Professional Speaking Association member

The Long Sobs of the Violins of Autumn…

by Nigel Vardy
October 10, 2017

The modern world is stressful, well that’s what everyone will tell you. Report after report states that our mental health is suffering, our ability to make (and take) decisions is disappearing and that risk is something that we can’t accept. I think you find that life has been stressful since the dawn of time. If you didn’t hunt successfully, you and your family starved, harsh winters killed the weak, and tribes fought hand-to-hand combat over land, property and resources. That sounds a heck of a lot more stressful than a late train, flat phone battery or failing central heating…

Becoming X…

by Nigel Vardy
September 29, 2017September 29, 2017

Photograph courtesy of Mike Lawn and Becoming X

‘Its not what you know, but who you know’ is a phrase that has long appeared in the English language. Recently I was invited to be involved in a new and exciting charity called ‘Becoming X‘, which hopes to motivate, inspire and help people across the world, all because of someone I know…
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2016 – A Year For Time, Travel and Tingling Fingers…

by Nigel Vardy
December 29, 2016December 30, 2016
4 Comments

I’m not a man to sit about, so during 2016 I travelled to South Africa, Greenland, Iceland, Italy, Denmark, Germany, Greece and Spain. I took part in the ICEMAN Polar Race, walked the Otter Trail, spoke on two cruises and held down a full-time job. Phew..! I’m sure I slept at some point…

Forcing Your Hand…

by Nigel Vardy
August 27, 2016
6 Comments

The phrase ‘The day we stop learning is the day we die’, may be old, but it’s true. I thought after 17 years I had learned all there was to know about my frostbite injuries, but I was wrong. Though the amputations were very visible, regular treatment kept my skin grafts in good condition, and all was well with the world. The last few months however, have taught me a hard lesson in reality.

Speaking from Sea Level…

by Nigel Vardy
January 11, 2016

“You’re doing what..? Speaking on a cruise ship..? Why..?” These were only some of the barrage of questions I fielded when I announced that I was going to speak on the Cunard Liner Queen Victoria. “You’re a Mountaineer and boats are at sea level..!” I certainly hope they are as I’ve never seen a liner fly, but let’s get past the obvious shock. Besides being a mountaineer, I’m also a speaker.

TEDx Derby 2015 – Remade

by Nigel Vardy
April 23, 2015April 23, 2015

After speaking at TEDx Derby in 2014, I was approached by organiser Christine Cawthorne to mentor the speakers for the 2015 event. I was honoured to take up the challenge…Read More »TEDx Derby 2015 – Remade

Is modern communication destroying adventure..?

by Nigel Vardy
April 11, 2014

Here’s the TEDx Derby presentation I gave asking the question “Is modern communication is destroying adventure..?” Whats do you think..?

Is modern communication destroying adventure..?

by Nigel Vardy
March 25, 2014
2 Comments

Technology has entered our modern lives with a vengeance. Whether we like it or not, the digital age has crossed the globe and there seems little escaping it. I recently spoke at TEDx Derby, and challenged an audience of creative and technology driven people to think differently about the umbilical cord of the mobile phone, wi-fi and worldwide web…

Seven Peaks – Seven Islands

by Nigel Vardy
January 21, 2014
2 Comments

The Seven peaks – Seven Islands challenge encompasses freezing Polar ice to burning tropical savannah, ski touring to scrambling, volcanoes to glaciers and everything in-between. It may not have the altitude of the Seven Continents climbs, but brings huge challenges and rewards for those will to take up the baton.

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Turn your ideas into reality..!

by Nigel Vardy
October 26, 2013October 26, 2013

One of my top five tips for life, business and education… I’ve spoken to literally thousands of people in my career and hopefully I’ve inspired… Read More »Turn your ideas into reality..!

Love life like a child, just don’t behave like one…

by Nigel Vardy
April 21, 2013July 24, 2013
2 Comments

Many people know me because of my mountaineering expeditions, but in parallel to my adventures, I’ve had a long career in Electrical Engineering. Over my 27 years of nationalisation’s, takeovers and mergers I’ve seen may things, but one of the most startling is the ability to act like a child. Let me explain…

A South African Saga part II – Standing together…

by Nigel Vardy
April 7, 2013September 30, 2013

After our drenching in the Drakensburgs, Sibu and I set off NW towards a place that has gone down in British colonial history – Rorke’s Drift.

Presenting a marathon…

by Nigel Vardy
January 28, 2013

When I say to someone that Engineering is similar to Mountaineering they think I’m talking rubbish. Perhaps I am, but over the past five months I have been delivering a great amount of Engineering Training. This has meant speaking for eight hours a day, all week, every week. Similarities between the two become obvious…Read More »Presenting a marathon…

Against All Odds…

by Nigel Vardy
January 9, 2013
1 Comment

During late 2012, I worked with Derbyshire filmmaker Nicola Harris on a project about my fateful climb on Mt. McKinley. Here’s the film she has… Read More »Against All Odds…

Remember, remember, here comes a busy November…

by Nigel Vardy
October 13, 2012November 5, 2012

As the nights draw in, the evening speaking season begins. I have a busy November coming up, so here’s a couple of events if you fancy coming to say hi..! (Bring beer)

So you think you’re a speaker, but can you really speak..?

by Nigel Vardy
June 22, 2012July 19, 2012
2 Comments

It’s a simple enough question really. After all, would you employ a mechanic who couldn’t fix your car..? The reason I ask is due to my experiences observing speakers over the last 20 years. Some have been outstanding, some have been good, but many have been (at best) average.

Going nuts in Brazil part I – Running round Rio…

by Nigel Vardy
April 11, 2012December 19, 2012
5 Comments

Now you might think me going a bit soft by travelling to Brazil, after all, I am Mr. Frostbite! Well, I’ve climbed in many hot climates across the world since almost freezing to death on Mt. McKinley and they bring with them their own set of problems. The hot and sweaty climates play havoc with my skin grafts and I have to watch them much more than on a freezing mountain. The risk of infection is much higher and the chances of damaging them increased. All that said, I was invited to climb around Rio de Janeiro by good friends Fiona and Felipe and couldn’t resist…

Cross world communication…

by Nigel Vardy
March 12, 2012March 12, 2012
1 Comment

During my past 20 years of world travel the way we communicate has changed beyond many peoples imagination. For centuries the handwritten letter, which had carried news of great empires, battles, decrees and Royal announcements was abandoned for the world of satellites and WiFi.

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Tien Shan from the horses mouth…

by Nigel Vardy
February 18, 2012February 21, 2012

Ok, so I’m not a horse, but if you want to know what it’s like to climb in the remote mountains of Tien Shan, then come and hear me speak on March 10th at St. John’s Church Memorial Hall, Hazelwood, nr Belper, Derbyshire.

Scotland the (not so) brave…

by Nigel Vardy
February 11, 2012

For almost 20 years I have climbed in the Scottish Mountains during winter. They hold a magical place in the history of Mountaineering and many pioneering climbs were done here before people moved to tackle peaks across the world. I have just returned from the Cairngorms where conditions were typically Scottish. When I say that I mean, nature bringing everything from beautiful sunshine to blasting blizzards in a day! I spent a week with two climbing friends in the Northern Corries climbing exposed ridges and snow gullies in very different conditions…Read More »Scotland the (not so) brave…