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Jill Heinerth

Explorer-in-Residence, The Royal Canadian Geographical Society

Jill Heinerth Headshot April 2023
Speaker Reel
Jill Heinerth Thumb 2
Canary in a Coal Mine
Jill Heinerth TED Thumbnail
TED Youth - The Mysterious World of Underwater Caves
Virtual Promo
Exploring places visited by people fewer times than the Moon
Doorways of Possiblity
Jill
Jill Heinerth Thumb 2
Jill Heinerth TED Thumbnail
Jill Heinerth Headshot April 2023
Speaker Reel
Jill Heinerth Thumb 2
Canary in a Coal Mine
Jill Heinerth TED Thumbnail
TED Youth - The Mysterious World of Underwater Caves
Virtual Promo
Exploring places visited by people fewer times than the Moon
Doorways of Possiblity

More people have walked on the moon than have visited many of the places that Jill Heinerth has seen on Earth. From the most dangerous technical dives deep inside underwater caves, to searching for never-before-seen ecosystems inside giant Antarctic icebergs, Heinerth’s curiosity and passion about our watery planet is the driving force in her life. In her visually stunning presentations, she encourages audiences to reach beyond their limitations, challenge the unknown, and overcome their fears, while sharing practical lessons on risk management, discovery learning, failure, and collaboration.

From desert oases of the Sahara to Baffin Bay’s cold waters, Heinerth has been the hands and eyes for climatologists, archaeologists, and engineers worldwide. She led the first dives into underwater caves inside Antarctica’s massive B-15 iceberg and was a lead diver on a ground-breaking US Deep Caving Team project, piloting the first accurate 3D cave mapping device using tech that’s now bound for space.

Heinerth was named the first Explorer-in-Residence of The Royal Canadian Geographical Society in 2016 and is the recipient of the Explorer’s Club Stefansson Medal and the Wyland ICON Award in recognition of her lifetime of work in exploration. She was also awarded the inaugural Sir Christopher Ondaatje Medal for Exploration, which recognizes singular achievements and the pursuit of excellence by an outstanding Canadian explorer, and received her first honorary doctorate in 2023 from Victoria University of the University of Toronto.

A bestselling author, Heinerth’s first book Into the Planet, was lauded by the Wall Street Journal, Oprah Magazine, and the New York Times. Her children’s book, The Aquanut, is a Blue Ribbon Selection for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Heinerth is a fellow of the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame, Underwater Academy of Arts and Sciences, Women Divers Hall of Fame, and the Explorers Club, which also awarded her with the William Beebe Award.

Speaking topics

Presentations listed below include in-person and virtual keynotes, as well as workshops, fireside chats, and other presentation formats.

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Client reviews

  • More people have been to the moon than to places that Jill Heinerth has explored deep inside our watery planet. A world class technical diver and filmmaker, Jill’s extraordinary path from under Antarctic icebergs to tropical blue holes is proof that real life is far more exciting than fiction.

  • Cave diver Jill Heinerth sold everything she owned to get away from office life and become an underwater explorer. The gamble paid off: She’s now considered by many to be the best female scuba diver in the world.

  • Diving with Jill Heinerth is like getting on the ice with Sidney Crosby.

  • The references to constant learning and agile thinking were very relevant to the IBM environment and it made you realize that the skills we are learning now are not just relevant in IBM but for all aspects of our lives.

  • What a great evening. Jill you are one fantastic lady and public speaker. Everyone was totally enchanted.

  • Wonderful speaker. Enthusiastic, inspiring, and powerful life lessons. Beautiful photography as well!

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