Football Writer’s Player of the Year runner-up (1986 and 1990) Anglo-Scot of the Year, he is the only player to have won every honour available at club level at least twice and captained the Liverpool side to an historic double victory in 1986.

A keen tactical understanding of the game has made him the face of BBC television’s Match of the Day along with fellow former player Gary Lineker.

Alan contributes a weekly newspaper column on soccer for The Daily Telegraph and has established a reputation for his motivational speaking and teambuilding keynotes.

Sir Ranulph Fiennes was born in 1944 and educated at Eton. He served with the Royal Scots Greys before joining the SAS. He was then the youngest captain in the British Army.

In 1968 he joined the army of the Sultan of Oman and in 1970 was awarded the Sultan’s Bravery Medal.

Since 1969 when he led the British Expedition on the White Nile, Sir Ranulph Fiennes has been at the forefront of many exploratory expeditions.

Described in 1984 as the “World’s Greatest Living Explorer” by the Guinness Book of Records, his expeditions around the world include Transglobe (the world’s first surface journey around the world’s polar axis) 1979-82; North Polar Unsupported Expedition (furthest north unsupported record) 1986; Anglo-Soviet North Pole Expedition 1990/91; co-leader of the Ubar Expedition (which in 1991 discovered Ptolomy’s long-lost Atlantis of the Sands, the frankincense centre of the world); leader of the Pentland South Pole expedition 1992/93 (which achieved the first unsupported crossing of the Antarctic Continent and the longest unsupported polar journey in history).

By drawing the analogy between nature’s most dangerous and difficult challenges, and the very real day-to-day business challenges in the 1990s, Sir Ranulph Fiennes involves each individual in the audience on a very personal level.

The elements vital to the success of an expedition include teamwork, determination, patience, discipline, enthusiasm and creative thinking. Building a team with the right character and attitude is of paramount importance. Persistence, tolerance, planning skills, high organisational ability, flexibility to meet and beat unexpected obstacles, goal-setting and performing under extreme pressure are clearly all factors in the success of Sir Ranulph’s remarkable endeavours.

As a motivational speaker popular with both UK and European audiences, Sir Ranulph demonstrates how the qualities of the explorer/adventurer are applicable, crucial even, to success in the business world.

“It is quite remarkable how appropriate the review of your exploits turned out to be. Many comparisons could be drawn between your efforts and those we ask of our own people, such as decisiveness, tenacity, courage and the will and determination to succeed. It is for that reason that your presentation was amongst the most relevant and successful we have yet held for our staff”
Paul A. Verburgt, Executive Vice President, Bank of America

“Congratulations not only on your heroic accomplishments, but also in the manner in which you convey this story to an audience”
E.C. Rogers, Vice President Marketing IBM Corporation

Michelle Mone OBE, is the co-owner of MJM International and creator of Ultimo, the UK’s leading designer lingerie brand.

Michelle is listed as one of the top three female entrepreneurs in the UK and has been honoured by the Queen with an OBE for the valuable contribution she has made to her industry.

38 year old Michelle has built a hugely successful business on an incredibly simple concept: giving today’s customers what they want.

Entrepreneurial spirit was prevalent from an early age in Michelle, who grew up in the east end of Glasgow. Michelle left school at 15 with no qualifications to find full-time employment, after her father was struck down by an illness leaving him confined to a wheelchair. To support her family Michelle took on a job at Labatt Brewers’ and quickly climbed the ranks from office junior to senior manager, running the Sales & Marketing team by the time she was just 20 yrs old.

But it was in 1996 when her idea for Ultimo was born. Whilst attending a dinner dance with her husband Michael, Michelle was wearing a very uncomfortable cleavage-enhancing bra and as a result had a ‘light bulb’ moment; Michelle decided to invent a bra that was more comfortable and cleavage enhancing than any other bra on the market. MJM International was set up in November 1996.

Since launching the business Michelle has established herself as one of Scotland’s biggest exports; in 2000 Michelle won the ‘World Young Business Achiever Award’ at the Epcot Centre, Florida, and then ‘Business Woman of the Year’ at the Corporate Elite Awards in London.

In 2001 Prince Charles invited Michelle to join the Board of Directors for The Princes Scottish Youth Business Trust and more recently his Board of Main Council, confirming her status as one of the UK’s leading female entrepreneurs. Michelle also won ‘Best Newcomer’ at the British Apparel Export Awards, presented by HRH the Princess Royal, adding to her long list of awards, accolades and recognitions.

In October 2005 Michelle attended a speaking engagement with former US president Bill Clinton and Mikhail Gorbachev, and went on to support the Sultan of Oman in setting up women’s enterprise in the Middle East. Michelle has since become a high-profile guest at speaking engagements and corporate events all over the world.

Over the years Michelle’s business has gone from strength-to-strength, developing beyond the original umbrella of Ultimo to encompass eight patented inventions and brands including Ultimo Black Label, Ultimo Shapewear, Ultimo Swimwear, Miss Ultimo and partner lines including Diamond Boutique for Tesco, Adore Moi for Debenhams and Michelle for George for Asda, named after her.

In addition to its jointly owned brands, MJM International currently supply Tesco, Debenhams, Asda, Next, Figleaves and Asos.com, along with a number of independent lingerie stores throughout Europe. Michelle has also recently expanded into womenswear with Ultimo Couture – a line of luxury evening dresses.

Since launching, Ultimo has established a huge profile and loyal customer base within the UK and contracts with a string of high-profile models and celebrities, including Penny Lancaster, Rachel Hunter, Helena Christensen, Sarah Harding, Mel B and, currently the face and body of Ultimo, Kelly Brook.

Over recent years Michelle’s success has soared; not only was Ultimo the first UK lingerie brand to debut on the catwalk at New York Fashion Week, but she opened 22 ‘shop in shops’ within Debenhams in key cities throughout the UK and landed a mammoth deal with Tesco clothing to develop, design and manufacture ‘Diamond Boutique’ lingerie. Michelle also appeared as a contestant on Comic Relief Does the Apprentice.

FORMER ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER METROPOLITAN POLICE FORCE

Tarique Ghaffur spent over three decades in UK policing diligently and passionately working towards making communities safe within Greater Manchester, Leicestershire and London. He found it a personal honour to lead thousands of dedicated and skilled police officers and detectives dealing with community reassurance, investigations, law enforcement, counter terrorism and global security issues.

Tarique made history by becoming the highest ranking Asian and Muslim Police Officer in United Kingdom for which he received several high achievement awards.

