Edmond Öfner has worked his entire life with all kinds of teams and groups. Kids who are hard to handle, psychiatric shelters, hockey trainer and coach, skipper of a modern business yacht and many expeditions to the Himalayas. In 1992, he reached the summit of Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world.

In 1995, he climbed the K2 and in 1997 he conducted a 70-day feet journey to the geographical North Pole. A forceful example of good teamwork in a continuously changing and at times very unstable situation. Edmond was one of the people responsible for compiling and developing the team.

After the North Pole came the concept ‘Xpedition to the Source’, based on the four elements Earth, Air, Fire and Water, where expeditions lean on the components adventure, nature, culture and education.

Earth: walking 800 kilometers through the Australian Gibson desert with an international team. What is the difference between reaching your goal and your definition of being successful?

Air: finding untouched tombs of Chachapoya indians in the rain forests of the Amazone for the first time, working together with Peruvian archeologists. Is it worthwile to create a protected nature and archeological area and regard it as a corporate revenue?

Fire: climbing a working volcano in Ecuador, driven by the fire under your feet, plus an expedition through the interior of Papua. How do indigenous people handle fire and therefore energy?

Water: ski walking and power flying 2300 kilometers to the geographical South Pole and back. A unprecedented journey without any supplies. At the same time Dutch teenagers sailed from Cape Horn to Antarctica to investigate the influence of global climate change and to pass their findings on to their peers at home. Knowledge is future. Is it worth to invest in?

Edmond Öfner, who has led many expeditions, likes to share his expertise and experience with the corporate world, by means of training sessions and presentations. He is also available as a chairman and discussion leader. Sharp metaphors about co-operation, working pressure, motivation, communication, self-responsibilty, weak spots and conflicts are learning points for many organisations in a changing environment.

Edmond Öfner teaches conflict management (MBA) at the University of Maastricht. By showing stunning slides and video footage he discloses the core of co-operation, as an example. He also addresses theoretical, philosophical and ethical issues. His presentations are motivating and his training sessions are proven to be successful. The comparison between practical examples of his extreme expeditions and so-called 'normal' organisations are a source of inspiration to many.

Topics

• Communication

• Self-responsibility

• Co-operation

• Work pressure

• Motivation

• Conflict management

Business, Inspirational, Adventure, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Law, Personal Growth, Entrepreneurship, Motivational