Pen Hadow rose to international fame when he became the first to complete one of the last polar challenges – trekking solo without re-supply from Canada to the North Pole. This feat was thought by some to be harder than climbing Everest solo without oxygen, and some polar experts had begun to think the challenge impossible.

Pen is also the first Briton to trek without re-supply to both North and South Geographic Poles. He has been a professional polar guide for 18 years.

Pen (46) is increasingly featured in the media as a national spokesman on environmental and climate change issues, based on his knowledge of, and concern for, changes in the North Pole environment. He has featured in public speaking line-ups for environmental events alongside HRH The Prince of Wales, Al Gore, Lord Coe and Sir Jonathon Porritt.

"Minister, ladies and gentlemen, I am anxious to be following Pen Hadow who speaks so brilliantly and who lays down the challenges and dangers we face so clearly. I am so grateful to him for taking the trouble to talk to us from the Arctic."
HRH The Prince of Wales

Ann Daniels, on achievement alone, is one of the world’s leading women polar explorers. Ann first went to the Arctic Ocean in 1997, when she took part in the lead team of a five-group, relay-formatted expedition to the North Pole.

It was during this expedition that Ann (44) fell in love with the polar regions and the challenges of expedition life. In 2000 she co-led a five-strong, 700- mile sledge-hauling trek to the South Pole, which became the first British women’s team to complete this journey. Then in 2002 Ann became one of two women, in an originally three-strong team, to reach the North Pole after a gruelling 500 mile, 80-day epic trek in atrocious conditions.

And, in 2005, Ann set off to attempt to become the first woman to trek solo to the North Pole, but despite keeping to her mileage schedule, her hitherto perfect expedition was forcibly airlifted off the ice when on Day 21, through no fault of her own, her permit was withdrawn by Russian officialdom. Pen considers her the most capable polar operator on the Arctic Ocean, hence her primary role as navigator.

"An Outstanding presentation. Your unbelievable achievements touched the whole audience and your delivery made us believe we can achieve anything we set our minds to."
Marks and Spencer

"Thank you for being such a brilliant speaker. I have had tremendous feedback and needless to say it will be an evening that will remain in people's minds."
Nat West