Some comments on recent talks and presentations…
“Huw visited the University to deliver an inspiring presentation about his year around the Mediterranean. It was a most interesting session which vividly captured in high quality images, film and words the highs and lows of his epic adventure and provided a fascinating insight into the immense planning, preparations and extreme nature of activity that was encountered during the voyage – and all for a worthy cause!”
— Jonaid Khan, University of Bradford School of Management, UK
“Am writing to thank you for the most beautiful speech. Your talk has truly changed my perspective towards life. People say some people can have that effect on you but I experienced it for the first time in the one hour that I heard you talk. Thank you for that.”
— Shwetha Shekar, Indian Actor and MC for Adventure Travel Operators Association of India (ATOAI) 2019 Convention
“I just wanted to pass on a huge thank you for the opportunity you provided to our students. Everyone enjoyed the presentation and the boys absolutely loved it. It’s special that you shared your story with the boys as they are embarking on this journey and ultimately will now have to decide their own path. I am certain that they have taken a great message away tonight and will reflect upon your amazing journeys.”
— Elias Dobozy, Senior Outdoor Educator, The Scots College Sydney
“When you organise an event, you want it to be fun and easy. Huw makes sure both of these things happen! Leading up to the event, Huw was fantastic to communicate with, quick to respond and very flexible with tailoring the presentation to suit the audiences. The proof was in the audience reaction that we really hit the mark. There were the desired ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ and laughs throughout the presentation. Huw kept the crowd engaged and turned large presentations into intimate and very personal conversations. He’s a great story teller, a man deeply engaged with the environment and the audience was hanging on to the narrative right along with him.”
— Sarah Hunt, Marketing Manager, World Expeditions Travel
“We were delighted that Huw was able to speak about his journey around the Mediterranean Sea at this year’s Guernsey Literary Festival. He captivated the audience with inspiring stories of his adventures, whilst also explaining why he believed so strongly in his journey for Save the Children. A powerful talk about making a success of what might have seemed an impossible feat. What’s more, he upped the stakes by being the first Guernsey Literary Festival author to bring snacks for attendees to his talk! Thanks Huw.“
— Claire Allen, Director, Guernsey Literary Festival
“From the start Huw was friendly and professional to deal with. Our curiosity was piqued when Huw advised that he wanted to hand out snakes (not real ones – the lolly sort!) at the beginning of his presentation as well as bring a canoe with him (again we learned not a real life sized one!). Of the delegates who attended Huw’s Keynote presentation at the conference, 81% rated the session as very good/excellent. An amazing story from an inspirational person.”
— Leesa McDermott, Conference Organiser, 2018 Australian Association of Practice Management Conference
“Went to the Brisbane talk at the university. Brilliant night! Can’t speak highly enough for Huw – awesome trip, excellent pictures, top bloke with some great stories, well worth attending. Wish you well Huw; a true inspiration.”
— Scott Blake, Brisbane
“Listening to Huw tell this incredible story of adventure in person is even better than reading his book. Huw’s never say die attitude to overcoming the many obstacles he faced is something everyone can learn from.”
— Dr Andrew Peacock, Medical Director, Expedition and Wilderness Medicine Australia
“I’ve been attending talks and lectures on all sorts of topics for the past 50 years. Huw’s presentation in Sheffield was by far the most entertaining, thought provoking and just downright good that I’ve ever attended.”
— Helen Orton, Sheffield, UK
“On behalf of the Royal Geographical Society, thank you very much for your excellent lecture. You are an exceptional speaker and we had a lot of thanks from the Members, so it was obviously a very special event.”
— Rupert McCowan, Director, Royal Geographical Society, Hong Kong
“For 15 years we have been organising speakers here in Croatia for various festivals. Huw’s presentation in Sutivan on Brac Island was without doubt the most entertaining, professional and empathetic I have heard in that time. He manages to get across messages with great humour and great storytelling.”
