James (Cas) Castrission is an Aussie Explorer constantly pushing the boundaries of human endurance. Cas also spent five years as a management consultant at Deloitte.
Current work
Cas is highly regarded as one of Australia’s premier public speakers. He has written 2 bestselling books: Crossing the Ditch and Extreme South.
Cas has now shared his incredible story with over 320,000 people around the world. Insights into leadership, teamwork, risk management and how to overcome adversity have captivated global audiences.
Previous experience
Polar Expedition: He recently made history by completing the longest unsupported polar expedition of all time, alongside his best mate, Jonesy. In 100 years of polar exploration no-one had EVER walked from the edge of Antarctica to the South Pole and back without assistance. Many had tried, none had succeeded. After 89 gruelling days they made it back to the coast after having skied 2275km with everything they needed to survive in the harshest environment on Earth.
The Ditch: Four years earlier they Crossed the Ditch - paddling 3318km without assistance across the Tasman Sea for another world first. They braved 10 metre swells, howling winds, endured severe food and sleep deprivation and adverse winds and currents. They became the first kayakers to cross the Tasman Sea as well as becoming the longest transoceanic double kayak expedition. Staggering upon the shores of New Zealand, the adventurers were sunburnt, bearded, underweight, and physically and mentally wasted…but most of all happy to be alive.
Talking Points
The 6 Step Journey from Inspiration to Execution
In this lively keynote, you’ll learn the critical steps that ensured Cas not only survived, but achieved two Guinness World Record adventures.The 6 Step Journey from Inspiration to Execution
Cas has developed this six step model so that your organisation can apply his learnings to achieving any BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal). Whether it’s a roadmap to achieving your 2020 vision or launching a new product. It’s a model that will help your team build clarity and alignment to organisational achieving the impossible.
Collaborating to Win
Effective collaboration is the most important element of success, whether you’re striving to grow a company orCollaborating to Win
you’re voyaging across an ocean or tundra. Without real collaboration both endeavours are bound to fail.
In this engaging keynote you’ll learn critical steps in creating a tribe that is aligned and working together, that supports each other, and that doesn’t put personal ambition and success over that of the organisation.
This is the perfect session on how to develop a “culture” that is geared towards collaboration, and ultimately: success.
Crossing the Ditch & Crossing the Ice
FEEL THE EXCITEMENT AND DANGER OF TWO OF THE GREATEST ADVENTURES IN HISTORY.Crossing the Ditch & Crossing the Ice
These two keynotes-Crossing the Ditch & Crossing the Ice are highly motivating story-based presentations.
Cas will take your audience on an audio-visual journey through two of the greatest adventures in history. With lessons learnt from the most hostile environments on earth, his keynotes will stick with them for years to come.
These international keynote presentations
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Inspiration/Motivation
- Challenge/Adventure
- Purpose/Vision
- Overcoming adversity
Workshop: Collaborating to Win
Effective collaboration is the most important element of success, whether you’re striving to grow a company or you’re voyaging across an ocean or tundra. Without real collaboration, both endeavours are bound to fail.Workshop: Collaborating to Win
In this engaging keynote, you’ll learn critical steps in creating a tribe that is aligned and working together, supporting each other, and that doesn’t put personal ambition and success over that of the organisation.
This is the perfect session on how to develop a “culture” that is geared towards collaboration and ultimately, success.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Effective collaboration
- Teamwork
- Strategic Thinking
Workshop: Unchartered Waters & Uncharted Ice - An Immersive Learning Experience
Teams are led through an HPT setup where they make decisions on scenarios (with footage) from world-first expeditions with each decision having consequences that impact their success.Workshop: Unchartered Waters & Uncharted Ice - An Immersive Learning Experience
This immersive learning experience is designed to help them develop the skills they need to succeed including learning how to make better decisions under pressure, build stronger relationships, and effectively manage risk.
The synergies between achieving a daring world record and managing a successful business are clear. Both require alignment, leadership, and teamwork. By the end of this session, your team will leave with proven tools and techniques that will help them achieve their goals.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Decision-making in VUCA environment
- Effective teamwork/collaboration
- Foundations of the cohesive leadership team
OUR APPROACH IS DIFFERENT.
