Dr Alex Staniforth

By 19 years old Alex had already overcome and achieved more than many will in a lifetime. As a teenager he survived the two most significant disasters in Mount Everest history, in two consecutive years. However, his biggest mountains have been much closer to home: epilepsy, bullying, mental ill health and a stammer since childhood.

Alex never allowed this to become his identity – only his experience. Re-framing adversity as an opportunity for growth has given him a unique insight and drive to inspire others to overcome their own ‘Everest’ and achieve against the odds.

This is not your typical success story of reaching the summit. Alex takes his audiences on an emotional journey of resilience, courage, failure, teamwork and triumph over adversity. Sharing lessons from adventure and ultra-endurance, he brings a unique perspective on resilience and success with practical ideas that anyone can relate to their own challenges at work and home.

After single-handedly raising over £35,000 in corporate sponsorship whilst still at school, Alex’s first attempt to climb Mount Everest in 2014 was abandoned following a tragic avalanche that took sixteen lives. In 2015 he was trapped at Camp 1 for two days following the Nepal earthquake and an avalanche which took the lives of three team-mates at Base Camp.

Alex has continued to push his limits and re-define success, raising over £100,000 for charity and publishing two books, Icefall and Another Peak. In 2017 he became the fastest person ever to climb all 100 UK county tops by bicycle, foot and kayak, covering over 5,000 miles in 72 days, and winning a Pride of Britain award. In 2020 he completed the National Three Peaks on foot, running 452 miles in just 9 days 12 hours, and founded Mind Over Mountains, a charity to restore mental well-being through nature, working in partnership with the NHS.

In 2025, Alex received an honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Chester in recognition of his outstanding contribution to young people’s mental health services.

With humility and vulnerability, Alex openly shares his own mental health journey to encourage conversations and challenge stigma, with a focus on how maintaining well-being is fundamental to achieving high performance. Resilience is more than simply ‘bouncing back’: it’s how we recharge and move forwards through the challenges ahead.

As an inspirational speaker, Alex has been trusted by leading global companies including Rolls-Royce Submarines, Samsung, Bank of America, FedEx and Heineken – on the following key topics:

• Resilience through Adversity – building the tools to thrive during setbacks, change and high pressure
• Achieving Potential – embracing failure to re-define success and achieve the extraordinary
• Mental Health – proactively managing well-being to avoid burnout
• Managing Change – maintain focus and performance when the goalposts are shifting