Tarique Ghaffur has a BA (Hons) in Public Administration, MA in Criminology, Honary doctorates in Law and Criminal Justice Degrees from Manchester Metropolitan, Leicester and East London Universities. He was awarded the Queens Police Medal (QPM) in and in Commander of British Empire (CBE).

Tarique is a graduate of FBI Academy, veteran of several overseas assignments, and countless international advisory presentations.

A unique combination of recognised role model, an operational leader and all round `hands on’ and `individual` practitioner makes Tarique a unique speaker on professional issues related to leadership, crises response, policing, community dynamics and race relations. He intelligently uses a mixture of real life experiences, stories, case studies and humour to put across his material and often tests conventional thinking by being forthright and controversial on emotive and serious subjects thereby promoting learning. Tarique regularly writes articles on security related matters which are published within authoritative publications. His recent article on Airport Security was published within the Huffington Post.

Career

Tarique Ghaffur joined Greater Manchester Police in 1974 and worked in CID, undercover and uniform roles up to the rank of Chief Inspector in inner city areas including Salford and Moss Side. He led a goodwill mission to India and was commended for his work to tackle street robberies, public disorder and crime investigations.

In 1989 he transferred to Leicestershire Constabulary, where as a Superintendent and then Chief Superintendent, Tarique Ghaffur gained experience in both operational commands in Loughborough and Leicester City, as well as heading a major force re-organisation to implement community based policing. He graduated from FBI Academy, Quantico and was part of team that inspected Jamaica Constabulary Force.

In 1996, Tarique transferred to Lancashire Constabulary as Assistant Chief Constable where he was appointed head of operational policing for the force and for a short period was also responsible for Human Resources. Whilst in Lancashire, Tarique Ghaffur headed a major anti-terrorist operation in relation to the Blackpool Labour Party Conference. He also led a major corruption enquiry into a public organisation.

In 1998 Tarique was promoted to Deputy Chief Constable and worked at the Home Office Police Technology Organisation as operational adviser to develop technology for Policing.

In 1999, Tarique Ghaffur was selected to be a Deputy Assistant Commissioner and transferred to the Metropolitan Police Service. He initially assumed command of territorial policing in South London and in 2000 was appointed as the Commander of Westminster Borough (3,500 staff) with massive responsibility for the government security zone, demonstrations and public events including Nottinghill Carnival and New Year’s Eve celebrations. His innovative leadership made major impact on reducing overall crime in the City of Westminster.

Tarique Ghaffur was promoted to Assistant Commissioner in 2001 and took command of the Policy, Review and Standards Directorate. Amongst a broad portfolio, Tarique Ghaffur worked closely with senior criminal justice partner Heads in London and nationally to formulate an effective and collaborative partnership. He put in place innovative solutions to improve partnership between the Police and Private Sector.

In November 2002, Tarique Ghaffur set up the Specialist Crime Directorate (3200 detectives), to provide a distinct response to tackling all aspects of serious and organised crime in London, including homicide, drugs and gun crime. He was responsible for the institution successful innovative programmes to tackle organised crime around such issues as drugs, human trafficking, Heathrow Airport and serious fraud. He also developed Operational Quadrant to build confidence in South Asian communities in London through effective law enforcement and community engagement.

Tarique Ghaffur has overseen a number of high profile investigations, including the Damilola Taylor and Victoria Climbié cases. In 2004, Tarique Ghaffur carried out a comprehensive crosscutting review of race and diversity within the MPS and played a major part in supporting casualty recovery, investigations and building Community relations after 7 July bombings in London.

Until September 2008, Tarique Ghaffur was responsible for Central Operations (7,000 staff) delivering ‘Capital City Policing’ and `security’ around policing of Airports, Diplomatic missions, security of State buildings. He was also responsible for firearms, public order, traffic, communications and contingency planning. His officers planned for and dealt with over 5000 public events (football, cricket, rugby, concerts, carnivals, New Years Eve celebrations, royal visits, state occasions, demonstrations). Tarique led in co-ordinating the aftermath of foiled terrorist attacks in central London in 2006.

Also, he was the Operational Co-ordinator Lead for the 2012 Olympics for which he has produced a comprehensive and holistic security and safety strategy to protect London and UK during 2012 Olympics. In 2008 he visited the Olympic Games in Beijing and produced an authoritative lessons learnt report. In 2007, He visited India with Mayor of London as one of London’s Ambassadors.

Through over 30 years of policing allied to his personal life, Tarique Ghaffur has created a real sense of proportion around vulnerable communities. He has become recognised as a positive role model, resulting in his receipt of a number of community awards from all sections of the community and high profile public profile on Race Issues within the Police Service. He is well known in South Asia, Middle East and Africa and has become an expert on protecting and securing major cities from terrorist attacks and major emergencies.

Tarique Ghaffur has a BA (Hons) in Public Administration, an MA in Criminology and three honorary doctorates from Universities of Leicester, Manchester Metropolitan and East London. He has attended the International FBI course in the USA and been awarded a Certificate in Criminal Justice Education (University of Virginia). In 2001 Tarique Ghaffur received the Queen’s Police Medal (QPM) and in June 2004 was awarded the CBE (Commander of British Empire) by Her Majesty the Queen.

Tarique Ghaffur has written a number of influential articles on policing and communities, as well as delivering a considerable number of international, national and local presentations on a range of policing issues including changing nature of serious and organised crime, global security and terrorism. Tarique Ghaffur has a strong interest in Asian music and sports – particularly squash – where he has won numerous awards and represented the police service at the national level.

Tarique Ghaffur retired from the Police Service in November 2008 and has since set up a Foundation to promote shared responsibility for security and safety amongst vulnerable communities in UK. He is also a Chairman of Community Safety Development Global Limited which provides innovative security knowledge, solutions and training.

“ Just reading a list of Ibrahim’s achievements is exhausting” was the verdict of Scotland’s Sunday Post on this multitalented whizz-kid. Although still only in his mid-thirties, he seems to have packed a number of careers into one.

Already a respected entrepreneur, philanthropist, academic and former paratrooper, he is fast building a formidable track record as an adviser to a number of world leaders.

Born and Raised in Scotland, Azeem went from teaching himself to spot good investments from the newspapers he read in his father’s shop to a fast-paced business career.

Azeem rapidly moved from outsourcing IT to India, through import and export to maritime insurance, and then setting up a private bank, building society and even a hedge fund, all before his 32nd birthday. In 2006 he was the youngest person on both the Sunday Times Scots’ Rich List and Carter Anderson’s UK Power 100 list.

