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One of New Zealand’s most versatile outdoor professionals Graham has been teaching, managing and playing in the outdoors for over twenty years.

He has climbed, paddled and adventured in over a dozen countries including previous trips to Antarctica, the Grand Canyon, extreme kayaking in the western USA and wall climbing in Yosemite Valley.

A former national kayaking representative he is the author of NZ Whitewater the ‘bible’of whitewater kayaking in NZ and principal photographer for the award winning books The Frozen Coast and the Unclaimed Coast Graham is now established as one of the country’s leading outdoor photographer/writers. His work has been published extensively in NZ and also in the USA, UK and Europe.

Graham’s vision and passion for sharing the values of an active lifestyle and outdoor experiences lead to the formation of Adventure Philosophy and the successful world first expeditions to the Antarctic Peninsula where , in 2001, they completed the first ever sea kayak traverse of the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula. Their three part adventure involved sailing the legendary Drake Passage with Sir Peter Blake, kayaking hundreds of kilometres in stormy polar waters where no-one had previously been before, then sailing back across the Drake in a hideous storm amongst nine metre waves in a fourteen metre yacht.

In 2003 the team paddled 500km around Tierra del Fuego and pioneered a route through the remote Darwin Cordillera. 2005 saw another world first with the first sea kayak circumanvigation of Shackletons Sth Georgia island, one of the most daring sea kayak journeys ever. In 2007 Graham’s team completed the first all Kiwi crossing of the Greenland icecep, a 35 day grueling journey in temperature below –30. Since then he has undertaken a solo journey along the west side of Greenland kayaking to remote mountains and climbing and mountaineering trip to the remote Svalbard archipelago.

His compelling images and astonishing stories from these journeys are entertaining and filled with insightful and inspirational metaphors, which relate easily to everyday personal and/or business life.

Graham has also worked in management training as a freelancer and the Chief Instructor at the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre for a number of years and brings a wide range of skills, models, methods and concepts to any corporate presentation. He is available for presentations on specific leadership topics, communication, problem solving or as a speaker for key notes or after dinner entertainment.

Speech outlines

Teamwork in the Extreme:
When life is pared down to its most vital elements all that remains are basic principles which exist as much in the work place, often disguised under layers of clutter, as extreme environments. Drawing on 25 years of operating in extreme environments, building teams in difficult conditions and teaching these skills Graham offers crucial insights drawing on existing teamwork and personality models to provide some framework and measuring against the reality of life on the edge.

Leadership: What we can learn from Shackleton and leadership when it counts.
Sir Ernest Shackleton was one of the most successful ‘leaders’ of the polar romantic era. It was his incredible leadership that carried Shackleton and his men through two Antarctic winters and the incredible boat journey to Sth Georgia and rescue from Elephant Island 1914 –16. Graham Charles has spent many years working in the polar regions where Shackleton played out his famous journeys. He was also the leader of the first ever kayak circumnavigation of Sth Georgia Island where Shackleton’s most famous journey finished. He will investigate what worked for Shackleton (and what didn’t) and how these lessons are still relevant today. Utilizing contemporary leadership theory Graham offers an interesting an amusing expose of leadership when it counts.

World First Journey Along the Antarctic Peninsula
In 2001 Graham and his team Adventure Philosophy were dropped off by Sir Peter Blake on the northern end of the Antarctic Peninsula. Their job was to paddle, unsupported, over 850km to the polar circle and beyond. Award winning photography, humorous travelogue from this landmark journey with insights into teamwork, leadership and succeeding against all odds.

P2 – Passion and Perseverance.
Utilising two of human-kinds most powerful tools Graham will investigate what it takes to succeed when you have been told something is impossible or that you are going to die. Drawing on 25 years of experience in the outdoors, two world first expeditions and 7 years of journeys in both poles Graham will show how to use these tools to achieve success in your own world.

The Unclaimed Coast
“you’re committing suicide” Graham Charles was told prior to attempting the first ever sea kayak circumnavigation of Sth Georgia island. Despite this Graham and his Adventure Philosophy team prevailed and completed this historic journey in November 2005. Sth Georgia is situated deep in the southern ocean and was made famous by Sir Ernest Shackleton during his 1914-16 expedition. It’s dramatic SW coast is exposed to some of the most furious winds and weather on the planet. This ‘killer’ coast was the crux section of the journey as the team battled freezing temperatures and the ever present threat of hurricane force winds. All the time living with and surrounded by the beauty and incredible wildlife that Sth Georgia is known for. Dramatic travelogue, stunning imagery and humor wrought by staring down the barrel of a loaded gun make for an inspiring and unforgettable presentation.

Journey of the Mind
In 2007 Graham Charles and Marcus Waters made the first Kiwi team ski traverse of the Greenland ice cap. Share in this incredible 35 day journey in a frozen land devoid of stimulation and find out how much mental fitness and control of the psyche matter. Faced with advancing winter, freezing temperatures and no food this ice cap tests their patience and perseverance to the absolute limit in a nail biting show down with a rapidly melting western ice cap. Stunning audiovisuals take you right to the frozen heart of Greenland and its rules for success.