Nirmal (Nimsdai) Purja
Former Elite Soldier; High Altitude Expedition Leader; Subject of Netflix’s ‘14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible’
Biography
Gather an insight into the mindset of World Record breaking Mountaineer and ex Special Forces Operator to not just achieve, but exceed, in what others believe is impossible and be inspired by the many challenges he was presented with and subsequently overcame. Nims is extremely enthusiastic about sharing his approach to life, in the hope that his beliefs will go on to inspire others to achieve their ‘impossible’. He radiates an infectious positive energy that brings any room he is in to life, the result of which is clearly visible from the impact he has upon an individuals realization of both short and long term goals. He has delivered his stories of challenge, hard-work, and lessons learned in a manner that creates parallels with many other walks of life, to an extremely wide variety of audiences. As such, all of his stories can be tailored to suit your audiences requirements focusing on specific areas that are relevant to your business or team goals. Born in Nepal, Nims had a distinguished 16-year military career, of which he spent 6 years as a Ghurka and 10 years with the UK Special Forces (SBS). He has since become a truly historic mountaineer, accumulating an ever-growing list of record-breaking summits alongside many high-altitude rescue missions. Astonishingly, Nims didn’t grow up in the shadow of the Himalayas, in fact he was born in the Dhaulagiri region of Nepal and raised in Chitwan, in the country’s flatlands. He performed well at school, but at that time there was no yearning to climb mountains instead he had another focus, to become a Gurkha in the British military like his father and brothers before him. In 2003 that dream became a reality when he joined the Gurkhas in 2003, at the age of eighteen. Never shy of pushing himself to another level #alwaysalittlehigher, six years later in 2009 he became the first ever Gurkha to join the UK Special Boat Service (SBS). The unit is predominantly made up of Royal Marines Commandos, and specialises in classified undercover raids. Along with the SAS, the SBS is regarded as the most elite unit in the British military. During this time, he developed an interest in mountaineering that quickly turned into a passion. It all began in December 2012, when on leave from his Special Forces duties, he set out on a trek to Everest Base Camp. This experience fired his passion and ambition for the mountains immediately, and not content with simply returning to Kathmandu, he managed to convince his guide to teach him how to climb ‘for real’ and he successfully summited the 6119-metre Lobuche East with his guide shortly after. It was his first peak. His primary focus and loyalty remained with his unit carrying out many tours and operations eventually leading to a role where he was subject matter expert for extreme cold-weather warfare within the mountain cell of the SBS. It was throughout this military chapter of his life where he developed the skills to quickly evaluate situations, then act to ensure the welfare of others balanced with delivering on the ultimate objective. An invaluable skillset that would transfer directly across to his climbing career. As and when his military career allowed, the mountaineering continued. His #alwaysalittlehigher mindset would be a driving force to further climbs around the world, and eventually leading him towards his first ascent of Everest. This achievement was marked even more admirably with a selfless act of solo rescueing a stricken climber during the descent high in the death zone. It was at this moment Nims made the decision to always climb with Oxygen from the higher camps to ensure he would be at his strongest to assist others. The following year he proudly led a team of Gurkhas to their first successful Everest expedition. Immediately after, he made his way back up to the mountain this time with his sights set firmly set on a World Record. Just a few days later he achieved his goal after summiting Everest, quickly followed by Lhotse and Makalu all within a total of just 5 days. It was to be the first of many records he would claim in the mountains. He had soon discovered a natural physiological advantage – quickly realising he was able to climb and acclimatise to altitude quicker than most mountaineers, this newfound awareness naturally fuelled even greater ambition. He had served in the British tier one Special Force’s unit (SBS) for ten years, when he took the decision to leave in early 2019 to pursue a dream, a project so ambitious, nobody thought it possible. At the time the record for climbing the world’s fourteen highest peaks (the 8000ers) was just under eight years. Nim’s dream was to do it in seven months, he aptly named it Project Possible. He would embark on it, as he had done for the rest of his life, through all the planning, every storm, every step on every mountain, each selfless rescue mission he answered with just one approach ‘Everything in life is possible armed only with a determined approach and positive mindset’. A little over six months later on the summit of Shishapangma and with weeks to spare, Nims proudly announced to the world ‘Mission Achieved’ delivering on his promise and what many claimed to be ‘impossible’. His natural aptitude for expedition leadership and high-altitude mountaineering had come to full maturity, truly proving his abilities on the world stage. Above all, he clearly demonstrated that with the right mindset, planning and team all things are possible. He has been inspiring people of all ages, showing how a positive approach can lead to the most incredible achievements in life. In March 2020 he officially announced his new enterprise ‘Nimsdai’– from the Nepalese ‘dai’, meaning ‘brother’. With a primary objective to share his knowledge and approach of big mountain climbing, he now offers mountaineers the exclusive chance to team up 1:1 with one of the most ground-breaking expedition leaders of a generation and provide commercial clients opportunities for breath-taking high-altitude special projects. Over what could be deemed as a relatively short climbing career Nims has already notched up an impressive collection of world record achievements more akin to an entire life at the forefront of mountaineering. In addition, he has been awarded an MBE for outstanding achievement in extreme high-altitude mountaineering by Her Majesty the Queen for the rescue he carried out in 2016, saving the Gurkha expedition from failing and his achievements on the higher 8000ers in 2017.