During this time, his commitment to relentless goal-setting saw him spend seven years as a reservist in the IV Battalion Parachute Regiment – the British army’s elite airborne infantry reserve, and gain an MBA, an MSc(Econ) and is completing a PhD in Strategic Studies at Cambridge University.

As well as an honorary doctorate, he is now a Research Scholar at the International Security Program at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, a member of the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy’s Dean’s International Council, Director of Research at the European Centre for Advanced Defence and Strategic Studies in Geneva and Member of the Board of Directors at the Institute of Social Policy Understanding.

He has also been named an ‘emerging World Leader’ by Yale in their World Fellows Program. His columns are regularly published around the world, and can be read in Foreign Policy, The Scotsman and the Sunday Herald, The Middle East Times, The Huffington Post, Chicago Tribune and the LA Times.

Azeem now devotes much of his time to his own charities. As well as a private grant-giving foundation, he has founded charities which tackle problems as diverse as family and marriage breakdown in Scotland to providing clean drinking water in disaster areas.

He has offered strategic advice to the British government, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, the Prime Minister of Turkey, the First Minister of Scotland and the Sheikh of Dubai, on topics ranging from anti-radicalisation to improving social mobility and national competitiveness. He is also a founding member of the Aspen US-UAE initiative with Madeleine Albright.

Most recently, Ibrahim has been appointed an advisor to the Chairman of the US Homeland Security Congressional Committee on security and terrorism.

A self-made success in a number of diverse fields, Glasgow-born Azeem Ibrahim has been described by his peers as a brilliant young scholar, financial wizard and gifted entrepreneur.

In 2007, Azeem became the youngest member of the Bank of Scotland Asian Power 100 produced by Carter Anderson, which described him as one of the most influential and highest-achieving people in Britain. The same year Azeem was included in the Observer Courvoisier Future 500 – a definitive list of the nation’s most forward-thinking and brightest young innovators.

In December 2007, a Scottish Parliament motion signed by a number of MSPs congratulated Azeem and his contribution to the country and in April 2008 Azeem accepted the Lloyds TSB and KPMG Business and Commerce Excellence Jewel Award.

His achievements have attracted considerable recognition around the globe and over the last few years Azeem has met and advised a number of world leaders, including the Prime Minister of Turkey and leaders in the Gulf States.

Business Interests Azeem Ibrahim began by launching his own IT consultancy, later expanding the operation into continental Europe, and then moved onto an insurance corporation for the niche maritime-transportation market.

Since then, he has founded over half a dozen companies, mostly in the financial sector, including an online insurance company specialising in maritime insurance, a private online bank for commodity traders, and an FSA-regulated global macro hedge fund based in London.

He was the youngest person on both the Sunday Times Scottish Rich List in 2006 and Carter Anderson’s UK Power 100 list.

Azeem’s most recent venture is Ibrahim Associates, a global strategic consultancy firm aimed at advising governments, NGOs and non-profits on recognising and capitalising on strategic advantage.

Academic life

Azeem’s former professors refer to him as a ‘first-class critical thinker’. He obtained an MBA and an M.Sc.(Econ) in Strategic Studies, then read for a PhD at the University of Cambridge on Geopolitical Strategy. Azeem also served as a Research Scholar on the International Security Program at the JFK School of Government at Harvard University.

Azeem also sits alongside former UK Defence Chiefs as a Director and Board Member of the UKNDA – United Kingdom National Defence Association – which operates to improve the position of the armed forces in government circles.

In 2008 Azeem also became a member of the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy’s Dean’s International Council – a prestigious group of specialists from around the world with substantive experience in government and the private sector including former Prime Ministers, Presidents, Ambassadors and Diplomats.

The Council meets twice a year and acts as an advisory group for new policy initiatives and resource development for governments around the globe.

Since then he has been accepted as a Yale World Fellow in 2009. The programme selects emerging global leaders from over 1000 nominations and brought to Yale to undertake the Ivy League School’s signature program in advanced leadership training with some of the leading experts in various fields.

He has also been awarded an honorary doctorate from Glasgow Caledonian University for his contribution to ‘global international affairs and community developments in Scotland,’ an Adjunct Professorship from Fatih University in Istanbul, and was made a Fellow at the Macmillan Centre for International Area Studies at Yale University, an organization dedicated to improving Americans’ understanding of the world beyond their borders.

In 2010, Azeem was named as one of the Top 100 Global Thinkers of 2009 by the LSDP European Social Think Tank and a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.

Most recently Azeem was appointed a Fellow and Member of the Board of Directors at the Institute of Social Policy Understanding in the USA.

Much of Azeem’s time is now devoted to his own charities. He operates a private grant-giving foundation (www.ibrahimfoundation.com) and founded and chairs a number of charities which tackle problems as diverse as family and marriage breakdown in the Asian community in Scotland, (www.unityfamily.co.uk), lack of access to higher education for Bosnian students (www.benevolencefund.org), and lack of access to clean drinking water in disaster areas (www.purifi.com). He also owns and manages a school for 500 orphans in Bangladesh (www.asia-pacificfund.org).

He has recently increased his involvement in independent charity initiatives. He launched the first think tank in Scotland which is dedicated to providing education in authentic Islamic teachings, which can help to reduce the appeal of perverse extremist Islamic narratives.

He has also been the Director of Strategy for the British Writers’ Awards, one of the largest educational initiatives in the UK, which has helped to expose over 300,000 children in 7,000 schools to the benefits of creative writing, and secured endorsements from the leaders of the biggest political parties in England and Scotland.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales’ Charity, the Princes’ Scottish Youth Business Trust Charity, has also recently appointed him an Ambassador.

Political Involvement

Azeem has also broadened his political involvement over the last year. He was the youngest member of Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s Special Task Force on Social Mobility, on which he was appointed the sub-team leader tasked with studying how internships could help to improve access to the professions in Britain.

He is a regular contributor of editorials to the Scotsman newspaper, politics.co.uk, and a number of other publications around the world, on topics including budgetary policy, defence spending and policy, European integration, Israel-Palestinian peace talks, constitutional matters, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Islamic radicalisation, Scottish energy policy, and sharia law in Britain.

Other interests

For seven years until early 2006, Azeem was a reservist in the IV Battalion Parachute Regiment – the British army’s elite airborne infantry reserve where they are trained to be inserted by parachute behind enemy lines at short notice.

A citizen of both the US and the UK, he is a fitness fanatic keen on marathon and fell running, and speaks four languages.

