Levison Wood

Professional Explorer, Major In The British Parachute Regiment, TV Presenter on Channel 4 & Author of Twelve Bestselling Books

Levison Wood’s Biography:

Levison Wood is a professional explorer, television presenter and bestselling author who has travelled to more than 120 countries, documenting some of the world’s most remote and challenging regions. A former British Army officer and reservist, he is widely regarded as one of Britain’s most respected modern adventurers. Through his expeditions, books and theatre tours, Levison translates exploration into powerful lessons on leadership, resilience and curiosity.

Levison began his career as an officer in the British Army, serving on operations in Afghanistan and later joining 77X Brigade as a reservist. His military background shaped his disciplined approach to planning, risk assessment and teamwork. After leaving full-time service, he turned his focus to exploration, embarking on ambitious long-distance journeys that would define his public profile. He walked the entire length of the River Nile, traversed the Himalayas from Afghanistan to Bhutan and later crossed Central America from Mexico to Colombia, combining endurance with documentary storytelling.

His expeditions became landmark television series on Channel 4, including ‘Walking the Nile’, ‘Walking the Himalayas’ and ‘Walking the Americas’, alongside bestselling companion books. He later circumnavigated the Arabian Peninsula and produced the three-part series ‘Levison Wood: Walking with…’, tracking endangered animals. Alongside adventure travel writing awards and honorary academic recognition, Levison has built a global reputation as an authentic voice in modern exploration.

In addition to his television work, Levison is the author of twelve books, including the bestselling ‘The Art of Exploration‘, which explores the mindset required to navigate uncertainty and complexity. He has delivered five UK-wide theatre tours and continues to speak internationally on leadership, teamwork, creativity and overcoming adversity.

Why Hire Levison Wood?

Levison is hired as a speaker for his extraordinary real-world understanding of risk, resilience and leadership under pressure. Drawing on expeditions across deserts, mountains and politically unstable regions, he translates extreme environments into practical lessons for organisations facing change and uncertainty. His storytelling is immersive, reflective and rooted in genuine experience.

His TEDx talk, ‘Everything You Want Is on the Other Side of Fear‘, captures the essence of his philosophy: that growth, achievement and discovery require deliberate courage. As a bestselling author and award-winning documentary presenter, Levison combines compelling visuals with thoughtful insight, helping audiences develop what he calls an explorer’s mindset. His talks resonate strongly with leadership teams, creative industries and organisations navigating transformation.

Levison Wood’s Career Highlights:

Here are some of the key milestones that defineLevison Wood’s remarkable career:

• 2025 – Published his twelfth book, The Great Tree Story: How Forests Have Shaped Our World, exploring the cultural and environmental importance of forests globally.
• 2025 – Launched his fifth UK theatre tour, Walking the World: A Life of Exploration and Adventure, sharing lessons from over a decade of global expeditions.
• 2023 – Starred in the Channel 4 series Levison Wood: Walking with…, focusing on endangered wildlife and conservation.
• 2021 – Released The Art of Exploration: Lessons in Leadership, Creativity and Curiosity, which became a bestseller.
• 2019 – Featured in a documentary chronicling his 5,000-mile circumnavigation of the Arabian Peninsula, later nominated for a Broadcast Award.
• 2017 – Walked the length of Central America from Mexico to Colombia, resulting in the Channel 4 series and Sunday Times bestseller Walking the Americas.
• 2017 – Awarded an Honorary Doctorate (D.Litt) from Staffordshire University in recognition of his contribution to exploration and storytelling.
• 2016 – Walking the Himalayas was named Adventure Travel Book of the Year at the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards.
• 2015 – Starred in Channel 4’s Walking the Nile, which became the channel’s most successful factual series of the year.
• 2011 – Elected Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, recognising his contribution to modern exploration.