For AI-assisted research, proposals and internal shortlists.
Jonathan Smith is an award-winning natural history filmmaker who specialises in landmark underwater documentary films. With a career spanning over twenty years, Smith has filmed in every ocean, battled the most inhospitable conditions, and come face-to-face with the worldтАЩs most formidable, magnificent and intriguing creatures. Renowned for capturing never-before-seen imagery and unique animal behaviour, he has established himself as a world leader in wildlife filmmaking, routinely leading teams to all corners of the globe in pursuit of what is often considered impossible
SmithтАЩs ability to combine incredible wildlife moments with powerful storytelling has allowed his work to resonate hugely on the global stage. He produced the highly acclaimed тАЬOpeningтАЭ and тАЬCoral ReefтАЭ films of the BBCтАЩs landmark series Blue Planet II, which were watched by hundreds of millions of people worldwide. For this monumental production, he earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination and collected a BAFTA Award on stage alongside the legendary Sir David Attenborough. He continued to push the boundaries of underwater narrative as the series producer of the spectacular Netflix show Our Oceans, a celebrated project for which narrator Barack Obama won an Emmy Award.
His unique eye for detail and visual innovation extends far beyond traditional television. Smith served as the Co-Director for AppleтАЩs stunning underwater screensavers, showcasing his elite natural history filmmaking on Apple TV sets worldwide. He has also recently finished series directing the highly anticipated project The Real Finding Nemo for Disney / National Geographic, which is currently in production.
As a speaker, Jonathan delivers high-impact, entertaining presentations built on a deep well of global adventures and the profound lessons learned along the way. He shares thrilling, first-hand accounts and insightful тАЬbehind-the-scenesтАЭ imagery, offering audiences a unique look into the sheer perseverance, complex logistics, and absolute trust required to execute the worldтАЩs most ambitious wildlife series.
At the core of JonathanтАЩs message is a masterclass in resilience and adaptive leadership. His stories can be sculpted to strike a chord with the challenges faced by modern teams, seamlessly connecting the unpredictable extremes of wildlife filmmaking to the pressures and rapid changes of the corporate world. By sharing how powerful storytelling can be used to effectively engage on a global stage, Jonathan delivers deeply inspiring presentations that empower and entertain audiences.