Testimonials

“ The work that you have undertaken and published is serious and high quality. The analysis and rigour you bought to this issue (social mobility) will provide a firm platform for actions by the professions and government over the years ahead”
Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown, (as Prime Minister) – July 2009

“ I was struck by his great intelligence and wide ranging professional expertise and interests. Rarely have I met someone so accomplished at such an early age.”
Ambassador John Shattuck – US Assistant Secretary of State
for Democracy and Human Rights – February 2009

“ The Prime Minister has made a very wise choice by appointing Azeem Ibrahim to help disadvantaged people. He is an example to people everywhere and a sound choice to help others become high-flyers.”
Evening Times – January 2009

Scottish Muslim Contributor of the Year Award – 2010

Named as World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leader – 2010

Named as ‘Top 100 Global Thinkers of 2009’ by LSDP European Social Policy Think Tank – 2010

Honorary Doctorate from Glasgow Caledonian University – 2009

Scotland’s Distinguished Citizens Award – St Andrews Society – 2009

Insider Elite International Executive of the Year – 2009

Named as ‘Emerging Global Leader’ by Yale World Fellows Program – 2009

Scottish Asian Business Entrepreneur of the Year – 2008

KPMG – Lloyd TSB Business and Commerce Excellence Jewel Award – 2008

Sunday Times Scot’s Rich List inauguration – 2008

Youngest Member of Carter Anderson’s Bank of Scotland Power 100 – 2007

After many years in high-level diplomacy Charles Crawford has a unique profile as an imaginative, dynamic and even provocative speaker who has addressed audiences large and small in English, Polish and Serbian

After an Honours degree in Jurisprudence from Oxford University he qualified as a Barrister before joining the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

From 1985-87 Charles served as Foreign Secretary Sir Geoffrey Howe’s official Speechwriter, contributing ideas/language for speeches by the Foreign Secretary (major set-piece speeches, Parliamentary debates and less formal after-dinner remarks)

His first job on joining the FCO in 1979 was to head the Indonesia Section, followed by his first posting, to communist post-Tito Yugoslavia. He returned to London in 1984 and after a year on the Aviation Desk was appointed FCO Speech-writer. He was posted to South Africa in 1987 as part of the Embassy team led by Ambassador Robin Renwick working to end apartheid.

Returning to London in 1991 he worked in the FCO Department dealing with the Soviet Union as communist rule collapsed. He then spent three years in Moscow as Political Counsellor and then served three times as HM Ambassador: in Sarajevo (1996-1998); in Belgrade (2001-2003) and most recently in Poland (2003-2007).

In 1987 he wrote the FCO’s first Guide to Speech-Writing, a dynamic text full of real-life examples on how to write speeches – and how to weed out lugubrious mistakes. Two decades later it remains a core part of the FCO’s speech-drafting training

He subsequently contributed to speeches by members of the Royal Family and successive Prime Ministers, as well as different Ministers and other senior personalities in public and commercial life

He left the FCO at the end of 2007 to start a new career as writer, consultant, mediator and trainer. In 2009 he joined the UK Conservative Party candidates list

In recent months Charles Crawford led training courses for senior EU and other officials and private clients aimed at improving their communication skills. He has written for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Independent, DIPLOMAT and Total Politics.

In 2009 his audiences included the Headmasters Conference and Conservative Friends of Poland, as well as private groups and academic gatherings

In 2010 he and other former British Ambassadors in partnership with ADR Group launched a new senior strategic dispute resolution panel, ADRg Ambassadors

Charles Crawford’s trenchant observations on public policy issues are now available to a growing readership on his blog




Such honesty has no place in modern government…it’s bloody dangerous!
Andrew Dodge (Samizdata)

The most telling critique of this delusional foreign policy comes in regular instalments in the form of a blog by the former British ambassador to Poland, Charles Crawford. It’s called www.charlescrawford.biz, and if you want to know just how much in despair many of our diplomats are, this is the place to look
Dominic Lawson (The Times, 2010)

In 2005 a humorous FCO email he wrote as Ambassador to Warsaw (a satirical speech by Prime Minister Tony Blair damning other countries’ selfishness on EU Budget issues) caused a stir when it was leaked to the Sunday Times

His FCO written work was praised at the highest levels in London, NATO and the EU for its uncompromising dynamic style:

“fabulously readable and interesting analysis, with practical application … just about the best scenesetter [No10 staff] have ever seen”

“acrobatic and eye-catching in his use of language”

As a speaker Charles Crawford draws on dramatic episodes from his diplomatic career to explain wider policy themes, paradoxes and trends. His presentations are interesting and thought-provoking, but above all memorable

He is strong on foreign and public policy issues such as:

o Communism (and Vampires)
o Dealing with extremists and war criminals
o Climate change and PPP (perverse precautionary principles)
o Amazon Space: how the Internet is changing the strategic policy context
o International negotiation (as explained by Shrek, the Joker and Clint Eastwood)
o UK/European Union relations: Too Big (not) to Fail

Sir Steven Redgrave has proved himself to be the greatest Olympian Britain has ever produced. After striking gold in Atlanta – Britain’s solitary victory of the games – he became the only British athlete ever (and one of only five sportsmen worldwide) who has won gold medals at five consecutive Olympic games. Gold in the Coxed fours in Los Angeles in 1984, gold in the Coxless pairs in Seoul (1988), Barcelona (1992), Atlanta (1996) and Sydney (2000).

In addition to his Olympic successes and following two unbeaten seasons in 1993 and 1994, Steve (and his partner Matthew Pinsent) won his sixth world championship gold in August 1995 in Finland. His previous world championship golds were in 1986, 1987, 1991, 1993 and 1994.

His other interests include golf and winter sports, and he was a member of the British Bobsleigh team.

Together with Matthew Pinsent, Steven Redgrave is the holder of the world record in coxless pairs set in Lucerne in 1994 and the Olympic record set in Barcelona in 1992.

Now established as the most outstanding rower of all time, he has announced that he has decided to carry on competing and to maintain his association with sport at the highest level as a standard bearer for British Olympic aspirants through to the Millennium Games in Sydney.

Steven Redgrave was awarded the MBE in the New Year’s Honours List in 1986, and the CBE in the New Year’s Honours List of 1997. The Queen of England has since knighted him.

Redgrave is Vice President of the British Olympic Association and a member of the board that won the bid for London in 2012. After the public voted him Sports Personality of the Year, he then topped an all time poll of winners – beating David Beckham and Ian Botham.

