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Jonny Huntington is an elite endurance athlete, explorer and stroke survivor who, in January 2025, made history as the first person with a disability to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole.
While serving as an officer in the British Army in 2014, Jonny suffered a stroke that caused complete paralysis from the neck down on his left side. Following years of intense rehabilitation and his eventual discharge from the Armed Forces, Jonny refused to let his circumstances define him. He went on to compete for Great Britain as a para cross-country skier, entering the world of elite sport and endurance challenges.
In the winter of 2024/25, Jonny embarked on his toughest expedition yet – a 46-day, 911 km journey across the Antarctic tundra. Pulling a 100kg sled and skiing up to 11 hours a day in temperatures as low as -40°C, he overcame crevasses, brutal winds and relentless 24-hour daylight to reach the South Pole without support, joining a select group of explorers to achieve such a feat.
A qualified sports scientist with expertise in sport psychology, physiology, cognition and nutrition, Jonny uses his academic knowledge and lived experience to help others optimise performance, develop mental resilience and pursue ambitious goals with confidence. His powerful story of determination, mindset and human potential has attracted global media attention, reaching an estimated audience of 1.4 billion people across more than 450 pieces of coverage worldwide.
Alongside his sporting and exploratory achievements, Jonny delivers impactful talks and workshops for schools and corporate audiences. His work with organisations across the insurance, property and tech sectors has included keynote sessions and multi-part workshops helping teams navigate change, build resilience and perform under pressure.
Never one to stand still, Jonny’s next challenge in 2026 will see him run 50 marathons in 50 US states in 50 days. Joined by other injured veterans, the project will aim to promote better mental health, raise awareness of neurodiversity and inspire others to think beyond limitation.
A veteran turned explorer who champions his disability, Jonny is an authentic advocate for stepping outside your comfort zone and redefining what’s possible.
Jonny demonstrates how setting ambitious goals, preparing strategically and maintaining unwavering focus can turn the impossible into reality. His talks empower individuals and teams to overcome fear, embrace discomfort and develop a mindset that drives long-term success.
As a sports scientist, Jonny combines academic insights with personal experience to show how mindset, nutrition, physiology and recovery impact performance. His practical guidance helps individuals and teams enhance focus, sustain energy, manage stress and achieve peak performance.
Using his record-breaking solo expedition to the South Pole as a case study, Jonny explores how courage, creativity and perseverance enable people to challenge convention and achieve extraordinary results. Audiences leave inspired to innovate, take calculated risks and redefine what is possible.
Jonny shares his extraordinary journey from stroke survivor to Antarctic explorer, revealing the mindset, strategies and habits that enabled him to push beyond physical and mental barriers. Attendees will learn how to face challenges head-on, adapt to setbacks and cultivate resilience in both personal and professional life.
Jonny has been an incredible asset to SRG and an unwavering source of inspiration and guidance, particularly through his mentoring to our high-potential programme alumni. His insights and experiences have profoundly impacted their growth, helping us all to navigate challenges with newfound confidence and determination.
Jonny, with his humble yet passionate persona and eloquent delivery both holds and engages the audience superbly. Through this engagement he gets across not only his story but more importantly practical lessons and philosophies that each listener can apply to help them be higher performing in their work and personal lives.
