Environmental speaker, Chris Packham, was born in Southampton in 1961. As soon as he was crawling around suburbia, ladybirds were being housed in matchboxes and tadpoles kept in jam jars. Husbandry skills improved.  As a result the menagerie expanded to large collections of reptiles (inside) and birds of prey, foxes, badgers, squirrels etc (generally outside).

Background

A precocious young scientist, swat and nerd in training. He studied Kestrels, Shrews and Badgers in his teens and undergraduate days at the Zoology department of Southampton University. Chris also embraced Punk Rock and played in a band. The DIY ethos and determination to never take ‘no’ for an answer are forcefully retained.

Post graduation and a cancelled PhD, (the Badgers were getting a bit much), he began taking still photographs and trained as a wildlife film cameraman. The photography continues with exhibitions and invitations to judge prestigious competitions.

Television

Eventually the camerawork gave way to presenting. Chris began with the award winning Really Wild Show in 1986 and has been working ever since. Credits include, Wildshots, Wild Watch, Go Wild, basically lots of things with ‘wild’ in the title.  X-Creatures, Postcards from the Wild, Hands on Nature and  Nature’s Calendar – almost had more inventive programme names. He is also renowned for his work on the BBC’s BAFTA winning Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch. 

In March 2019, Chris presented the four part series Blue Planet Live, along with Liz Bonnin and Steve Backshall.  Then in 2020, he narrated a three-part documentary series called Primates.  The same year, along with Ella Al-Shamahi, he also co-presented Waterhole: Africa’s Animal Oasis. In 2021, he began presenting a six-part BBC Two documentary series called Animal Einsteins.

Chris is the founder of a hugely successful production company Head over Heels.  The company makes programmes for Animal Planet, National Geographic, ITV and the BBC.

Other interests

Chris has had the good fortune to travel widely and he has explored many habitats.  He has visited the Antarctic Islands, rainforests, and deserts, the Everest range, the deep oceans – and some of the planets most notorious nightclubs and drinking dens. Chris is a sucker for Archaeology and likes to holiday amongst ruins.

He has a couple of old cars which don’t get much exercise, a couple of dogs who can’t get enough exercise.  Chris has no fondness for unnecessary exercise himself but reads and writes continuously. He dabbles in the art market and wishes he had a Miro. The top-ten favourite birds has a hundred in Chris’ list. He wants to see a Philippines Eagle before he dies and thinks Audrey Hepburn has no known earthly equal. Chris was awarded a CBE in the 2019 New Year’s Honours list and is an Ambassador for the National Autistic Society.

Speaking and hosting

Chris is a popular corporate presenter and speaker with a passionate and inspiring style of presentation.

“If you ever get the chance to attend a talk by naturalist Chris Packham – GO! A super speaker who cares passionately about his work.” Susan Brewer, author.

“Great to hear from Chris Packham on the importance of businesses and employees supporting responsible business and conservation” Siemens UK

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