Spanish explorer Andreu Mateu rose to international fame in 1992 when he decided to relinquish everything and travel to the most remote places on earth using every conceivable means of transportation known to man. He named his journey The Transcovery Project.

At the time, he was working at the Commercial Office of the Spanish Embassy in New York, and had achieved his academic goals: a degree in Economics, and an M.B.A.

To raise the necessary funds to launch this new ambitious adventure, Andreu sold all of his worldly possessions and conscious that team work is secret behind ordinary people achieving extraordinary results, Andreu put together an international expedition support team to advise him and provide the necessary supplies and equipment required to carry out his mission.

On 11 August 1992, Andreu Mateu strapped on a pair of in-line skates and departed from Spain to begin his unique adventure.

Whilst pursuing his dream across the globe, Andreu swam the Straits of Gibraltar, sailed solo across the Atlantic Ocean in a 30 foot boat, crossed Europe by motorcycle, jumped from an airplane at 12,500 feet and traversed the entire length of Africa by motorbike. His gruelling travels involved everything from balloons to canoes, horses to elephants, helicopters to jeeps throughout all 7 continents. He conquered numerous challenges during his three year expedition that took him to 120 countries, using more than 131 different means of transportation.

Andreu is now rising in prominence as one of Europe’s leading motivational and inspirational speakers. His speeches are full of anecdotes from his adventures which not only entertain but help to inspire audiences to achieve the enormous potential they have hidden within themselves. Andreu has the charisma to hold the audience, visually his presentations are spectacular with video footage of his travels.

He has appeared in many TV shows in Europe and the USA and is author of 2 books. He has also lectured widely and now travels extensively in Europe with his remarkable experiences. He also runs the Barcelona-based DREAMS & ADVENTURES, an outdoor activity company.

Sebastian Coe can look back on an athletics career of almost unparalleled achievement. He can speak with immense authority both on individual and team success, motivation and leadership. Lord Sebastian Coe KBE is one of Britain’s greatest ever athletes and has also had successful careers in Politics and sports administration.

He has held a total of twelve world records, covering 800m, 1000m, 1500m and one mile with his 800m record standing for 16 years.

He was awarded the OBE in 1991 and in 1979 was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year. He was also chosen as the Sports Writer’s Sportsman of the Year in 1979,1980,1981 and 1984.

Sebastian Coe retired from athletics in 1990 and became a Member of Parliament for Falmouth and Cambourne in 1992. From 1994-96 he was Parliamentary Private Secretary to Roger Freeman, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and in 1995 he was PPS to Nicholas Soames, Armed Forces Minister. In 1996 he was appointed Government Whip, and in 1997 he became a member of the International Olympic Committee.

He was a member of Campaign Team at Conservative Central Office with Responsibility for Youth, a member of National Heritage Select Committee and a member of the Employment Select Committee. Other posts included Vice Chairmanship for the Sports Council Board, membership of the Health Education Council, and Chair of The Sports Council’s Olympic Review. In 1997 he was appointed Private Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon William Hague MP.

Lord Coe is now Chairman of London 2012, the successful British Olympic bid committee, he took over the post from Barbara Cassani and against the stiffest foreign opposition made the most outstanding bid for London which will host the Games in 2012.

Lord Coe’s book The Winning Mind: My Inside Track on Great Leadership was inspired by his late father and coach. Lord Coe’s success is directly influenced by his father Peter Coe, who survived the sinking of his ship in WWII, captivity and subsequent escape from a moving train and an heroic journey across France and through to Spain evading his captors.

His success in sport has been mirrored in his business career and in victory for Britain’s Olympic bid in 2004. His book offers an inspirational view of the attributes of a successful modern leader from a unique perspective.

Entrepreneur and team leader Richard Noble specialises in developing high risk ventures. His Thrust team have held the land speed record for over a quarter of a century. First time around with the Thrust 2 programme which brought the World Land Speed Record back to Britain in 1983 and then with Thrust SSC, the first ever supersonic land speed record programme.

Other ground breaking projects have included the ARV Super2 aircraft, the Atlantic Sprinter Blue Riband contender, an original television funding company, and the last, Farnborough Aircraft.

At the end of September 1997 Richard achieved the seemingly impossible. His newly designed Supersonic car broke first the land speed record, and in October 1997 it broke the sound barrier with Andy Green as one of the top RAF pilots at the wheel. On the 15th October 1997 the first supersonic world land-speed record – 763.035 MPH was achieved.

The adventure is far from over. Bloodhound SSC was conceived with the objective of making engineering excellence and innovation sexy once again to young British adults. The project team will design, construction and attain 1000 mph on land.

His presentations are thought provoking, fast paced and feature enthralling video inserts. The idea is to inspire the audience to realize their potential to encourage original thought, develop ownership of responsibility and understand the principles of true teamwork.

Richard has received numerous awards from accross the world, the most valued among them are his OBE, RAC Diamond Jubilee Trophy, John Cobb Memorial Trophy, the Sir Malcolm Campbell Trophy and the Sir Henry Segrave Trophy.

The successes of Richard’s projects are driven by his energy and leadership, by bringing together a team and motivating and inspiring them towards the same goal. The tremendous loyalty and ‘ownership’ heuristic inherent in his teams are testament to the ability of humans to work together.

A child chess prodigy who started playing as a five year old, Kasparov qualified as an International Chess Master at the age of sixteen. Those close to Garry know his unrestrained contagious laugh, his kindness and caring and know him as a multi-faceted and unique person.

All of his adult life the courage of his convictions have been put to the test. His matches against Anatoli Karpov were widely regarded as a show of individual opposition to the authoritarian state. Kasparov was in the fore-front of the anticommunist movement and the resulting threats to his well-being were real.

In 1988, a computer program was devised to analyze a vast collection of chess statistics, in order to create a ranking of the all-time chess greats. Top of the list, was the twenty-five year old Russian, Garry Kasparov. Today, in his late-thirties, Kasparov has been THE WORLD CHAMPION for fourteen years.

He has successfully defended his title more times than any other champion in modern times. On each occasion, his famous attacking style of play and brilliant strategy have proven too much for his opponents.

The restless Russian is always looking for new challenges and for the past decade has astounded the Chess world by beating some of the world’s strongest Olympic chess teams, playing four or six Grandmasters simultaneously.

In February 1996, in Philadelphia, he played IBM’s Deep Blue computer. His opponent was able to analyze 50 billion moves in three minutes. In NYC in May 1997, Kasparov again played the monster computer. The series stands at one match each and the World Champion has challenged IBM to a tie-breaking third match.

