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Bjørn Heyerdahl is an active explorer, environmentalist, biospheric designer, internationally renowned speaker, and consultant on humanitarian, environmental and development issues, and he is a Viking… an Earth Charter Viking.
Bjørn descends from a lineage of Vikings dating back to 812 AD, and he indeed represents his heritage.
He is also the grandson of the Norwegian explorer and writer, Thor Heyerdahl, who led the Kon-Tiki Expedition in 1947, a journey across the Pacific Ocean from South America to the Polynesian islands on a balsawood raft.
Inspired by his grandfather’s tenacity and the spirit of adventure that runs deep in the family blood, at age 18, Bjorn set out on foot, with no support and nothing but a backpack from Durban to Port Edward (a 200km trek).
Bjørn Heyerdahl slept on beaches and ate only what he foraged or caught in the sea. He returned home a month later to face sentencing because of his conscientious objection in apartheid South Africa (1986), resolute that he would not be conscripted to fight a war he did not believe in.
After four years and nine months of his six-year sentence in prison, he was released. During this time, Bjørn Heyerdahl did hard labor, digging in rock pits nine hours a day, cleaning sewers, and later became acting Deputy Director of the House of Assembly, overseeing private hospital feasibility studies, hospital registration, and adherence to minimum standards.
He also studied psychology as part of his own healing journey, and after his time in prison, he opened a therapeutic practice, leadership coaching and organisational development consultancy. This odyssey of trial and education by fire is a worthy tale in its own right.
He believed people healed in healing environments, so in 1995, he set out to find what he considered a healing space for traumatized people.
This led to many community-based, ecologically sound development projects, including designing and constructing a fully sustainable, off-the-grid lodge on Benguerra Island in Mozambique.
In 2002, he received an award and gained membership from the prestigious Explorer’s Club in New York for his contribution to the future of scientific exploration. He also received the Silver Medalion from Mikhail Gorbachev.
Invited by the Explorers Club in NY, the Royal Geographic Society in London, Green Cross International in Geneva, various organs of the United Nations, and multinational companies, Bjørn Heyerdahl travels globally as a Keynote speaker on multiple subjects, including inspirational and ethical leadership, as well as integrated approaches to the ecological, economic and climatic crises we face as a global community.
Bjørn Heyerdahl’s passion for finding solutions and working models of intelligent, sustainable human habitation led to the launching of the Midgard Expedition at the Explorers Club in New York in 2003.
Bjørn’s integral approach and multidisciplinary methodology, combined with his hard-earned personal grit, indomitable character and inexhaustible energy, sets him apart as an inspiring leader of a rare kind. His audiences are educated, elevated, inspired, entertained and changed through experiencing his energy, first-hand.
In 2020, The Midgard Expedition sailed under the Earth Charter flag. It was inspired by the efficiency, design, and earth-friendly materials of Viking longboats and the courage of the intrepid Vikings who built and sailed them centuries ago.
Bjørn Heyerdahl built the research vessel (RV) ‘Midgard Heron’, which travelled with a diverse crew of scientists, explorers, and sustainability specialists, studying how different communities implement sustainable practices and lifestyles. The Midgard Heron was the first Viking longboat to round the perilous ‘Cape of Storms,’ located at the southernmost tip of Africa.
His book, The Midgard Expedition, is an inspiring tale that details the grit, human drama, and monumental challenges they overcame to realize their lofty goals.
Bjørn intends to grow global ecological and ethical awareness on what can be done in response to the collapse of life support systems; and to elevate adults and youth to strong, ethical leaders through adventure, documentary, education, inspiration, and setting an example to follow.
Bjørn Heyerdahl often talks about turning the Earth Charter principles into action. “We need backbone, ‘vikingness’, and an unapologetic drive to start the implementation and see this through. We have an extremely ‘soft’ impulse to nurture and understand one another, but we must balance it with a strong drive to make things happen. We need to design and create the future we want.
Like the Vikings did.
We must stop apologizing and engage with those who are wittingly or unwittingly doing colossal damage to the planet.
We must meet them with a loud voice and bring living, alternative models of sustainability into being. This is the intention of the Midgard Expedition. This Viking is here to promote new ethics and a vision for a sustainable future.
“There is a Viking Ship in every acorn.”
Contact us at Speakers Inc and subscribe to our YouTube channel
Bjørn Heyerdahl is an active explorer, environmentalist, biospheric designer, internationally renowned speaker, and consultant on humanitarian, environmental and development issues, and he is a Viking… an Earth Charter Viking.
Bjørn descends from a lineage of Vikings dating back to 812 AD, and he indeed represents his heritage.
He is also the grandson of the Norwegian explorer and writer, Thor Heyerdahl, who led the Kon-Tiki Expedition in 1947, a journey across the Pacific Ocean from South America to the Polynesian islands on a balsawood raft.
Inspired by his grandfather’s tenacity and the spirit of adventure that runs deep in the family blood, at age 18, Bjorn set out on foot, with no support and nothing but a backpack from Durban to Port Edward (a 200km trek).
Bjørn Heyerdahl slept on beaches and ate only what he foraged or caught in the sea. He returned home a month later to face sentencing because of his conscientious objection in apartheid South Africa (1986), resolute that he would not be conscripted to fight a war he did not believe in.
After four years and nine months of his six-year sentence in prison, he was released. During this time, Bjørn Heyerdahl did hard labor, digging in rock pits nine hours a day, cleaning sewers, and later became acting Deputy Director of the House of Assembly, overseeing private hospital feasibility studies, hospital registration, and adherence to minimum standards.
