Ken Hames
TV presenter and survival expert, former British Special Air Service officer
*Fees are a guide only. Exact cost will be dependent on requirements and are subject to change.
About Ken Hames
During a distinguished military career, Ken served in numerous operational theatres and completed ten tours of Northern Ireland during the height of The Troubles. He is one of the very few British officers to have earned the red beret of the Parachute Regiment, the green beret of the Royal Marines and the sand-coloured beret of the Special Air Service. As Commander of the SAS Anti-Terrorist Squadron, he was formally graded as an outstanding leader, developing the leadership principles that continue to underpin his work today.
Following his military career, Ken successfully navigated the transition into what he describes as “the more dangerous world of civilian life”, building a successful career in television, business development and executive coaching. He has since worked with boards, senior leaders and executive teams around the world, helping them build trust, resilience and high-performance cultures. Awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration by the University of Bristol, Ken is recognised for his contribution to developing outstanding leaders and high-performing teams across a wide range of industries.
Alongside his business work, Ken has enjoyed a successful broadcasting career, producing and presenting 16 television documentaries. He is perhaps best known for the acclaimed Beyond Boundaries series, which saw him lead people with disabilities across some of the world’s most demanding landscapes, including the Namibian desert, the jungles of Nicaragua and the Andes Mountains. His commitment to diversity, inclusion and unlocking human potential has been a defining theme throughout his career.
In 2017, Ken was awarded an MBE for his charitable work, particularly his efforts supporting disadvantaged young people through The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and helping homeless veterans rebuild their lives through the Community Self Build Agency.
As a keynote speaker, Ken combines powerful storytelling with practical leadership insights. His presentations explore leadership, emotional intelligence, resilience, organisational change, team performance, trust, diversity and inclusion, and creating environments where people can achieve their full potential. Drawing compelling parallels between leading elite Special Forces teams and navigating the complexities of modern business, Ken challenges audiences to rethink what leadership really means. His central message is simple yet powerful: great leaders are guardians of culture, responsible for creating the conditions in which others can succeed.
Engaging, thought-provoking and highly relevant, Ken has delivered keynote speeches and leadership masterclasses for many of the world’s leading organisations, including BP, Shell, Microsoft, Siemens, Airbus, Lufthansa and Lloyds. His talks leave audiences with practical tools, fresh perspectives and a renewed understanding of how authentic leadership drives lasting success.
To book Motivational Speaker Ken Hames, contact The Speakers Agency on +44(0)1332 810481 or email enquiries@thespeakersagency.com
- Authentic Leadership: Lessons from the SAS
- Building High-Performing Teams
- Leadership Under Pressure
- Leading Through Change and Uncertainty
- Trust in Leadership
- Resilience in Business and Life
- Creating a High-Performance Culture
- Decision-Making in High-Stakes Environments
- From Special Forces to the Boardroom: Leadership That Delivers Results
Client Feedback
"Ken did a fantastic job for us and it was an inspiration to hear him talk and motivate our leadership team. We look forward to his return."
British Gas
"Your speech was an inspiration to our audience. You have given IGF members a renewed sense of motivation and desire to succeed."
Director of Global Financing – IBM
"Ken’s motivational style lifts people’s horizons. He was an absolute inspiration to our delegates."
Lehman Brothers
"In his leadership master class Ken gave my senior managers a renewed sense of purpose and direction. He is current, credible and inspirational and is particularly adept at getting results in a short timeframe. I continue to use him to keep my leaders at the cutting edge."
Microsoft Corporation
"Ken inspired us all with his motivational conference programme and leadership master class. We are looking forward to the next phase in our business development programme."
BT UK
"Wherever Ken goes the atmosphere changes significantly. He is able to get results and does this with credibility as someone who is still out there ‘doing it’ so to speak. He has a unique understanding of the pressures facing business today and delivers solutions that will help managers do better."
GlaxoSmithKline
"Ken, Thank you so much for speaking at the Business Direct Forum, the feedback has been excellent. The Management team were really impressed and delighted. Your positioning was spot on and we were all grateful for the amount of time you took to understand our business and current challenges."
"Ken was down to earth and could connect with the young people as well as the support workers, teachers and general audience. He exceeded our expectations – in terms of motivation and enthusiasm. Ken was fantastic, just what we ordered in terms of a motivational speaker who could connect and inspire an audience."
University of Salford
"Ken’s presentation style is enthusiastic, professional and friendly. The audience were able to relate to the different experiences portrayed by Ken and at the same time managed to deliver/tie in with our themes of ‘team working’. He exceeded our expectations and we were delighted. Employees are still talking about how good it was and how inspired they are."
Burness LLP