The Brain Club and Synapsia elected Garry as its first ‘Brain of the Year’ and described him as ‘The World Chess Champion, athlete and humanitarian both, and a cultivated and curious man who closely follows literature, films and politics’.

He has authored several books on chess and is a regular contributor for the Wall Street Journal. Other recent contributions have been made to TIME magazine and Forbes. His speeches are as dynamic as his chess.

Everywhere he goes he is a guaranteed news story. This is brought about by his forceful personality, his outspoken political and economic views and his greatest passion of all – an undying love of the game of Chess.

At the age of 25 most ordinary people count themselves lucky if they have achieved one small ambition. Earlier this year, Scotsman Mark Beaumont became the fastest man to cycle around the world. On Friday 15th September 2008 at 1530, Mark Beaumont cycled under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. He arrived 194 days and 17 hours (and 18,297 miles) after he left, having circumnavigated the globe by bicycle.

Guinness World Records verified all of Mark’s data and confirmed him as the new Guinness World Record holder – smashing the previous record by an amazing 81 days. His amazing journey saw him pedalling over 18 000 miles through 20 countries, including Iran, Pakistan, Malaysia, Australia, and the USA.

A film of his journey was commissioned by the BBC and his story was picked up along the way by news agencies across the globe. Mark talks to audiences about his experiences, preparation, coping with the loneliness of the journey and his new found fame.

Mark has been involved in adventure cycling since he was 12 years old. After completing a degree in economics and politics, he decided that a city job could wait and went for broke with the biggest adventure he could dream of.

“The world record for cycling around the world wasn’t particularly competitive and I knew from the outset that I could break it with the right preparation and backing,” he says. “I love the mental challenge of ultra endurance sports and wanted to push my comfort zones.”

Mark set a target of 195 days to cycle 18,000 miles – 100 miles a day with a day off every fortnight. Yet in training for this, he never did a single 100-mile training session.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston was the first person to complete a single-handed non-stop circumnavigation of the globe between June 1968 and April 1969 in ‘Suhaili’ as winner of the Golden Globe Race.

RKJ was born in March 1939, in Putney, London. The eldest of 4 brothers. He was schooled at Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire, the same school as Bill Tilman and Graham Greene and was a term mate of Michael Meacher MP. His main interests were long running, swimming and boxing. Not being very good at team sports, indeed, he chose tennis as opposed to cricket, but usually slipped away to his Grandparents house to work on a 1927 Austin 7 car instead of either.

RKJ went to sea in the Merchant Navy in 1957 as a Deck officer and in 1962 married childhood sweetheart, Suzanne, who passed away in November 2003. Their daughter, Sara was born in Bombay 1963.

RKJ’s interests are predominently:- Sailing, Exploring by boat, Maritime History, the marine environment, youth development and shooting.

In 1992 RKJ was invited to become President of the Sail Training Association, a youth development organisation which operated two topsail schooners “Sir Winston Churchill” and “Malcolm Miller” and also organised the annual Tall Ships races. Before he retired in 2001 £11 million had been raised to replace these two vessels with two larger brigs “Prince William” and “Stavros Niarchos”.

Also in 1992 he became a Trustee of the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich, London, serving as Chairman of the Friends for 3 years, before being appointed a Greenwich representative for the projected Maritime Museum in Falmouth, Cornwall. His ten years at Greenwich expired in 2002, but he remains a Trustee of the National Maritime Museum – Cornwall, at Falmouth which opened in 2003.

He skippered “Condor” to Line Honours in two legs of the 1977/8 Whitbread Race, co-skippered “Enza New Zealand” with the late Peter Blake to take the Jules Verne Trophy in 1994 for the fastest circumnavigation of the world, and completed the Velux5Oceans solo around the world race in 4th position in 2006/7 at the age of 68.

He was Knighted in 1995, and has uniquely been the UK’s Yachtsman of the Year 3 times. He was ISAF sailor of the Year with Peter Blake in 1994 and in 2007 was one of the first 6 inductees into the ISAF Hall of Fame.

RKJ was appointed to the Sports Lottery Panel at its inception in 1995, initially distributing £250 million a year, and from 1999 until 2002 served as a member of the English Sports Council

Milestones
1969 Awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire)
1970 UK Yachtsman of the Year
1970 Royal Cruising Club Seamanship Medal.
1972 Elected a Younger Brother of Trinity House.
1972 Member of the RNLI Committee of Management
1990 Silk Cut Nautical award Seamanship Trophy
1990 Honorary Doctorate – Maine Maritime Academy
1991 Royal Cruising Club Challenge Cup
1991 Cruising World Magazine (USA) Medal of honour
1992 Royal Institute of Navigation – Gold Medal for experiments with renaissance navigation.
1992 Freeman of the City of London
1992 Awarded Honorary Doctor of Technology – Southampton University
1994 Elected Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation.
1994 The Maritime Trust’s Cutty Sark Medal
1994 IYRU World Sailor of the year.
1994 UK Yachtsman of the Year (2nd time)
1995 Hon Acadamecian, The Maritime Institute (Portugal)
1995 The Institute of Navigation (USA) Superior Achievement Award
1995 Elected President of the Little Ship Club
1995 Knighted

Former Astronaut Dr David Scott led the Apollo 15 mission, described as “the most complex mission in the history of exploration”.

After West Point and Flying School, he spent 4 years as a Fighter Pilot based in Holland. He then studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before attending Test Pilot School.

David’s first mission was with Gemini 8 in 1966, which achieved the first docking in Space under the command of Neil Armstrong. He returned to Space with Apollo 9 in 1969, a mission which tested all the lunar equipment. David then commanded the Apollo 15 Mission, the first scientific exploration of the Moon. This Mission spent three days in Space and included the first motorised journey on the Moon.

After his successful missions to Space, David became Director of the Flight Research Base operating between Houston, Texas and Moscow. His most recent adventure was the setting up of a satellite recovery business, which he sold this year.

David currently lives in London and so is uniquely placed to speak to European corporations. During the early days of the space program there were many challenges to overcome and David speaks about the problems faced, the overall Space Program, the Race to the Moon and now the Future in Space. He is a fascinating motivational speaker and uses wonderful slides to explain his points.

David was also Technical Advisor to the Director of the Film Apollo 13.

The First Man on the Moon

Neil Armstrong has been involved in flight all his life. He learned to fly as a young boy, flew from an aircraft carrier in the United States Navy, and spent 17 years with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration as an engineer, test pilot, astronaut and administrator.