He also studied psychology as part of his own healing journey, and after his time in prison, he opened a therapeutic practice, leadership coaching and organisational development consultancy. This odyssey of trial and education by fire is a worthy tale in its own right.
He believed people healed in healing environments, so in 1995, he set out to find what he considered a healing space for traumatized people.
This led to many community-based, ecologically sound development projects, including designing and constructing a fully sustainable, off-the-grid lodge on Benguerra Island in Mozambique.
In 2002, he received an award and gained membership from the prestigious Explorer’s Club in New York for his contribution to the future of scientific exploration. He also received the Silver Medalion from Mikhail Gorbachev.
Invited by the Explorers Club in NY, the Royal Geographic Society in London, Green Cross International in Geneva, various organs of the United Nations, and multinational companies, Bjørn Heyerdahl travels globally as a Keynote speaker on multiple subjects, including inspirational and ethical leadership, as well as integrated approaches to the ecological, economic and climatic crises we face as a global community.
Bjørn Heyerdahl’s passion for finding solutions and working models of intelligent, sustainable human habitation led to the launching of the Midgard Expedition at the Explorers Club in New York in 2003.
Bjørn’s integral approach and multidisciplinary methodology, combined with his hard-earned personal grit, indomitable character and inexhaustible energy, sets him apart as an inspiring leader of a rare kind. His audiences are educated, elevated, inspired, entertained and changed through experiencing his energy, first-hand.
In 2020, The Midgard Expedition sailed under the Earth Charter flag. It was inspired by the efficiency, design, and earth-friendly materials of Viking longboats and the courage of the intrepid Vikings who built and sailed them centuries ago.
Bjørn Heyerdahl built the research vessel (RV) ‘Midgard Heron’, which travelled with a diverse crew of scientists, explorers, and sustainability specialists, studying how different communities implement sustainable practices and lifestyles. The Midgard Heron was the first Viking longboat to round the perilous ‘Cape of Storms,’ located at the southernmost tip of Africa.
His book, The Midgard Expedition, is an inspiring tale that details the grit, human drama, and monumental challenges they overcame to realize their lofty goals.
Bjørn intends to grow global ecological and ethical awareness on what can be done in response to the collapse of life support systems; and to elevate adults and youth to strong, ethical leaders through adventure, documentary, education, inspiration, and setting an example to follow.
Bjørn Heyerdahl often talks about turning the Earth Charter principles into action. “We need backbone, ‘vikingness’, and an unapologetic drive to start the implementation and see this through. We have an extremely ‘soft’ impulse to nurture and understand one another, but we must balance it with a strong drive to make things happen. We need to design and create the future we want.
Like the Vikings did.
We must stop apologizing and engage with those who are wittingly or unwittingly doing colossal damage to the planet.
We must meet them with a loud voice and bring living, alternative models of sustainability into being. This is the intention of the Midgard Expedition. This Viking is here to promote new ethics and a vision for a sustainable future.
“There is a Viking Ship in every acorn.”
Contact us at Speakers Inc and subscribe to our YouTube channel
Chris Bertish is a renowned professional speaker, ocean pioneer, and international best-selling author whose extraordinary feats have captivated audiences worldwide. With a spirit as boundless as the ocean itself, Chris exemplifies courage, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of dreams against all odds. His journey from humble beginnings to becoming a global icon for adventure and […]
Kim van Kets grew up in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape, studied law at Stellenbosch University, was admitted as an attorney of the High Court of RSA and spent many years in legal practice and the corporate world both in RSA and abroad. She is currently self-employed as a legal consultant/ corporate trainer, […]
Lewis Pugh goes to the extremes. He’s been to the world’s most inaccessible places. He’s put his body through unimaginable difficult conditions. He has learnt how to harness the energy that comes from overcoming extraordinary odds and he knows how to inspire audiences to rise to their own internal challenges. His talks make a difference, […]
Sonja Kruse, affectionately known as ‘The uBuntu Girl,’ embodies the spirit of adventure and an unwavering faith in humanity. In 2009, she embarked on a remarkable solo journey across South Africa, relying solely on her instincts, a modest backpack, a camera, and a mere R100. Her mission was clear: to traverse the country by foot […]
Rachel Colenso stands as a beacon of inspiration, marked by a legacy of unparalleled resilience and achievement. As the first of only four women globally to navigate the grueling British SAS Special Forces Selection process, she embodies the epitome of courage, determination, and tenacity. Her journey is not just one of physical prowess but also […]
Hein Wagner has been blind since birth…and he is an exceptional motivational speaker for any conference event. Despite this Hein Wagner has many accomplishments to his name. He has completed the Absa Cape Epic, ran the Antarctica Marathon, the Two Oceans and New York Marathons, completed full Ironman, Hein competed in the World Triathlon Series […]
Kevin Gaskell set out to be a Civil Engineer and worked in the construction industry on a number of high profile projects before exploring another path. Four years in management accounting gave him an excellent understanding of the numbers that make a business work. A job ad in the Sunday Times and a passion for […]
Riaan Manser is the epitome of courage and determination, he has re-written the definition of tenacity over the past 20 years. Riaan rose to prominence by becoming the first person to cycle around the perimeter of Africa. For over two years, alone and unaided, Riaan pedalled a staggering 37 000 km’s through 34 different countries, […]
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