Motivational speaker, Inspirational speaker, Keynote speaker Sylvester

Land's End to John O' Groats

Arriving at John O' Groats after walking unsupported 881 miles in 39 days

Button
Annapurna base camp

4130 Metres (13,545 ft)

Button
Mount Everest base camp

5380 Metres (17,600 ft)

Button
Geographic South Pole

Button
Summit of Aconcagua

6960 Metres (22,837 ft)

Button

Inspiration by Perspiration

Al Sylvester MBE
Motivational Speaker / Inspirational Speaker / Keynote Speaker

Al Sylvester is an outstanding inspirational speaker renown for his exceptional leadership and motivational skills that he has utilised while leading the Royal Air Force's first unsupported attempt on the South Pole and as a Team Leader within the RAF's Mountain Rescue Service where he was actively involved with over 400 operational rescues. He dynamically uses his in depth experience to provide stimulating presentations to help you stretch your thoughts on the comparative skills of team building, leadership styles and the mental resilience required to succeed in extreme hostile and arduous environments.

Learn more

Testimonials

Motivational presentations

School Workshops

AI regularly runs workshops for school pupils of all ages.

Having worked over the past 4 years in the education sector, he thoroughly ...

Learn More

Corporate presentations

Leadership, courage, integrity, loyalty, determination, team building, professionalism and pride, that is the basis of any person's day to day business. These are also the foundation on how Al led the Royal Air Force's first unsupported attempt to the South Pole ...

Learn More

Motivational and after dinner presentations

Over the past 15 years AI has provided presentations to organisations like the Air Training Corp ...

Learn More

Biography

Al Sylvester MBE hails from the flat lands of Lincolnshire, but when the Scouting Association gave him a chance introduction to the Highlands of Scotland he soon realised his future lay in the mountains and great outdoors. His first steps towards following his ambitions focussed on joining the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the hope that world exploration would naturally follow...

Learn More

If you have any questions regarding my website, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thumbs up

Group Captain Claire O’Grady

Station Commander, Royal Air Force Brize Norton - June 2023

In support of our Station Health and Wellbeing Day, we were honoured to host Al Sylvester MBE at RAF Brize Norton who delivered an outstanding talk on the challenges he and his team faced on their mission to reach the geographic South Pole, on the RAF’s first unsupported attempt. Incredibly well received and sparking much conversation about mental resilience, determination and leadership. An inspirational and personable individual who delivers in a candid and compelling way, captivating his audience for the duration of his talk.

Tom Wood

Aston Martin Owners Club - January 2021

Al is a personal friend of mine and an RAF colleague but I had never heard his amazing account of his unsupported attempt on the South Pole. 88 members of the Aston Martin Owners Club, from across the World, listened to Al’s captivating presentation delivered on Zoom and to say we were all mesmerised is an understatement…. Learn more

Adam Pickford

Highlight L&D

After presenting in Milan for Nielson Global Solutions - October 2020

"Al is an authentic and inspiring speaker. His breadth of experiences and ability to relate these in a compelling and meaningful manner make him highly engaging to business audiences. Having worked with Al on numerous occasions, I value both his desire to understand the key aims of an event, and his resulting prep to ensure he really connects to these when sharing his stories".

Lt Col Andy Swannell

14 Regiment, Royal Artillery, Larkhill - Mental Resilience conference - March 2020

‘What an inspirational story; exceptional highs and lows, and that not just the South Pole expedition! We can all learn a great deal from Al, whether it is mental resilience, planning, dealing with hardship or over coming adversity (at home or in the wilderness)”.

Beccy Morgan-Doak

Head of Year 6

St Mary's CE Middle School

Puddletown, Dorchester - January 2023

Al was insightful, informative and inspiring when giving his Southern Reach workshop to our Year 6 pupils. The children were transfixed and loved all of the stories about how you go to the toilet at the South Pole and the stomach churning account of Al suffering from frostbite and the difficult recovery that followed. I received many emails from parents who said their children did not stop talking about the workshop and sharing his stories when they got home. He showed the children how a normal 11 year old boy from the north was able to achieve incredible things simply by showing determination, passion and not being afraid to ask for help. We will definitely be asking Al to return next year.

Becka Tompkins

Moorland Primary School

Milton Keynes - March 2022

Thank you so much for your visit. I cannot put into words how wonderful it was. As you know, our children live in an area of deprivation and many of them lack resilience, passion and determination. Your presentation has inspired some of them to (in their words) ‘Live life to the fullest and do great things like Al.’ We feel so privileged to have been able to meet you. The children spent all afternoon talking about you and telling all of the other staff about going to the toilet in Antarctica! The bogey icicles have also particularly stuck in their minds. They came into school today saying ‘today won’t be as brilliant as yesterday because Al isn’t here.’