As a test pilot at NASA’s Flight Research Centre at Edwards, California, Neil was a project pilot on many pioneering high speed aircraft, including the well known X-15 which flew to 6400 Kilometres per hour at an altitude of over 60 Kilometres

Neil transferred to astronaut status in 1962. He commanded the Gemini 8 Flight in 1966 when he performed the first successful docking of two vehicles in space.

As the commander of Apollo 11, he with colleagues Mike Collins and Buzz Aldrin, completed the first landing mission to the moon.

After leaving government service, Neil was a Professor of Aerospace at the University of Cincinnati. He is currently the Chairman of AIL Systems, Inc., an aerospace electronics manufacturer.

Neil Armstrong delivers highly entertaining, motivating and inspirational speeches. His talks are based on his knowledge and insights gained by astronaut training and pioneering missions. With his fascinating accounts of space flight he imparts the motivation that drives people to excel.

Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson is Britain’s most successful Paralympic athlete ever!

Dame Tanni is ranked top woman in the Times Newspaper’s Sporting Power 100 most influential people in British sport today, placing her number one both on and off the track.

She is also one of Britain’s leading sports personalities, having performed at world-class level for the past sixteen years, in distances ranging from 100m to the marathon.

Her 15 Paralympic medals including 11 gold, nine medal placings in the London Marathon and her comprehensive set of British and World Records make her achievements second to none in the disability sport arena.

Tanni has received numerous awards including third place in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2000, BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year and ‘Welsh Woman of the Year’. Tanni was awarded an OBE in the Millennium New Years Honours List.

Tanni was one of only four female athletes to appear in the top 50 British Sporting Greats poll undertaken by publishers Cassell Illustrated.

Tanni is a member of The Laureus World Sports Academy alongside such sporting legends as Pele, Jack Nicklaus, Michael Jordan and Ed Moses placing her firmly alongside the world’s leading sporting celebrities. The Laureus World Sports Academy is backed by founding Patrons: DaimlerChrysler and Richemont.

Tanni is articulate and well informed; she is an exceptional conference, keynote, motivational and after dinner speaker and can tailor presentations to the individual needs of clients.

Mike Stroud is best known for his record-breaking expeditions with Sir Ranulph Fiennes, they first teamed up in 1986. Mike qualified as a doctor in London in 1979 and then spent ten years in a variety of hospital posts interspersed with far reaching expeditions and travel.

In 1990, he entered into full time research on endurance, nutrition and survival under extreme conditions, working at both the RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine and the Army Personnel Research Establishment. He later became the Chief Scientist at the UK Centre for Human Sciences. In 1995, he returned to hospital medicine and university work and in 1998 was appointed as a Senior Lecturer in Medicine and Nutrition, and Consultant Gastroenterologist at Southampton General Hospital.

In the expedition and sporting world, 48 year old Mike is best known for his 1986 attempt with Sir Ranulph Fiennes to make the first unsupported journey on foot to the North Pole from Arctic Canada which was then followed by four more North Pole Attempts from both Canada and Siberia. These included a record-breaking journey in 1990, which raised more than £2 million for charity.

Following these Arctic ventures, Mike and Sir Ranulph switched attention to Antarctica and the South Pole where in 1992/3 they broke several records when completing the first unaided walk across the continent. At the time, it was also the longest unsupported walk in history. On his return from the South Pole, Mike was awarded the OBE for ‘Human Endeavour and Services to Charity’ and the Polar Medal for ‘Services to Arctic and Antarctic Exploration’. The journey had raised a further £2 million for good causes.

Following the 1993 Polar journey, Mike continued his interest in extreme sports, leading the first UK team in the 1994 ‘Marathon of the Sands, (a trans-Sahara multi-marathon). In 1995 and ’96 he competed in the first two ultra-distance ‘Eco-Challenge’ adventure races and in April 2002, he completed the first unsupported, non-stop desert crossing of Qatar, covering the 200 km in just 3 days. Most recently, in November 2003, he and Sir Ranulph completed seven full marathons, on seven continents in just seven days, once again raising huge amounts for money for charity.

Mike is the author of two books, ‘Shadows on The Wasteland’ – documenting his crossing of Antarctica and ‘Survival of The Fittest’ – examining the relationship between nutrition, exercise, health and peak performance.

As a leading authority of survival, nutrition and endurance Mike appears frequently on TV and radio. He was the endurance and medical expert on all three series of BBC TV’s, ‘Are You Tough Enough for the SAS’. He is also presenter and endurance expert on a new BBC TV series, ‘The Challenge’.

After becoming one of the world’s top rally drivers, Penny took a presenting course and was immediately snapped up by television. Beating stiff opposition to become the only female presenter on Channel Four’s, long running television series, ‘Driven’. She is a regular contributor on GMTV as well as a columnist for several newspapers and magazines every month.

A successful businesswoman, Penny is a director for several retail and media companies. She actively consults for small business growth projects and business incubator organisations.

Penny returned to rally driving after having her two children and was the first woman in the world to professionally drive a World Rally car, racing Colin McRae’s ex Ford Focus. Her first rally in five years was in the Rally of Great Britain- the last round of the World Championships, where she was the first woman over the finishing line and won the Ladies and Journalists Trophies.

Although Penny is an expert on cars and is passionate about all aspects of motorsport and engineering, she has trained in design and media too, having worked in advertising and in the music industry. Her areas of interest also cover motherhood, she has two young daughters.

Her unique and inspirational story proves that there is no limit to what you can achieve with will power and commitment! As a troublesome fourteen year old she lived in hostels for the homeless, odd jobbing to buy rally driving lessons she set her sights on becoming a professional rally driver. Ultimately she became the European female Champion, a team captain and the stunt driver for Renault’s famous Nicole and Papa commercials.

“The feedback the client has been getting from your slot at the Scottish Enterprise Awards Dinner has been absolutely first rate. You pitched your presentation just right!”
SCOTTISH ENTERPRISE, GLASGOW

“Penny was a very inspirational speaker, hitting just the right chord with our audience”.
CORPORATION OF LONDON

“Thank you so much for compering – needless to tell you but you were excellent and your professionalism helped to bring our whole event together. Thank you for doing such a great presenting job in our conference too”.
RICHARD BANKS, MD, WHOLESALE BANKING, ALLIANCE & LEICESTER plc

“You were just what we expected. Professional, charming, humorous and you did a great job at our Hawaiian sales conference”.
NORTEL NETWORKS

“We enjoyed working with Penny she was professional and did a good job of giving an entertaining talk at our customer evening”
PHARMACIA

“Penny was fabulous and excellent value. She really went out of her way to make our Award ceremony something special. We especially appreciated her genuine interest and the amount of time that she spent with us, which was over and above the call of duty”.
KERRIDGE COMPUTER COMPANY LTD

Bear’s talks focus on the simple qualities that seperate life and death and success and failure: the intimacies and realities of true teamwork, the honesty needed in intense environments and the courage that comes not from bravado but from something else inside.