Cas is an expert in designing and delivering high-impact leadership journeys, combining different delivery mediums to ensure maximum traction of the development of your leaders.
One of his most sought-after delivery is Uncharted Ice, an immersive learning experience that takes lessons and footage from one of the most hostile environments on Earth. This session emotionally engages leaders and creates an unforgettable shared experience that will bring them together to act as a team.
During the workshop, they are encouraged to strengthen their communication and decision-making skills. They have the opportunity for healthy debate and shared problem-solving, which improves their team connection.
The interactive nature of Uncharted Ice is highly memorable and allows teams to retain key insights and behaviours for longer.
This workshop is also available virtually.
Workshop: The Explorer's Growth Mindset
In today's VUCA world, it is critical that teams develop a growth mindset. It is not just important for senior management, but for the whole organisation-from EA to CEO.Workshop: The Explorer's Growth Mindset
In this workshop, Cas takes delegates through the five steps to growth, relating his own story as one of Australia’s 50 Greatest Explorers of All Time and bringing in case studies from people like LeBron James and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
The workshop finishes with each employee forming individual commitments so they can carry forward a growth mindset-set on a path for growth into the future.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Growth mindset
- Team/Individual assessment
- Vulnerability-based trust
- 99% planning, 1% execution
Powerful. Inspiring. Relevant.
A memorable keynote speaker does three things:Powerful. Inspiring. Relevant.
- Tells an incredible story;
- Has people sitting on the edge of their seats; and
- Shares highly relevant messages that audiences can truly connect with.
As well as being a record-breaking adventurer and entrepreneur, Cas has a background as a corporate executive.
Having a clear understanding of what it takes to survive in both worlds sets him miles apart from other corporate speakers.
Audience Size: 10 - 10,000
Duration: 20 - 90 mins.
Immersive Learning
A CHOOSE-YOUR-OWN-ADVENTURE EXPERIENCE.Immersive Learning
This experience emotionally engages audiences through metaphor, creating a shared platform to explore team dynamics, decision-making, and key insights applicable to life in the world.
This is an opportunity for organisations to further develop their understanding and application of high performance and teamwork.
Audience Size: 5 - 500
Duration: 3 hrs. - 2 days
Growing Grit
The single biggest driver of Cas' success (and that of individuals and companies) is their perseverance and passion for long-term goals, defined as GRIT. In this immersive workshop Cas will present the science of GRIT, take the participants through an individual GRIT score test and then give them tools and techniques to build resilience because at the end of the day, GRIT is a learned behaviour (not an inherited trait of success).Growing Grit
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- GRIT
- Understand the 4 key drivers of resilience
- GRIT assessment
- Actionable takeaways to grow GRIT
Competing To Win
Effective collaboration is the most important element of success, whether you’re striving to grow a company or you’re voyaging across an ocean or tundra. Without real collaboration, both endeavours are bound to fail.Competing To Win
In this engaging workshop, your delegates will learn steps to create an aligned tribe that is working together, that supports each other and that doesn’t put personal ambition and success over that of the organisation. This is the perfect session on how to develop a “culture” that is geared towards collaboration, and ultimately:
success.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Effective collaboration
- Internal vs external collaboration
- Strategic thinking
Team Building - Indoor Antarctic Survival Exercise
Your team is attempting to be the first people to walk unsupported from Mawson Hut to the South Pole.Team Building - Indoor Antarctic Survival Exercise
You need to set up your tent to escape the blizzard…
Challenge: Your team must set up your trusty tent, with polar mitts on, no talking. Your whole team must crawl inside the setup tent to complete the challenge.
This team-building activity has been designed to get teams working together as ONE TEAM and showcase the importance of effective planning in execution.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Teamwork
- Effective communication
- Strategy
- Collaboration
- System design & implementation
Team Building - My Adventure Race
The Premier Adventure Challenge Course and Corporate RaceTeam Building - My Adventure Race
My Adventure Race is a team-based adventure challenge course that will test your physical and mental skills. The race will feature a variety of obstacles, including rock climbing, abseiling, and group puzzles.
