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“Addictions can be very, very bad but addiction itself is not bad.
It’s a case of what you’re addicted to.
You better live each day like it’s your last, ‘cos one day you’re going to be right”.
Ray Charles.
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Planning an expedition?
Whether you are a large well experienced team of professional expeditioners or a first time young aspirant, all expeditions rely on the same skills and techniques for planning and executing them, regardless of if they are focused on high altitude, polar, desert, river, rock, jungle or other regions.
Anything from a first crossing or circumnavigation of a geographic landform in extreme conditions, a first descent of a huge volume river in a war-zone, to a first ascent of a major peak, running a research study/survey deep in an untouched rainforest, to delivering aid and assistance to a remote mountain tribe. Expeditioning is not the sole domain of the elite; they all had to start from somewhere - like you.
If you've ever wondered if you have what it takes to plan and execute your own expedition, well I’m betting you do – albeit a little help along the way wouldn’t go astray.
Using my experience in consulting and advising expedition teams and leaders on numerous expeditions (from exploration, to scientific, to humanitarian), as well as planning and executing my own numerous large scale international expeditions, I have a wide ranging background in all elements of expedition planning, management and consulting.
The difference between a trip and an expedition is primarily the difference in scale, as well as the incorporation of other stakeholders, and thus the higher stakes associated with others such as sponsors. Therefore you cannot just plan and execute an expedition as you would any other typical “trip” - expeditioning requires a unique skill set of its own, with much higher consequences (and for more people/parties too) if anything goes wrong.
What I can help with:
- Planning, organising and managing expedition resources which may be constrained by scope, time, quality and budget.
- Expedition structure, logistics, support teams, emergency/evacuation plans, and transport.
- How to select and brief team members for an expedition to ensure healthy group dynamics and implement the right conflict resolution processes.
- Strategies for garnering media publicity for the expedition, as well as techniques for media relations and marketing yourself and the project.
- Contractual relationships with the media, publishers, suppliers, sponsors, team members, partner organisations and other key stakeholders.
- Leadership styles and techniques whilst out on the expedition, as well as team building skills and strategies.
- Gaining sponsorship and funding for the expedition, and negotiating and maintaining agreements with them.
- Gear, food, and medical kit selection for the expedition.
- Filming, videoing, and maintenance of electronic equipment whilst out on expedition.
- Dealing with government departments regarding permits, visas, and licenses.
- Expedition risk management and route planning.
- Post-expedition plan for once the expedition is over/completed, media, talks, documentaries, books, public relations.
- Pre-expedition training, re-skilling, and physical training.
My Expedition Experience:
I was awarded the 2006 Young Adventurer of the Year by Australian Geographic, for a 5 week world first unsupported mid-winter traverse of both the Eastern and Western Arthur ranges and a successful mid-winter ascent of Federation Peak.
In 2007, I organized an expedition across the Greenland icecap by skis, hauling 130kg sleds in –50c temperatures and 200km/ph winds, to explore the effects of global warming in polar regions for which I was elected as a Member of the Explorers Club, where I am on the Executive Committee of the Australian chapter. In 2008 I was inducted as a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society upon successful completion of this research project on the Inuit peoples in Greenland. In 2009 I was also awarded a commendation of the Sir John Monash Award by Monash University for this work.
I was awarded a bursary in 2008 as part of the Vice Chancellors Elite Athlete Support Program at Monash University for my expeditions. In 2009 I led a 14 month expedition through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Xinjiang, enduring -50C winters and +55C summers and I travelled through war zones, and multiple other hot spots.
I have also guided and advised numerous clients on various world first expeditions (mountaineering, polar expeditions, kayaking, climbing, caving etc.) around the world, from individual clients, to corporate groups. I have planned, organised, staffed, led, directed, and controlled numerous teams in the field on various international expeditions.
This work involved generating sponsorship for thexpeditions (in excess of $500,000), generating media exposure and publicity for the expeditions, selecting team members, risk management upon execution of the expedition, team leadership and group dynamics management, and conflict resolution whilst out on the expedition where often you are with a small handful of people for months on end and group cohesion is essential to staying alive and completing the expedition.
I have also spoken for and facilitated workshops for numerous corporate groups, schools and community organizations on organizational culture, leadership, motivation, group dynamics, behavioural change and team building.
Additionally, I’ve spoken on issues of climate change, reducing ecological foot prints, environmental awareness, indigenous culture and the environment and run various workshops to do with these topics.
I have also:
* Led numerous international expeditions
* Worked as an expedition consultant, and expedition guide.
* Worked as a keynote speaker, running leadership/motivation workshops as well.
* Been an expedition entrepreneur launching my own expedition product.
* Been the youngest person to do a full sea to sea, unsupported, unguided traverse of the Greenland icecap.
* Designed and led a research expedition to document the impact of global warming on Inuit culture in eastern Greenland
* Organised and led a research expedition, living with and following ethnic minorities and nomad groups around Central Asia for 14 months
* Been a documentary and film maker, as well as a writer.
* Ensured all my expeditions were commercial and public successes for all sponsors involved.
- Central Asia.
Personal beliefs:
“There are those people today who live the same life, day in day out, predictable, risk free, dreamless, they are the harshest critics of those who strive to break free from this mundane existence.
In this world, too many people are afraid to pursue the life they truly desire, too afraid of being criticised by others, too afraid of failing, too afraid of not knowing the way.
However there are also those who choose to follow their dreams, those who choose to rebel, those who strive to be free, those who live.
Stay true to yourself; break free from the chains of society and live and may you to have the strength and courage to pursue your dreams”.