Al you are a remarkable human being, well done for your fantastic venture and many thanks for teaching and inspiring our children. Without a doubt, I will booking you for next year and recommending you for others!

Paul Curnow

Head of Forest School - Spring Grove School

Ashford - January 2021

Al's presentation was engaging, inspirational and left the children with an enduring message of ambition, endurance and resilience. His perfectly pitched stories, delivered in his easy-going style, and in simple terms the children could understand, kept all of our primary-aged children and staff captivated throughout. Impressively, he managed to achieve all this through a live stream into the children's homes during the first week home learning. Just the job to motivate the children to overcome adversity during these challenging times!

Sam Colbourne

St John's Primary School

Wallingford - February 2021

"You had such a lovely way with the children"

WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW! THANK YOU SO SO SO SO SO MUCH for such an INCREDIBLE day! The children (and staff!) were absolutely mesmerised by your story/stories. You had such a lovely way with the children that they really responded to and explained everything brilliantly! The way you linked things to Shackleton's expedition was amazing and really brought both experiences to life.

The year 3 and 4 teachers also raved over you and said you were amazing and fitted in perfectly with their superhero topic too!

Nicky (headteacher) also didn't stop talking about you after school.

Thank you so much for inspiring the children (and staff)! You really are brilliant!

Jade Rodgers

Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Primary School

Wigan - February 2021

Thank you so much for yesterday, I can’t tell you the effect that it had on all of the children. The feedback from the parents has been fantastic with all of the children going home and researching how to become an explorer. Thank you so much for bringing so many smiles and enthusiasm to all of the children and the staff taking part yesterday, it’s much needed at the moment.

Fiona Hennessy

Hazelwood Schools

Enfield - May 2021

Thank you so much for such an engaging, inspiring talk for the children at Hazelwood today. I have had countless emails and comments from staff saying how wonderful it was and how engaged both the adults and children were alike!

You delivered it with such enthusiasm and the stories themselves were fascinating. I wish you could’ve seen the children’s faces, especially when you referenced poo!

I ‘quizzed’ my year 6's at the end of the day (I’d taken notes) and I was honestly blown away by how much they retained which reflects how much they enjoyed it and soaked it all up.

Thomas Becket Catholic School

Northampton - February 2020

Teacher quoted:

One quote Al said that will stay with me was whilst talking about his time along his journey he said "my situation was life threatening, yours is life building".

Several quotes by Sixth Form students:

"An inspirational man with an inspirational story. Al is a wise and courageous person and an excellent speaker". Learn more

Rosemary Wilson

Shipton Under Wychwood Women's Institute - July 2020

Thank you so much for the brilliant speaker last night. What a story about adventure and Antarctica! I think Zoom has taken speakers to a new level as they have to think very carefully about how they structure their “story” Al was a complete master of his with a minimum of slides, perfect.

Stuart Cairns MA BSc(Hons)Psych, MBPsS, FInstLM

Independent Training Consultant / Facilitator / Mediator - June 2019

"a truly inspirational man"

I worked extensively with Al when I was appointed Director of the Royal Air Force's Junior Officers' Development Programme. When working in day-to-day Academy business, Al was the consummate professional... Learn more

Group Captain Nick Robson

Career Manager at Royal Air Force (RAF) - September 2018

"A fascinating speaker whose experiences relate to everyone’s challenges"

We were asked to provide inspirational speakers for the Saracens Academy as part of their Players Development Programme. Al delivered a thought provoking and highly motivating presentation describing his South Pole expedition. What was truly inspirational... Learn more

Nigel Furlong MSc CISMP FSyI FInstLM

Leader in Infrastructure Resilience and Security - October 2018

"a session with Al seem to walk a little bit taller and are certainly fired up to take on the world"

Al has visited 2210 Cowley Squadron and also 1861 Wantage Squadron of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets at my request when as Officer Commanding both units. Al is simply an inspiring role model for the cadets and staff alike. He demonstrates the highest standards of bearing, respect, integrity, service, excellence and leadership and he is in particular an inspiring speaker. He has inspired cadets and volunteer staff to never let anyone get in the way of their dreams. If nothing less the cadet following a session with Al seem to walk a little bit taller and are certainly fired up to take on the world and its challenges. I highly commend Al Sylvester to you.

Created with

Land's End to John O' Groats

Annapurna base camp

Mount Everest base camp

Geographic South Pole

Summit of Aconcagua

Inspiration by Perspiration

Al Sylvester MBEMotivational Speaker / Inspirational Speaker / Keynote Speaker

Motivational presentations

School Workshops

Corporate presentations

Motivational and after dinner presentations

Biography

Al Sylvester MBE
Motivational Speaker / Inspirational Speaker / Keynote Speaker