Throughout his career he has faced many challenges, in both solo and team expeditions. His motivation, leadership and personal capabilities have excelled at sea, on land and on water. In an uncertain world, one thing is certain, there will be many more challenges ahead.

Every year the death toll on Mount Everest rises, and for every ten mountaineers who make it to the top, one will die. At 7.22am on May 26th 1998, Bear entered The Guinness Book of Records as the youngest, and one of only around thirty, British climbers to have successfully climbed Everest and returned alive. He was only 23 years old.

The actual ascent took Bear over ninety days of extreme weather, limited sleep and running out of oxygen deep inside the ‘death zone’ (above 26,000 feet). On the way down from his first reconnaissance climb, Bear was almost killed in a crevasse at 19,000 feet. The ice cracked and the ground disappeared beneath him, he was knocked unconscious and came to swinging on the end of a rope. His team-mate and that rope saved his life. The expedition was raising funds for the Rainbow Trust and Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital.
Previously, in 1997, Bear had become the Youngest Briton to climb Mount Ama Dablam in the Himalayas (22,500 feet), a peak once described by Sir Edmund Hillary as unclimbable’.

Prior to the Everest Expedition, Bear, also a Karate Black Belt, spent three years with the British Special Air Service (21 SAS). What makes his story even more remarkable is that during this time he suffered a free-fall parachuting accident in Africa where he broke his back in three places. After months and months of rehabilitation, focusing always on his childhood dream of Everest, he slowly became strong enough to attempt the ultimate ascent of the world’s highest peak.

Bear has a natural talent for communication and his speaking and TV shows has brought him worldwide acclaim. As a motivational speaker, he has addressed corporations all around the world on his experiences on Everest and beyond. These can help us in our life and business environments. He is among the youngest and most successful speakers in the world.

Bear’s first book, ‘Facing Up’, went into the top-10 best seller list, and was launched in the USA titled, ‘The Kid who climbed Everest’. Worldwide this book has touched people through its enduring honesty, courage and humility. Bear has always been a popular guest on television shows, which have included, amongst many others, the Oprah Show and Jay leno’s Tonight show in the USA and in the UK: BBC’s': Friday night with Jonathon Ross, Heaven and Earth, BBC’s Ready Steady Cook, Channel Four’s Richard & Judy, GMTV, and radio programmes such as Radio 1, Radio 2 & Five Live.

Bear first TV break came when he was approached to star in a ‘Sure For Men’ deodorant TV commercial (Rexona, worldwide). This featured the story of Bear’s Everest climb and what makes him most nervous! The advert was awarded campaign of the week on its release.

In 2003 Bear successfully completed another ground breaking expedition, leading a team across the freezing North Atlantic Arctic Ocean in a small open rigid inflatable boat.

Suffering weeks of frozen spray and icebergs, the expedition was filmed for a documentary, and was raising funds for the Prince’s Trust charity.

The book describing this remarkable journey, ‘Facing the Frozen Ocean’, and was short-listed as Sports Book of the Year, and Bear was awarded an Honorary commission in the Royal Navy for this record-breaking feat.

His first major TV Series was for Channel Four, called ‘Escape to the Legion’, Bear endured the basic training regime alongside Legionaires in North Africa.

The documentary programme recorded the experiences of several recruits through the process of joining the French Foreign Legion, possibly the toughest fighting force in the world.

On the back of the success of the Foreign Legion Documentary, Bear was commissioned to present 15 x 1-hour programmes for a TV Series called ‘Man Vs Wild’ on Discovery Channel Worldwide, plus also an 8-part TV Series for Channel Four titled ‘Born Survivor: Bear Grylls’. These feature Bear being parachuted in to some of the most inhospitable deserts, jungles and mountains on earth and showing what you need to do to survive!

Man Vs Wild went on to become the No. 1 cable show in all of America and reaches a global audience of over 1.2 Billion viewers, making it one of the most recognised and watched programmes on the largest TV network on earth. To date the team have filmed over 45 x 1hr episodes.

The book accompanying the Born Survivor Channel 4 UK TV series stayed for 10 weeks in the Sunday Times Bestseller List.

In 2007, he became the first man to fly a powered paraglider to a height above Mount Everest in the Himalaya.

Sponsored by GKN, the team raised over $1million for Global Angels and children’s charities worldwide. 2008 also saw Bear lead a team to climb one of the most remote un-climbed peaks in the world in Antarctica.

The expedition was using wind powered kite skiing, bio-ethanol powered jetskis, electric powered paragliders and good old footwork!

In 2009 Bear was voted by the Scouts to become their Chief Scout and figurehead to 28 million Scouts worldwide. He becomes the youngest Chief Scout in history.

Blind since birth and describing not being able to see as simply ‘an inconvenience,’ David Blunkett became one of very few blind MPs to reach the front bench and Cabinet, previously chairing the Labour Party nationally and managing education and employment in Tony Blair’s first government.

David Blunkett was elected as the Member of Parliament for Sheffield Brightside in 1987. However his political career began in local government as a member of Sheffield City Council where he worked for eighteen years, seven of those years as leader of the council.

In Parliament David led Labour’s assault on the poll tax as Opposition Local Government Spokesman. Promoted to the Shadow Cabinet in 1992, he took on, in turn, responsibility for Health, Education and then Education and Employment.

Following the 1997 Labour election victory, David became Secretary of State for Education and Employment. There he oversaw massive improvements in the basic standards of literacy and numeracy, substantial class size reductions and the introduction of tuition fees. With Labour returned in 2001, David became Home Secretary, where he concentrated on fighting terrorism, crime and anti-social behaviour, and managing immigration and asylum. David resigned as Home Secretary in December 2004 and then took a leading role in fighting Labour’s 3rd term election campaign in spring 2005.

From May to November 2005 he was Secretary of State for Work and Pensions where he set a clear vision for reform of the welfare state, and established a nationwide debate to find a long-term solution to pensions challenges.