10 minutes with… Lachlan Bucknall

Jumping from a moving speedboat onto a helicopter is just part of the day job.
Get to know our TV & Projects Director, Lachlan Bucknall.

At Secret Compass, we’re known for making the magic happen. So, we thought it was high time we introduced you to some members of the team that do exactly that, every day. We grabbed 10 minutes with Lachlan Bucknall, to find out all about his adventurous life.

To understand risk you have to experience it. I’m very lucky to have had the opportunities to do the things that I have done, and that experience is what I lean on every day doing this job to help others stay safe.”

How did you end up doing what you do?

I have always loved being outdoors and doing adventurous sports such as climbing, mountaineering, mountain biking, ski touring, skydiving, and, more recently, freediving.

I spent 11 years in the British Army as an Officer having joined at 19 years old and served in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. After I left, I worked in the maritime security sector for a while running counter piracy operations in East and West Africa before seeing the light and starting my own business instructing and guiding people in climbing and mountaineering. 

I also started working for Secret Compass as a freelance expedition leader, and over the years I gradually found myself doing more and more TV safety work in amazing places on Secret Compass projects. 

Ultimately, I ended up working full time for SC as one of the directors for TV and Film projects, which allows me to utilise all the skills and experience I have gained from my career so far.

What do you love about your work?

Being able to use my experience to help enable people to operate as safely as possible doing hazardous activities, often in remote and austere environments. 

Essentially, helping people achieve what might seem impossible, too difficult or too dangerous.

What’s the wildest job you’ve ever done?

It’s hard to choose. Recently, jumping from a moving speedboat to the skids of a helicopter, testing it for a task on a challenge-based show before the celebrities did it.

Who do you look up to in the adventure TV & Film world?

All the awesome people Secret Compass employ – we are so lucky to have such a diverse and hugely talented team of consultants who are experts in their field and whenever I’m on location with them it’s massively inspirational and I’m constantly learning.

Why is it so important to tell the stories that come with some risk?

Because they are real, they are relevant, they can be inspirational and they can bring understanding to people who may never have the knowledge or experience to be informed of them otherwise.

What makes you good at handling risk?

To understand risk you have to experience it. I’m very lucky to have had the opportunities to do the things that I have done, and that experience is what I lean on every day doing this job to help others stay safe. 

We also work collaboratively and utilise the huge breadth of expertise in our team – no-one knows it all and it’s important to know when you don’t know enough yourself and get the right people involved so that the end result is the risk is as low as it possibly can be.

What would you be doing if you weren’t doing this?

Ideally skiing, climbing, mountain biking, freediving, spearfishing or having any adventure with people I care about.

What’s your idea of fun?

An adventurous challenge with an uncertain outcome.

What’s the greatest challenge you’ve taken on?

Becoming a father to twins.

Any irrational (or rational) fears?

Climate change and the impact on my kids.

Best advice you’ve ever been given and by who?

“Reputation is everything” – said by Lt General Douglas Chalmers, who was a Lieutenant Colonel and my Commanding Officer at the time.

Lachlan’s Secret Compass

Favourite place you’ve ever visited?
Bolivia.

Somewhere you’ve never been but would like to go?
Alaska.

Favourite way to travel?
Canoe.

For more tales of adventure, follow Lachlan @lachlanbucknall and @secret.compass on Instagram.