Benjamin Mee is the renowned author of the international bestseller “We Bought a Zoo,” whose extraordinary story inspired the Hollywood movie starring Matt Damon. Formerly a journalist and columnist for The Guardian and Men’s Health, Benjamin’s journey took a dramatic turn when he and his family purchased the struggling Dartmoor Zoo in Devon. With no experience in zoo keeping and facing immense personal hardship, including the loss of his wife Katherine to a brain tumour, Benjamin reopened the zoo against all odds, a feat captured in both his writing and the acclaimed film adaptation.
As a Trustee of Dartmoor Zoo, Benjamin’s commitment extends beyond animal care to championing conservation, education, and mental resilience. Awarded an honorary science doctorate from Plymouth University, he is celebrated as an inspirational keynote speaker whose compelling talks resonate with audiences worldwide.
Benjamin is known for his candid, uplifting storytelling style, drawing practical business and leadership lessons from his life’s most challenging moments. His keynotes on overcoming adversity, team building, and authentic leadership have left a lasting impact at major corporate events and conferences, confirming his place as one of the UK’s most engaging motivational speakers.
TESTIMONIALS
"This session was brilliant....Hugely interesting, emotionally engaging and a great insight into the challenges / pressures directors face when their business is struggling....He was mesmerising and inspiring." Next Generation Conference for Association of Business Recovery Professionals - April 2015
“Ben Mee's presentation fulfilled our conference objectives, was entertaining and fun. He demonstrated that with persistence we can overcome the toughest of challenges. He was friendly, natural and unassuming. Ben was embraced by all they loved his story and his style. Overall his presentation was excellent. Duke of Edinburgh Awards
Benjamin spoke to an audience of over 300 retail professionals with the utmost passion and enthusiasm about his story of buying a Zoo. His empathetic approach engaged the audience and they continued to listen to his every word. Benjamin has a natural ability to inject humour into his speech whilst at the same time delivering some very serious points on this amazing risk taking project. This is a unique story with many important business messages and one which the audience will remember for a long time to come. Tesco
Thank you so much for your time last night. It was a pleasure to meet you and to hear you speak so charmingly about your experiences of running the zoo and indeed of having your book turned into a film. Editorial Intelligence
Benjamin was truly inspirational, a story told from the heart and very different to the usual motivational speakers. It was the first time I have seen delegates queue to shake a speaker's hand. Royal Mail