— Eti Ljubetic, Aldura Sport, Croatia
“The best speaker I have ever heard.”
— David, Baslow, UK
“Huw’s spirit of adventure took me completely with him every step of the way, from the moment he pushed his kayak, Miss Grape, into the sea in Turkey to the moment he returned a year later. I felt Huw’s sense of adventure in the initial stage of the journey. I felt relief when he overcame the vagaries and forces of severe weather. I cheered loudly when his resourcefulness meant another border was crossed despite the best efforts of some bureaucratic border patrol officers to prevent it. I felt the joy of rowing with the dolphins, the beauty of each new landscape. I felt the pain of the sheer physical effort required to complete this extraordinary trip. And I laughed a lot, at the ridiculousness of some of the situations Huw found himself in, all related with great good humour. This was an adventure on a grand scale, the adventure of a true born adventurer and self-proclaimed dreamer, a man who makes the seemingly impossible possible. Huw Kingston is an extraordinarily talented man, or more accurately, an extraordinary man of many talents.”
— Marie Fitzpatrick, Bookshop Bowral/Centennial Supper Club
“It was a pleasure to meet Huw Kingston when he visited Malta late in June 2017. I had been impressed by the story of a man who could sea kayak, walk, cycle, and row as he completed a year-long human powered journey of 13,000 km around the Mediterranean, including to Malta, in 2014-15. The High Commission was very pleased to host an inspiring talk by Huw on this journey. Huw repeatedly referred to the kindness offered by strangers who spontaneously offered help during his arduous trek. All the audience we brought together in Malta were equally impressed by the selfless nature of the efforts Huw had made raising funds for Save the Children Australia.“
— Julienne Hince – Australian High Commissioner to Malta, Ambassador to Tunisia
“Thanks Huw! On behalf of the Royal Geographical Society Northern Ireland Regional Committee, many thanks for including us in your current UK Tour. We were very grateful that you were able to visit us in Northern Ireland, and it was a pleasure to host you. You delivered a fascinating talk, not just about the many and varied geographical locations you visited on our Southern European and North African doorstep but your observations about the many personalities that you encountered gave a real human interest dimension to your adventures. Your humorous and insightful presentation style was so easy to listen to. I am sure that the audience would have been only too happy to continue to listen to your adventures for a good while longer than the time available to us on the night.”
— Stephen Royle, Emiritus Professor of Geography, Queens University, Belfast, UK
“At Kathmandu we believe that actions and their impact can be more powerful than words and strategy alone, and that doing is more important than quietly observing from the sidelines. Huw is a great example of someone that has strong sustainability values and intellect, and has put them into action to achieve great things through expeditions as well as through philanthropic efforts. Huw delivered a very inspiring talk to our teams and made us all think about ways that we can not just talk about making a difference, but turn passion into action. I would recommend his talk to anyone that wants to engage their team or business in ways to set long term goals and drive towards a singular vision.“
— Ben Ryan, General Manager Product, Kathmandu
“Thanks so much for spending your valuable time with us during the online presentation for our members in a lovely Q&A with the ATOAI President. In true Huw fashion, it was a fantastic mix of inspiration, awe, envy, insights, and humour! No-one realized the time ticking away, and the closing comments seemed to have arrived far too soon. Best for all your future adventures and look forward to many more such entertaining sessions in the future with the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India. Keep Inspiring.“
— Vinayak Koul, Hon Sec, Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI)
“A fantastic presentation by Huw! He spoke to a room filled with corporate guests, friends and staff of the Commodore Airport Hotel recently. We were enlightened with his many experiences as an adventurer and environmentalist. You must hear him speak about his 12 month expedition around the Mediterranean
by foot, ocean rowboat, kayak and bike. But wait … there’s more, listen to how his home town
in Australia has become bottled water free! Huw was so easy to work with, prior to and during the event, nothing was a problem. If you are looking for a motivational speaker, look no further than Huw Kingston!“