Each team’s objective is to be the first to arrive at the My Adventure Race finish line! To do this, they will need to follow a series of location clues that will lead to a variety of challenges. There will also be bonus challenges and time penalties scattered throughout the race. They will only receive your next location clue once you have satisfactorily completed each challenge.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Teamwork
- Interactive Fun
- Effective Communication
Team Building - Growth Mindset High Ropes Course
Looking for an engaging activity to drive the learnings from the conference room?Team Building - Growth Mindset High Ropes Course
Start the day with a workshop on growth mindset theory. Learn how to apply this framework to your work life and overcome challenges.
After lunch, head out to the high ropes course and put your new skills to the test. The high ropes course is a safe and challenging environment where you can practice teamwork, resilience, and vulnerability-based trust.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Overcoming Adversity
- Resilience
- Teamwork
- Vulnerability based trust
- Growth Mindset
Multi-Engagement Program
12-MONTH MULTI-ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE TEAMSMulti-Engagement Program
Engage in interactive and informative sessions that will transform your team into a high-performing unit.
This program is developed by Cas to help teams develop the mindset, skills, and tools they need to succeed. It is based on the real-world experiences of James Castrission, who has led two Guinness World Record expeditions.
Each session is designed to be engaging, interactive, and informative. It will challenge your team and help them grow as individuals and as a team.
Audience Size: 5 - 500
Duration: 12 months
Video
James Castrission: My Adventure Group
My Adventure Group delivers Australia’s premiere multi-day adventure based leadership development programs. Our high-energy, high-impact program is led by renowned Aussie adventurer (and one of Australia's most sought after corporate speakers), James Castrission. We design the program to build effective teamwork, develop leadership skills, sykrocket motivation, all whilst having an unforgettable adventure! We believe the most effective way of achieving these outcomes is through authentic and real shared experiences.Virtual Workshop: Navigating Uncharted Waters
James (Cas) Castrission is an Aussie Explorer constantly pushing the boundaries of human endurance. Cas also spent five years as a management consultant at Deloitte. In this virtual workshop experience Cas takes lessons (& footage) from surviving some of the most hostile environments on the planet to create a choose-your-own-adventure style interactive learning experience that emotionally engages audiences through metaphor, creating a shared platform to explore team dynamics, decision making and key insights applicable to the real world.James Castrission | Speaker Reel | Saxton Speakers
Cas is highly regarded as one of Australia’s premier public speakers. He has written 2 bestselling books: Crossing the Ditch and Extreme South. Cas has now shared his incredible story with over 320,000 people around the world. Insights into leadership, teamwork, risk management, and overcoming adversity have captivated global audiences.Unchartered Ice 2022 with James Castrission
A choose your own adventure experience for corporate groups! Taking lessons and footage from some of the most hostile environments on the planet, Unchartered Ice is an immersive session that emotionally engages audiences and creates an unforgettable shared experience that will bring individuals together to act like a team. During this workshop, delegates are emotionally engaged and inspired to strengthen their communication and decision-making skills. They have the opportunity for healthy debate and shared problem-solving, which improves their connection as a team. The interactive nature of Unchartered Ice is highly memorable and allows teams to retain key insights and behaviours for longer. Rediscover the excitement of collaborating in person with a one-of-a-kind workshop hosted by record-breaking explorer James Castrission.Cas was absolutely awesome. He fulfilled his speaker brief perfectly and was inspiring and engaging. He had an audience of over 300 staff members spellbound. ... keep reading Foxtel
I was on the edge of my seat for the entire presentation. one moment in tears of laughter, the next tears of despair.
... the peak teams program was a great way to reinforce our team’s commitment to short and long term goals and ultimately the success of the company
I’ve worked in the events industry for over 10 years and can honestly say this is one of the most unique and rewarding programs I have worked on, I would highly recommended my adventure group for anyone looking for something outside the norm! Congratulations and thank you to James and his team for all of their hard work
James was amazing, his experiences combined with his ability to involve you in the expedition was something we have not experienced with a keynote speaker before, our objective was to increase teamwork and his teachings achieved that perfectly 10/10 he was energetic, enthusiastic and engaging.
