Born and raised in Israel, Yossi served 3 years in the Israeli Navy on the Red Sea. During these years he befriended the Bedouin of the Sinai desert and was greatly influenced by their philosophy and nomadic lifestyle. After the service Yossi ventured the world as a backpacker traveling for 2 years mainly in South America. Returning to Israel, Yossi graduated from Tel Aviv University with Philosophy and Business degrees. In 1992, Yossi returned to the Amazon to initiate "The Chalalan Project" proving that the best strategy to conserve bio-diversity is sustainable development in cooperation with indigenous forest dwellers. Chalalan is one of the most celebrated Eco-Tourism resorts in the Amazon. Yossi is the founder and director of EthnoBios S.A., a bio-diversity prospecting company that is based in Bolivia. The projects Yossi initiated in the Bolivian rainforest helped to form the biggest nature reserve in the Amazon, known as The Madidi National Park. His work on the protection of intellectual properties and sustainable development of the Amazon won him international acclaim from such organizations as Conservation International, the World Resources Institute and The Inter-American Development Bank. In 1995, Yossi practiced 'adapting to change' and accepted a position as Vice President of The Center for Investigation & Treatment of Addiction (CITA). Yossi promoted a new approach to treatment of opiate addiction, establishing 12 treatment and research centers around the world from Mexico to China. In 1999, Yossi founded 'The Alma Libre Foundation' based in Australia, dedicated to assisting opiate addicts in their re-integration to society. In 2001 during the peak of the Palestinian intifada, Yossi returned to Israel as CEO of a reconciliation festival. Despite the escalation of violence in the region, the festival managed to attract unprecedented audiences. Spiritual leaders of both Islam and Judaism conducted special prayers for peace. Musicians from around the world came to perform and support the cause. In between projects Yossi Ghinsberg's passion is directed at exploring remote corners of the planet, guided solely by the atlas and his own personal desire for places of inspiration. His travels have brought him to the islands of Papua New Guinea and Madagascar, to the sub-continents of India and China. Titles The Power to Survive Laws of the Jungle - Jaguars Don’t Need Self-Help Books Sailing the Seas of Change The Manifestation of Vision Through the Eight-fold Path of Action Penetrating the Realms of “The Secret” Topics Change, Environment/Green, Motivation, Adventure, Spouse programs, Goal-setting, Risk, Attitude Click topic above to see more speakers on that topic Speaker's Asking Fee Range $15,000 or more Click on fee range to see more speakers. This is the starting keynote fee range - other programs may be higher. State Canada/Australi Click on state above to see more speakers from that state. Fees The fee range quoted means the speaker's fee starts somewhere within that range. Note that speaker's fees are subject to change and some speakers may have special fee quotes.