First Crossings

Kevin Biggar was a strategy consultant with The Boston Consulting Group when he decided to take part in the world's toughest endurance event, the Trans-Atlantic Rowing Race, with fellow adventurer Jamie Fitzgerald. The incredible story of Kevin's transformation from couch potato to world record holder is told in The Oarsome Adventures of a Fat Boy Rower published by Random House and awarded the Sunday Star-Times 'Sports Book of the Year 2008'. His next adventure saw him and Jamie Fitzgerald trekking unsupported to the South Pole, and Escape to the Pole tells that story. Kevin now hosts popular TV series First Crossings where he and Jamie re-create some epic first crossings in rugged settings. He's now an Auckland-based motivational speaker who presents at industry conferences and corporate events around NZ and Australia. He speaks about how to take on large challenges, improve teamwork and about how to get the most out of yourself and your team. Kevin's professional career has included working in problem solving, consulting and strategy roles at The NZ Treasury and large multinationals like The Boston Consulting Group, as well as small businesses and more recently as the CEO of a software startup. This varied background combined with the universal appeal of his adventure stories means that his able to relate to a wide variety of audiences, ages and at all levels from the Board, to CEOs to frontline staff. Jamie Fitzgerald, co-author with Kevin Biggar of adventure odyssey First Crossings (based on the high-rating television series), is a world-class adventurer who has become one of New Zealand's most sought-after management consultants and keynote speakers. A modern-day pioneer, Jamie has helped thousands of people around the world harness strategy and leadership to excel in high-performance cultures. Jamie believes that 'performance through people' is the key to success both in extreme adventuring and in business: it is a process of aligning vision, goals, and individual strengths and skills, and breaking down the task into practical achievable steps. In 2007, along with fellow adventurer Kevin Biggar, he became the first Kiwi to reach the South Pole unsupported and on foot, attracting media attention worldwide as they implemented a 'business-like' approach to their 52-day expedition. Jamie also holds the world record for crossing the 5000km Atlantic Ocean in a tiny row boat, building on a rowing background which saw him captaining rowing crews against Cambridge and Oxford universities while studying for his management degrees. He has held various management roles in a range of industries, and in 2011 managed the design and delivery of training to the 7000-plus Rugby World Cup 2011 volunteers to ensure they provided a 'uniquely New Zealand' customer experience. He is currently the CEO of Inspiring Performance, a business which helps people realise their potential through identifying an inspiring purpose, setting goals and communicating effectively, and then translating this strategic thinking and tactical planning into practical steps.(See www.inspiringperformance.co.nz.) Jamie has worked internationally in the areas of strategy implementation and change management, cultural alignment, leadership development and personal coaching, branded customer service, programme development and large-group events, and instructional design and facilitation. A strong commitment to helping youth realise their potential has seen Jamie involved in campaigns such as 'The Big Walk', which exposed thousands of young Kiwis to adventurous, learning-based experiences, culminating in their attending a two-day workshop with government ministers and CEOs to create strategies to combat New Zealand's negative youth statistics.