Belinda Kirk

Guinness World Record holding explorer Belinda Kirk is a fearless woman who's talks will inspire young people to take on the impossible, and how to cope when things go wrong.

Belinda has managed film shoots in remote locations all over the world; produced survival shows for Bear Grylls and Ray Mears; led a biological research expedition to the Taklimakan Desert in China; organised expeditions for young people to Lesotho, Alaska and the Amazon; walked, kayaked and rafted from Zimbabwe to Namibia with a group of people with disabilities; walked across Nicaragua; and sailed across the Atlantic. She was also the skipper of Sea Gals, in which she was the first woman to row around Great Britain.

Today, she is a motivational speaker, Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, Ordnance Survey Champion and a Social Entrepreneur encouraging others to get outdoors and promoting the psychological benefits of adventure. Last year, she started Wild Night Out, the UK’s national night of adventure, which raises money for the Youth Adventure Trust.

Her talks focus on the importance of goal setting, managing intimidating problems and daring to fail. It is Belinda’s belief that we are capable of more than we think we are: adventure has given her the ability to tackle problems that seem monumental by breaking them down into small steps. It has also given her the ability to deal with things when they go wrong.

This is an important message for children, who are under increasingly more pressure to succeed. A recent study by children’s charity Place2Be found that 63% of children still at primary school say they worry “all the time” about at least one thing to do with their school life, home life or themselves. As such, Belinda’s talks have two main themes: how young people can tackle things that seem scary, and how to deal with it when things don’t go to plan. She will keep attendees on the edge of their seat with exciting tales of adventure and stunning images from her travels. Expect an engaging talk between 30-60mins with a focus on well-being.

The themes of Belinda’s talks are relevant to children of all ages: from primary to sixth form level. Her messages can be particularly powerful for young women and due to Belinda’s experience leading expeditions for people with disabilities, she is also keen to talk at special schools. Belinda Kirk is an inspiring individual who will make a positive impact on the students at your school.

Belinda's new book 'Adventure Revolution' launches in August 2021. Check it out here.