Ask Dr. Chadden Hunter what gelada baboons and perseverance in the corporate world have in common, and you’d better be prepared for a comprehensive answer. The world-renowned wildlife filmmaker, environmentalist, adventurer and right-hand man to Sir David Attenborough, has seen more of the world and the animal kingdom before completing his ‘Gorillas in the Mist’ PhD, than most of us could possibly dream of seeing in our lifetime.
Born in North Queensland, Chadden grew up surrounded by rainforest and coral reef. It was his childhood immersion in nature that inspired his life’s work and journey. After gaining a First Class Honours degree in Zoology from the University of Queensland, Dr Chadden embarked on a wild ‘Gorillas in the Mist’ adventure to study gelada baboons for his PhD, in the remote war-torn mountains of Ethiopia.
As Sir David Attenborough’s right-hand man, Dr Hunter’s ground-breaking film work includes the documentaries Planet Earth, Frozen Planet and Seven Worlds One Planet. A legend in his own right, Dr Hunter’s work as filmmaker, director and producer, have won him global respect and over 20 Emmy and BAFTA Awards.
While Dr Hunter’s life has been dedicated to the natural world, as a guest speaker at Illuminate 2022, he will share how his journey as a wildlife filmmaker has made a positive impact on helping to influence corporate behaviour and global politics.
Dr Hunter is skilled at using storytelling to inspire people to take action and will draw on his experiences across the world to talk about ‘perseverance, communicating with wider audiences and the importance of team building and creative leadership’. From scuba-diving under the Antarctic ice cap, to coming face-to-face with grizzly bears, Dr Chadden will mix the personal with the professional to show how commitment and determination are key to overcoming challenges.
Hear more of his fascinating stories and adventures at this year’s Illuminate, 20 October. Register to attend the in-person event at The Venue Alexandria or experience Illuminate 2022, virtually via our interactive online platform.