Endurance Swimmer & Ocean Advocate; UNEP Patron of the Oceans & Maritime Lawyer
Lewis Pugh Biography
Lewis Pugh is an endurance swimmer and an ocean advocate.
He swims in the most vulnerable ecosystems on Earth to campaign for their protection. He was the first person to undertake a long-distance swim in every ocean of the world. He pioneered the first swim across the North Pole, the first swim along the length of the English Channel, the world’s highest swim (on Mt Everest) and even a swim under the Antarctic ice sheet.
Pugh’s work now focuses on creating marine protected areas. In 2016 he helped establish the largest protected area in the world in the Ross Sea off Antarctica. He has been instrumental in protecting over 2 million km2 ocean, an area the size of Western Europe. In 2025, Pugh underwent the Shark Swim, where, in honor of the 50th anniversary of "Jaws," he set out to swim around the island of Martha's Vineyard throughout May to change the public's perception of sharks and advocate for their conservation.
Pugh talks about how he undertakes these swims, which many regarded as "impossible", and the campaigns to get the areas protected. He speaks about creating a clear vision, choosing the right team, meticulous preparation, resilience, and changing when circumstances dictate. And he speaks about purpose - it’s the engine which drives us. TED describes him as a “master storyteller”.
Pugh has received a number of awards for his work. He was awarded South Africa’s highest honour, the Order of Ikhamanga (Gold Class). He was appointed UN Patron of the Oceans in 2013. Most recently, he was made a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year.
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Lewis Pugh Speaking Topics
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Achieving Your Impossible: No Challenge Too Great
In a career spanning 27 years, ocean advocate Lewis Pugh has pioneered more swims around famous landmarks than any other swimmer in history, including the first swim across the icy waters of the North Pole, and across a glacial lake on Mt. Everest—all in just a Speedo swimsuit. Many of his expeditions were in conditions deemed “impossible.” Widely regarded as one of the world’s most inspiring speakers, Lewis shares his insights on the mind-set, preparation, teamwork and leadership skills necessary for any major undertaking and how they can be applied in your organization. The most crucial success factor, he says, is to have a driving purpose, which for him is to protect our planet’s threatened oceans.
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How do I book Lewis Pugh to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Lewis Pugh for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Lewis Pugh, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Lewis Pugh or any other speaker of your choice. -
What are the speaker fees for Lewis Pugh
Speaking fees for Lewis Pugh, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Lewis Pugh are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Lewis Pugh, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Lewis Pugh speak about?
Lewis Pugh is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Adventure, Adventure, Athlete, Change Management, Environment, Finance, Human Resources, Inspirational, Leadership, Motivational, Olympic Athlete, Personal Growth, Sustainability, Swimming & Diving, Teamwork & Teambuilding -
Where does Lewis Pugh travel from?
Lewis Pugh generally travels from London, UK, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
Who is Lewis Pugh’s agent?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Lewis Pugh for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Lewis Pugh for your next private or corporate function. -
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AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Lewis Pugh or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
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Lewis Pugh is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Achieving Your Impossible: No Challenge Too Great . The estimated speaking fee range to book Lewis Pugh for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Lewis Pugh generally travels from London, UK and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Eric Boles, Louis-Philippe Loncke, Jim Davidson, Alexandra Cousteau and Muggsy Bogues. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Lewis Pugh for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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