'Beyond the horizon' with Monty Halls

In the uncertainties of the modern world, successful individuals and teams must be adaptable and responsive to change. Drawn from over twenty years of observing people all over the world, explorer and TV presenter Monty Halls will explore the dynamics of the team, the individuals within it and the common themes of how we all deal with change.

Illustrated with stories of individuals and teams getting it magnificently right and hideously wrong, Monty’s unique insights will help you evaluate your personal ability to respond to change and how to keep sight of your goals in an ever shifting environment.

Monty Halls is a writer, explorer and television presenter. A former Royal Marines officer who worked for Nelson Mandela on the peace process in South Africa, he left the services in 1996 to pursue a career in leading expeditions. Monty has circumnavigated the globe four times on various projects, leading multi-national teams in some of the most demanding environments on earth. In 2002 he was awarded the Bish Medal by the Scientific Exploration Society for his services to exploration.

Monty has presented series and documentaries for the BBC1 and BBC2, Channel 4, Channel 5, Discovery Channel, The National Geographic Channel, and the History Channel. Recent projects have been The Great Escapes series, taking Monty to the west coast of Scotland, the Outer Hebrides and Ireland, and “Great Barrier Reef”. 

Monty continues to run expeditions and diving trips from his fully equipped corporate training facility in Dartmouth. He has written six books, mainly on diving and the marine environment and his new book "The Big Catch" documents his time in Cornwall working with the fishermen there with some wonderful photography to accompany the forthcoming BBC series.

Take it on the chin - how criticism affects your life and business

Whether you like it or not, criticism is at the heart of all business. Be it through traditional methods or newer digital channels, everyone has to offer honest criticism and more importantly companies need to listen to it.

Giving it and taking it are undoubtedly two of the most difficult aspects of the working life. To do it well and without too much collateral damage or misunderstandings is a necessary skill. It can also be one of life's most vicious pleasures.

A.A. Gill was born in Edinburgh. He is the author of two novels, Sap Rising and Starcrossed, books on three of London's most famous restaurants, The Ivy, Le Caprice and Breakfast at the Wolseley, two travel books, A.A. Gill is Away and Previous Convictions, The Angry Island: Hunting the English and, most recently, Table Talk and Paper View.

He is the TV and restaurant critic for the Sunday Times and is a contributing editor to Vanity Fair, Esquire and Australian Gourmet Traveller magazines. He lives in London and spends much of his year travelling.