Monty Halls

Monty is a former Royal Marines Officer, who has specialised in lecturing on change, on the creation of nimble, reactive cultures, and in dealing with the unexpected. In this he has vast experience. During his time as a commando he worked for Nelson Mandela as the South African nation navigated a period of supreme upheaval. He then went on lead expeditions in some of the most unpredictable environments on earth, and was awarded the Bish Medal for services to exploration. This led to a career in the production of wildlife and adventure documentaries for the BBC, National Geographic, and Discovery. Of these the best known are the three hugely popular BBC series ‘Great Escapes’, where he lived on the west coasts of Scotland and Ireland with his dog Reuben.

He has written thirteen books, and is a regular contributor to magazines and newspapers. His latest book, on the origins of the Commandos, is due out this year. This is a tale of initiative and
leadership in the face of profound change, resulting in an elite culture that helped turn the tide of WW2.

Latterly he has worked in sustainability and conservation, working with international partners to create a marine sampling system that can be used by ordinary people with no scientific training. The resultant system is now being used throughout the UK.

As a speaker he is in demand nationally and internationally, speaking on topics such as leadership under duress, team culture, and operating in stressful environments. His messaging is built around the power of strong culture, and how it can be a still point in a turning world. It is a message that is more resonant than ever in the current climate.

Themes:

• Communication
• Leadership
• Global Citizens
• Exploration
• Teamwork
• Education
• Sustainability
• Innovation

Change is inherently stressful, disruptive, and challenges our personal and collective culture. It might be argued that in the current business environment we face more change, and
more unpredictably, than we have for decades. Such change forces us to examine, re-inforce, and – hopefully -to celebrate our own culture. That may be as individuals, as organisations, or as a society. And there is much to celebrate – good people doing the right thing is still the source of success in so many great companies and teams. Without a doubt that has been the defining feature of the high achieving groups I’ve worked with over the years. It’s a story worth telling, now more than ever.