Dr. Chadden Hunter has spent a lifetime exploring the wildest corners of the world to bring us the most remarkable nature documentaries ever made.
His stories backed up stunning multi-media, reveal the fascinating secrets to wildlife filmmaking, hair-raising encounters and the inspiration to lead teams and follow your dreams.
Born in North Queensland, Chadden grew up surrounded by rainforest and coral reef, an immersion in nature that inspired his life journey. He gained a First Class Honours degree in Zoology from the University of Queensland, then for his PhD embarked on a wild ‘Gorillas in the Mist’ adventure to study gelada baboons in the remote war-torn mountains of Ethiopia. While dodging armed bandits and surviving brain parasites he learnt Amharic, the local language, and realised that to protect the natural world he’d need to reach a greater audience.
After presenting a TV series for National Geographic, Chadden became convinced television was the most powerful tool for outreach and positive change. He often compares the viewers of his films to customers in other industries. Describing how the skills of story-telling can move people into action, whether for education, motivation or inspiration.
As a wildlife filmmaker Dr. Hunter has worked alongside Sir David Attenborough for over 20 years, documenting everything from snow leopards in Pakistan to tribal ceremonies in Africa. On the BBC series Planet Earth he became known as 'the guy covered in bat poop', and whilst filming arctic wolves for Frozen Planet learnt that minus 40C was cold enough to freeze his eyes shut. As a Divemaster he has worked alongside underwater crews around the world, exploring the issue of plastics in the ocean and how the ‘Blue Planet 2 Effect’ encouraged changes in corporate behaviour and global politics.
Chadden has produced and directed some of the world’s most seminal nature documentaries. Planet Earth 1 and 2, LIFE, Wild Arabia, Frozen Planet and Seven Worlds One Planet have won over 20 Bafta and Emmy awards.
His anecdotes are as inspirational as they are entertaining. Sometimes heart-breaking, often humorous, always riveting. What does being chased by a grizzly bear teach us about leadership? Can going barefoot in waste-deep crocodile-infested waters demonstrate the importance of team-building?
Using a stunning multi-media presentation, including never-before scene footage from major BBC wildlife series, Chadden shares stories about achieving goals through perseverance, communicating with wider audiences, the importance of team building, and creative leadership.
Talking Points
Attenborough’s Secrets: Moments that change our lives
Chadden Hunter’s presentations use the framework and backdrop of his years as a wildlife filmmaker to deliver universal messages around purpose, inspiration and our future on the planet.Attenborough’s Secrets: Moments that change our lives
These presentations are a very personal story about inspiration and those watershed moments in life that make us change our ways. Chadden shares tools and strategies to help unlock inspiration and purpose with the goals of helping make the world a better place.
In an era of so much bad news, Chadden leaves the audiences with a sense of hope and inspiration. A feeling that no individual is too small to make a difference and that reaching out and communicating, working in groups is a powerful strategy to not only to help the environment but any facet of our lives.
Nature Foundation recently hosted it Forever Nature Fund Launch in December 2022 with Dr Chadden Hunter as our Keynote Speaker and it was exceptionally well received. Chadden’s presentation ... keep reading Nature Foundation
