Biography

I am a polar adventurer dedicated to exploring the vast and varied icescapes that typify our polar regions. My outdoor career spans more than 40 years during which time I've worked professionally as an outdoor educator, sponsored polar adventurer and IPGA Polar Expedition Guide. As an adventurer I’ve visited every continent on Earth, often leading lightweight and self-supported expeditions to remote areas. I've pioneered four new routes/variations to the South Pole and was the first Australian, together with companion Jon Muir, to ski to both the North and South Poles, locations that I've since visited dozens of times as a polar explorer and guide.

Through my experiences I've developed alternative and highly efficient methods of travel in the polar regions. In 1995 I completed a sea-to-sea crossing of Greenland and one of the first polar expeditions to use steerable kites, and have embraced the use of specialised plastics in the construction of polar-specific equipment. I'm the inventor of Flexi Ski Bindings as well as a range of other niche extreme-cold adventure products, sold through my company, Icetrek Expeditions and Equipment. Icetrek also offers guided expeditions, treks and tours to high latitude destinations. I'm the co-founder and former president of the International Polar Guides Association (IPGA) and co-creator of the Polar Expeditions Classification Scheme (PECS).

In 1991 I wrote the book, Icetrek. The Bitter Journey to the South Pole and my expeditions have produced four internationally-screened documentary films, most notably, the Emmy Award-winning Greenland production, Chasing the Midnight Sun.

On March 31, 2025 I flew into space as Mission Specialist and Medical Officer on board a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, spending 4 days on orbit. The mission, FRAM2, was conceived and financed by Mission Commander and crypto entrepreneur Chun Wang from Malta and completed the first polar orbital mission, completing 55 orbits at a 90º inclination over the North and South Poles. Other crew members included Norwegian Vehicle Commander Jannicke Mikkelsen and Vehicle Pilot Rabea Rogge from Germany. I became the first Australian to fly into orbit under the Australian flag and we completed the first human splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

I live in Victoria, Australia with my wife Susy. Our son Kip is a musician and linguist and my daughter works as an outdoor educator and polar guide.