National Geographic Speakers Bureau: Exploration & Adventure

Peter Athans
Mountaineer, Cinematographer
To hold the unofficial title of "Mr. Everest" is some accomplishment. Add a deep understanding of Zen philosophy and a commitment to serving the people of Nepal and you have a unique perspective on the ultimate climb and all that it represents.

Robert Ballard
Underwater Explorer, Discoverer of Titanic
Experience the wonder of deep-sea exploration through Ballard and his Institute for Exploration, which uses robotics, mapping, and submersibles to explore the last great frontier.

Brady Barr
Herpetologist, Television Personality
Through tales of his extensive work with alligators, snakes, and other reptiles, Barr shares his passion for science and firsthand observations of a planet in peril.

Wade Davis
Cultural Anthropologist
A scientist, scholar, author, and passionate defender of all life's diversity, Davis lectures worldwide on the importance of cultural diversity and ethnicity.

David Doubilet
Underwater Photographer
Having shot nearly 70 stories for National Geographic, Doubilet swims alone. He has introduced a generation to the wonder of the world's oceans.

Sylvia Earle
Marine Biologist
This world-renowned marine biologist describes the ocean as the cornerstone of Earth's life-support system, vital for the survival and well-being of humankind.

J. Michael Fay
Explorer, Conservationist
As a follow up to his 2,000-mile (3,200 kilometer) walk across the heart of Africa, Fay recently completed eight months in the air. He flew over 60,000 miles (97,000 kilometers) in a specially designed Cessna that captured a high-resolution aerial image every 20 seconds for the sweeping "Megaflyover" project.

Zahi Hawass
Egyptologist
Egypt's best known archaeologist recently ushered the treasures of King Tutankhamun's tomb to the United States for their first visit in over 25 years. The traveling exhibition broke all attendance records at the Los Angeles museum where it opened.

Fred Hiebert
Archaeologist
This National Geographic archaeology fellow played a vital role in excavating ancient treasures once thought lost in the chaos of Afghanistan's modern wars and invasions.

Peter Hillary
Himalayan Mountaineer, Author
This dynamic mountaineer, author and extreme adventure guide is a favorite on the corporate speaking circuit. His lessons from a life in the field resonate with a wide variety of audiences.

Dereck and Beverly Joubert
Photographers, Filmmakers, Naturalists
Wild Africa would be in far greater peril if not for the tireless efforts of the Jouberts, who have devoted over 25 years to documenting its majestic wildlife in a race to save countless species—especially lions—from extinction and to help man and beast coexist in greater harmony.

Mattias Klum
Photographer
A powerhouse in the global conservation movement, Klum recently delivered the opening address at Green Week, an annual event organized by the European Commission to provide a forum for conservation discussion.

Emory Kristof
Photographer
Wired magazine named Kristof one of its 1998 Wired 25 in honor of his quest to be the first to photograph a live giant squid. Such commitment also landed him alongside the Titanic's hull for the first shots of her lying in her watery grave.

Lisa Ling
Journalist
Lisa Ling, a special correspondent for the National Geographic Channel, reports from hot spots in places such as Indonesia and Africa and from the bayou towns devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Greg Marshall
Biologist, Inventor, Filmmaker
Natural history filmmaking would not be where it is today without Marshall's Crittercam, a device that allows scientists to record the world through the eyes, ears, and movements of animals in their habitats.

Boyd Matson
Television Host, Adventurer
Long before the days of alligator-wrestling hosts, Matson earned the respect of viewers and peers for matching an explorer's sense of adventure with a serious journalist's ability to uncover and tell the story.

Mireya Mayor
Primatologist
This Fulbright Scholar was recently nominated for two Emmy Awards for her work as lead correspondent on National Geographic's Ultimate Explorer TV series.

Mark Moffett
Ecologist, Photographer
E.O. Wilson's proteg� and recent Lowell Thomas award-winner is brilliant, quirky and arguably one of the top insect specialists working today.

Nalini Nadkarni
Forest Ecologist
Thanks to her Big Canopy Database, scientists are finally able to manage and share rain forest data across multiple disciplines—critical to the race to save these essential forests.

Michael "Nick" Nichols
Photographer
Unadulterated jungle, ferocious tigers, threatened gorillas, and surfing hippos. These are the things that get Nichols up in the morning. His recent book The Last Place on Earth documents his more than two decades of work in Africa.

Paul Nicklen
Photographer
Growing up in a small Inuit community, Nicklen spent his early years hunting and traveling on land. He quickly developed exceptional field skills and a keen interest in observing wildlife. Now he's one of the top photographers specializing in the Arctic and its inhabitants.

Børge Ousland
Polar Explorer
There are adventurers and there are madmen. Ousland may be a bit of both. As a speaker, he shares the mental and physical rigors of solo polar exploration and applies those lessons to real-world situations.

Tim Samaras
Severe-Storms Researcher
Samaras is the guy running toward the tornado when everyone else is running away. Learn how cutting edge science may help save lives.

Joel Sartore
Photographer
Blending a self-deprecating, wry sense of humor with an enthusiasm for his work and a passion for nature, Sartore shares his adventures in the field with National Geographic.

Paul Sereno
Paleontologist
Refuse to believe anyone who says you must narrow your focus to achieve success: Sereno managed to blend art, science, and adventure into his dream job as a dinosaur hunter.

Will Steger
Polar Explorer
Known by many titles—educator, activist, photographer, and explorer—Steger is a pioneer in his field, with a series of firsts in polar exploration to his credit.

Maria Stenzel
Photographer
Celebrated for her ability to bring the topic of climate change out of the boardroom and into the living room, Stenzel goes beyond facts and figures to uncover the stories that are emerging as Antarctica, long considered a bellwether, warms and shrinks before us.

Ed Viesturs
Mountaineer, Photographer
One of an elite few who have summited the world's 14 tallest peaks, Viesturs chooses to tackle them without the benefit of supplemental oxygen—so that he can experience the mountain as it is, without reducing it to his level.

Interested in Booking a Speaker? Tell us more.

Photographs by Robert Mackinlay (Athans), Ira Block (Ballard), Carrie Regan (Barr), Tyler Mallory (Davis), David Doubilet (Doubilet), Al Giddings (Earle), Michael Nichols (Fay), Kenneth Garrett (Hawass), Mark Thiessen (Hiebert), Oskar Kihlborg (Hillary), Graham Boynton (Jouberts), Lars-Magnus Ejdeholm (Klum), Mark Thiessen (Kristof), Mark Thiessen (Ling), Jim Vecchione (Marshall), Mark Thiessen (Matson), Mark Thiessen (Mayor), Melissa W. Wells (Moffett), Therese Frare (Nadkarni), Mark Thiessen (Nichols), Paul Nicklen (Nicklen), Borge Ousland (Ousland), Jim Webb (Samaras), Joel Sartore (Sartore), Mark Thiessen (Sereno), Courtesy Will Steger (Steger), Mark Thiessen (Stenzel), Veikka Gustafsson (Viesturs)