Jonty Warneken

Jonty Warneken is hired as a high-performance speaker because he embodies sustained excellence under extreme pressure. A disabled ice swimmer, four-time Guinness World Record holder and Team GB representative, Jonty has redefined what elite performance looks like. After losing his left leg below the knee in a catastrophic car accident at the age of 22 and undergoing major reconstructive surgery, he rebuilt his physical capability, mental resilience and professional trajectory. Today, he speaks to organisations about operating at the limits of endurance, managing risk and delivering results when conditions are at their most hostile.

Graduating from the University of Hull with a BA in Psychology with Sociology and Anthropology, Jonty originally pursued ambitions of becoming a military pilot and representing his country in rugby union. Those plans were abruptly ended by his accident, yet his understanding of human behaviour and mindset became foundational to his next chapter. He entered financial services as a Financial Consultant with Prudential Assurance before progressing to Manager at Deloitte & Touche Private Clients. He went on to hold senior leadership roles, including Head of Northern Region Wealth Management at Sanlam Private Wealth, Director at Da Ponte, and Senior Investment Director and Head of the North at Brooks Macdonald. Since 2023, he has led the Harrogate office at Atomos Wealth and became Non-Executive Chairman of E Marketing in 2024, demonstrating strategic oversight and commercial accountability at the board level.

Alongside his corporate leadership, Jonty has delivered world-class athletic achievements. He holds four Guinness World Records, including the fastest male circumnavigation swim of Jersey, completed in just over 11 hours. He set the world record for the fastest swim across the North Channel in 2023, becoming the first para swimmer to complete the crossing and part of the first-ever disabled team to do so. He has represented Team GB at two Ice Swimming World Championships, founded the Para V series of five consecutive 5km swims across five countries, and created the first para 4x250m country relay team at the Championships. He also serves as Vice President of the International Ice Swimming Association and Director and Treasurer of the World Open Water Swimming Association, and has appeared across BBC television and radio.

As a high-performance speaker, Jonty translates boardroom strategy and sub-zero endurance into practical performance frameworks. He explores preparation, marginal gains, accountability and disciplined execution, drawing parallels between extreme cold water swimming and leading teams through volatility. His experience competing in downhill skiing, Nordic skiing and triathlons further reinforces his authority on sustained output and recovery. For organisations seeking a speaker who understands measurable results, resilience under pressure and leadership at the edge of human capability, Jonty delivers a powerful, evidence-based perspective on achieving peak performance.