- Professional explorer, documentary maker and author
- Royal Geographical Society fellow and UNICEF ambassador
- Former Parachute Regiment officer with combat experience
Levison Wood is a professional explorer, author, and broadcaster known for leading expeditions across some of the world’s most challenging and politically complex regions, translating firsthand experience into insight on leadership, risk, and human resilience.
Over the past decade, he has fronted eight documentary series broadcast in more than one hundred countries, including Walking the Nile, Walking the Himalayas, and Walking the Americas, in which he travelled thousands of miles through remote and often unstable environments. Alongside this, he has written twelve books documenting his journeys, including The Art of Exploration, which explores how curiosity, teamwork, and resilience shape success far beyond the field.
Before becoming a full-time explorer, Levison served as an officer in the Parachute Regiment, seeing combat in Afghanistan, an experience that continues to inform his understanding of pressure, trust, and leadership. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the Explorers Club, and an ambassador for UNICEF and Leica, reflecting his ongoing engagement with humanitarian, environmental, and creative causes.
His work with organisations draws on expedition planning, military leadership, and cross cultural field research to explore how people make decisions in uncertainty, manage risk, and work together when outcomes matter. Using photography, video, and storytelling from his travels, he connects global exploration with everyday challenges faced by businesses, universities, and public sector organisations.
Audiences gain concrete strategies for managing uncertainty, fostering innovation through curiosity, and maintaining resilience during setbacks. His approach makes abstract leadership concepts tangible through real-world survival scenarios.
Book Levison Wood to bring tested insights from the world's most challenging environments and inspire an explorer's mindset in your team.
Levison's showreel and videos
Topics, sessions and talks
Leadership Lessons From The Road Less Travelled
Levison Wood shares insights from his adventures in remote and challenging environments, highlighting the essential leadership qualities of resilience, adaptability, and curiosity. By recounting his experiences, such as crossing the Himalayas and walking the length of the Nile, Levison demonstrates how leaders can excel in uncertain situations and guide their teams through adversity. Attendees will learn how to thrive in challenging circumstances.
The Explorer’s Approach To Decision-Making
Levison Wood explores the significance of calculated risk-taking in both expeditions and business. Drawing from his experiences in warzones, wild landscapes, and remote regions, he demonstrates how to assess risk, embrace uncertainty, and make bold, informed decisions. Attendees will learn how to apply these strategies to achieve success in their own ventures.
Teamwork In Extreme Environments
Levison Wood explores the crucial role of teamwork in overcoming life-threatening challenges in extreme environments. He shares insights on how diverse teams, from military to scientific and business sectors, achieve success through trust, communication, and mutual respect. Attendees will learn the importance of collaboration and how to apply these principles to thrive under pressure.
Creativity Under Pressure
Levison Wood explores how exploration compels individuals to think creatively. He shares experiences of navigating uncharted territories and tackling life-threatening challenges, illustrating how an explorer's mindset encourages innovation and creativity when faced with adversity. Attendees will learn how to apply this mindset to develop innovative solutions in their own challenging situations.
The Explorer's Mindset: Curiosity As A Tool For Growth
Levison Wood discusses the transformative power of curiosity in driving progress in exploration and business. He shares how his own curiosity has taken him to breathtaking places and emphasizes that embracing this trait can unlock new opportunities, foster personal growth, and strengthen team dynamics. Attendees will learn how to harness curiosity to enhance their professional and personal lives, ultimately leading to greater success and innovation.
Why we recommend booking Levison
Levison Wood delivers actionable leadership and resilience strategies drawn from his extraordinary expeditions and frontline experiences, making complex challenges relatable and inspiring for any audience. Book him now to equip your team with the explorer's mindset and practical tools for thriving in uncertainty.
Levison's talk struck just the right balance between sharing his experiences and linking them to the themes of risk, resilience and security. The preparation and thought that had gone into it was clear.
Levison Wood was brilliant! His talk was entertaining and he adapted all his anecdotes to perfectly hit the brief and inspire our employees on subjects like teamwork, leadership and motivation. Everyone loved it.
It was a great night and the best we ever held. Lev was charming, on-time, professional and had the audience eating out of his hands.
UK Nuclear Skills Awards
UK Nuclear Skills Awards