Speech Topics
Overcoming Adversity to Achieve the Impossible
The presentation will transport your audience to the peaks of mountains and the depths of the soul as he recounts the real life events that have shaped his strategy for success. Stunning photographic and film content punctuates the session, ensuring maximum engagement. Ultimately though, it’s Nims’ approach in prioritizing a positive mindset and the ability to deal with and transition from, negative events and thoughts, toward success that underpins these unique engagements. Some of the many messages covered include: • Go beyond possible • Always a little higher • Leadership & teamwork • Problem solving • Human endeavour • Don’t fear the fear • Never give up • Failure is the route to success • Keeping motivated & level-headed • Stay humble • Stay true to your vision without overlooking the risks
Videos
Books
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I check Nirmal (Nimsdai) Purja's availability or request a quote?
You can inquire about Nirmal (Nimsdai) Purja's availability or get a customized quote by contacting Key Speakers directly. Our team will help you determine fit, logistics, and budget options for your upcoming event.What is Nirmal (Nimsdai) Purja's speaking fee?
The typical range for Nirmal (Nimsdai) Purja's speaking fee is $100,000–$125,000. The low end of the fee range represents their standard virtual fee. The high end of the fee range represents their standard fee for a US-based in-person speaking engagement. Appearances which require an extended schedule of activities or international travel will possibly exceed this fee range. Speaker fees update frequently. To receive a personalized quote for Nirmal (Nimsdai) Purja to speak at your event, please consult with a Key Speakers advisor for up to date information and assistance.What factors influence the speaker's fee?
Other factors that influence a keynote speaker's fee include their reputation, expertise, demand, experience, duration of the presentation, travel requirements for the event location, and any additional services, activities or customization options they offer.Are travel expenses included in the speaker's fee?
Travel expenses are typically not included in the listed speaker's fee and are quoted separately. If the speaker needs to travel internationally, fees will be higher. These expenses may include airfare, accommodation, ground transportation at home and in the event city, and meals. We can provide more detailed information about travel expenses and arrangements once you've selected a speaker.How do I book Nirmal (Nimsdai) Purja for my event?
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Often, yes. It's worth inquiring about such possibilities with your Key Speakers representative to explore any available cost-savings options.Why book Nirmal (Nimsdai) Purja through Key Speakers?
We provide a comprehensive service that takes the guesswork out of hiring a speaker — from speaker selection to logistics to post-event feedback. We know you have lots of responsibilities on top of finding and coordinating event speakers, so having a committed and proactive partner on your side that is an expert with the talent booking process is crucial. Every time you book a speaker with Key, your dedicated events manager will support you throughout the entire planning process. We help you negotiate contractual details such as speaker fees and travel terms so that you end up with the most favorable deal. With our highly communicative booking and proposal model, you'll never be left in the dark with the status of your speaker. To put it simply, Key Speakers is your one-stop resource for finding, booking and managing speakers for your event.
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