Tim Macartney-Snape

World renowned mountaineer, explorer, international speaker, author, entrepreneur and twice honoured Order of Australia recipient.

“Everest is, and will always be, an enduring symbol of hope, striving and achievement.”

Tim Macartney-Snape is an Australian mountaineer, explorer, writer and entrepreneur. As an inspirational speaker, he uses his mountaineering triumphs as a spectacular framework to communicate the fundamental aspects of achievement. His profoundly moving talks are enhanced by dramatic photos and awe–inspiring footage.

The determination, resilience and focus needed to pioneer new and challenging routes to the tops of the world’s highest mountains are skills Tim applied in establishing the globally successful outdoor equipment business, Sea to Summit.

Portrait of Tim Macartney-Snape with trees in background

Inspirational Speaker

Tim has been in demand as an inspirational speaker since his ascent of a new route up the North Face of Mount Everest in 1984. Climbing Everest for the second time without oxygen and Sherpa assistance in 1990, after having walked all the way from sea level and founding a globally successful business, have simply enhanced his speaking repertoire billing him as a sought-after and highly motivating speaker.

Tim is a professional speaker at corporate conferences, business workshops and leadership seminars.

He has won respect around the world for his forthrightness and humility.

Reaching a mountain summit is the universal symbol of achievement, and the success of Tim’s talks are built on mountaineering being such an accurate and simple metaphor for navigating challenges and overcoming obstacles – principals that can be applied across many facets of our personal and business lives.

In his naturally authentic way, Tim provides a powerful perspective on the key topics of:

  • The importance of vision
  • Maintaining flexibility and creativity in decision making
  • Strategic planning
  • Team optimisation
  • Goal setting & step by step execution
  • Managing emerging risks
  • Establishing firm psychological foundations
Tim Macartney-Snape laughing with Sir Bob Geldof at the book launch of FREEDOM at the Royal Geographical Society

Tim Macartney-Snape with Sir Bob Geldof for the book launch of FREEDOM by Jeremy Griffith at the Royal Geographical Society, London, 2016.

Video

“What does it tell you about a man who has a go at climbing Mt Everest without oxygen, without the normal guides and along a new route, even though Ed Hillary, the first to summit Mt. Everest recommended against it?”

Julie McCrossin, Qantas interview

What People Are Saying

“Understanding the mental agility needed during the various stages of addressing a challenge is an integral part of successfully completing any expedition, in business or outside. Thanks again for your contribution.”

ICI Pharmaceuticals

“Your presentation caused more than the desired effect- in fact it overshadowed the content of the last day and a half!…fascinating and constructive.”

Carlton and United Breweries

“We can’t thank you enough for your outstanding contribution…judging by the comments we have received, no lesser words will suffice.”

Zurich Australia

“Tim’s presentation was superb. It left the group with a spine-tingling sensation of achievement... In fact, the group Managing Director said Tim’s attendance and participation was one of the three main highlights of the entire convention.

To me Tim was an inspiration. He is one of the most delightful, unassuming and easy going guest speakers/persons I have ever dealt with and it was a real pleasure to meet him and work with him. I would have no hesitation in recommending him to any other client and I have in fact already spoken to other clients about him.”

Conventions and Incentives, International Travel Network

“Your experiences were certainly awe-inspiring, and your presentation certainly helped ensure our conference was the tremendous success we had envisaged.”

Mortgage Choice

Tim has given hundreds of talks to leading corporates including:

  • Westpac bank logo
  • Toyota logo
  • Zurich bank logo
  • Cadbury-Schweppes logo
  • Glaxo Smith Kline logo
  • Carlton and United Breweries logo
  • Fujitsu logo
  • Canon logo
  • Macquarie Bank logo
  • Commonwealth Bank logo
  • Axa logo
  • Perpetual logo

Tim Macartney-Snape AM

Tim is best known as the only person ever to climb Mount Everest’s entire 8,848 metres from sea to summit. Although he began the three-month expedition with a small film crew on the shores of the Bay of Bengal, he climbed alone from Base Camp, without the assistance of sherpas, fellow climbers or bottled oxygen. The documentary of this achievement won prizes in seven countries for best mountain film.

That achievement followed on from a string of first ascents on difficult routes across the Himalaya, most notably the first Australian ascent of Mount Everest. After conceiving the climb, Tim was a driving force in organising the expedition. The small team climbed alpine style, without sherpa support or bottled oxygen pioneering a new route directly up a difficult and dangerous part of the north face with Tim one of two to reach the summit.

Mt Everest historian Walt Unsworth described the climb as “one of the greatest climbs ever done on the mountain”.

John Roskelley, America’s most accomplished Himalayan climber said it was “the mountaineering coup of the century”.

Tim co-founded leading international outdoor adventure brand Sea to Summit. The company takes its name from the aforementioned extraordinary 1990 ascent of Mount Everest. Sea to Summit equipment is now sold in over 60 countries and has won design and business awards in Australia, Europe and America.

Tim is also a consultant to adventure travel company World Expeditions and continues to pursue his chief outdoor interests of exploratory mountaineering, rock climbing and skiing.

He is a twice-honoured Order of Australia recipient. Tim is founder and Patron of the World Transformation Movement, Chairman of Leave No Trace Australia and a member of the Fred Hollows Foundation.

“Even among his fellow elite mountaineers, Tim Macartney-Snape is regarded as a climber of freakish ability. Twice he has stood on top of the world. Many times faced death. Always he has survived.”

Inside Sport