Team
Explorer Team
ANN DANIELS  Explorer Team Leader: Operations, Navigation & Surveying Ann is one of the world’s leading women in polar exploration. Her many feats of endurance and adventure include becoming the first woman in history, along with expedition teammate Caroline Hamilton, to reach the North and South Poles as part of all-women teams. Ann and Caroline reached the North Pole and achieved their Guinness World Record in 2002.
Her first polar experience came in 1997 when she took part in the McVities Penguin Polar Relay. Since then she has been a regular Arctic visitor and attempted a solo expedition to the North Pole in 2005. Although this ultimately ended prematurely after problems with permits, it remains Ann’s ambition to reach the North Pole on a solo expedition.
In the first Catlin Arctic Survey in 2009, Ann was responsible for all field operations. For 74 days her decision-making and navigating skills successfully guided the team along a safe route in the most extreme Arctic conditions. This project completed a unique environmental study of the rapidly disappearing Arctic sea ice. For her role in the expedition she became one of Time magazine’s Heroes of the Environment along with colleagues Martin Hartley and Pen Hadow.
Ann is a well-known speaker on the subjects of leadership, teamwork and the environment, and supports a number of charities including the World Wildlife Fund, Cancer Research UK, and the Cornwall Rescue Group. A proud representative of the Special Olympics, Ann has also been a baton holder for the Commonwealth Games. She is a recipient of the prestigious Pride of Britain Award.
She lives in Devon with her partner and four children.
For more on Ann visit her website here
MARTIN HARTLEY  Explorer Team: Photography & Surveying Martin Hartley is one of the world’s leading expedition photographers and has worked in some of the most challenging places on Earth. With 19 expeditions to the Arctic and the Antarctic under his belt, he is renowned for his technical expertise and creativity which allow him to capture unrivalled images in the world’s harshest environments.
Martin will again be joining the Catlin Arctic Survey Explorer Team in 2010, heading out across the floating sea ice to assist in the Survey programme work by taking measurements and making observations.
Martin’s images taken on the first Catlin Arctic Survey in 2009 were widely used by the world’s media. He became one of Time magazine’s Heroes of the Environment, along with his colleagues Ann Daniels and Pen Hadow, for his role in the expedition.
He first gained public recognition at the age of 17 as runner-up in the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year and has worked as a professional photographer ever since, winning numerous other awards including both portrait and adventure categories in the Travel Photographer of the Year.
Martin is a regular contributor to National Geographic and has held three exhibitions of his work in recent years.
Martin, originally from Rochdale will again be celebrating his birthday - on St Patrick’s Day – on the ice. He currently lives in east London and juggles his adventure travel photography with advertising and editorial commissions.
For further information on Martin visit his website here CHARLIE PATON  Explorer Team: Navigation & Surveying Charlie Paton is a highly experienced Arctic adventurer. Charlie has over a decade of Polar experience in locations that include Norway, the Arctic Ocean, Greenland, Canadian High Arctic, Spitsbergen, Iceland, South Georgia and Antarctica. During his expeditions across the Arctic, he has stood on the Geographical North Pole a total of seven times. He has also led ski teams across Greenland many times. In May 2000 Charlie and his good friend Alan Chambers MBE became the first British team to walk unsupported from Canada, on one of the toughest known routes, on a 70-day journey to the Geographic North Pole. Charlie Paton is a former Royal Marine and biathlete. During his 16 years in the HM forces he gained a mass of experience operating in some of the most extreme environments in the world - including desert, jungle and extreme cold. He is a keen fitness fanatic and has won numerous titles with his ‘hard push’ approach to fitness training. Since leaving the armed forces Charlie re-trained in sports therapy and fitness coaching and has coached numerous young sports personalities in Scotland to help them reach their fitness goals and improve their sporting competitiveness.These included tennis, golf and motorsport. Charlie turned his back on the fitness industry to concentrate on his expeditions, he now runs his own business offering extreme outdoor adventures, where he organises and leads expeditions around the “cold deserts” of the world. In 2009 Charlie took therole of the ice base manager for the Catlin Arctic Survey, based on the Arctic Ocean.This year he is extremely happy to be back in his preferred role, on the ice, getting involved with the science work. For further information on Charlie visit his website here
Ice Base Team
OLIVER WURL  Ice Base Scientist Oliver Wurl received his BA with diploma from the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences in 1998, and received his PhD from the National University of Singapore in 2006, studying the fate and transport mechanisms of organic pollutants in the Asian marine environment. His current research field includes the formation and chemical composition of the transparent exopolymer particles and their impact on carbon export to the deep ocean, which has been hypothesized to increase in a “high CO2 environment”. Dr. Wurl is currently affiliated with the Institute of Ocean Sciences, British Columbia, Canada, as a postdoctoral researcher through a scholarship provided by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). CERI LEWIS  Ice Base Scientist Ceri Lewis is a marine biologist interested in how environmental change affects reproductive processes in marine animals.
She has always had a passion for marine wildlife. She completed her undergraduate degree in Marine Biology at Swansea University in 1998, followed by a PhD at Newcastle University on the impacts of climate change on reproductive processes in marine worms.
She was then lucky enough to spend three years in Cape Town, developing sustainable aquaculture research in South Africa as part of a Community Development project, before returning to the UK and traditional academia in 2005.
On joining the Ecotoxicology Group at Plymouth University as a postdoctoral researcher, she investigated how pollution disrupts reproduction in a number of marine species.
She currently holds a NERC Independent Research Fellowship at Exeter University, continuing her research on understanding how marine animals adapt and respond to environmental change, such as ocean acidification, climate change and increasing pollution.
When not working Ceri is a keen yachtswoman and enjoys running, surfing and travelling. HELEN FINDLAY  Ice Base Scientist Helen studied for her Bachelors degree in biology at the University of York, before having a gap year in South America where she spent most of her time trekking in the Andes, climbing her first 6000m peak.
After travelling she completed an MSc in Oceanography at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, and then moved to Plymouth to do a PhD in biological oceanography at Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML).
She has just completed her PhD studying the effects of global warming and ocean acidification on marine organisms. She has now been awarded the Lord Kingsland Fellowship at PML to continue her research.
She is particularly interested in understanding the biological, physical and chemical interactions within the marine environment, focusing on organism responses and their ability to cope with a changing environment, such as through global warming and ocean acidification, particularly in the Arctic environment. LAURA EDWARDS  Ice Base Scientist Laura Edwards is a researcher at Bangor University studying the flux of carbon dioxide through sea ice and gaps in the sea ice, known as polynyas. Her research background is in oceanography, glaciology and remote sensing.
She first became interested in polar region research in 2004 when she started her PhD at the University of Bristol on satellite measurements of ice flow velocity of the Antarctic ice sheet. In 2009 she started her sea ice post at Bangor University and also took part in fieldwork in southwest Greenland studying the links between hydrology and ice dynamics on Leverett glacier.
She loves being outdoors and enjoys taking part in sporting events. She has spent a month trekking at altitude in the Indian Himalayas (traversing glaciers and summiting a 6,000m peak), taken part in mountain marathons and competed in the sport of rowing for more than 16 years. STEEVE COMEAU  Ice Base Scientist Steeve is in his third year of a PhD at the Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche (France). He completed his master studies at the University of Marseille, and his master thesis in Nantes (Ifremer, France) on fish egg genetics.
He is currently working on the impacts of ocean acidification on Mediterranean and Arctic pteropods (small pelagic molluscs). He has also carried out experiments on Mediterranean pteropods (Cavolinia inflexa, Creseis virgula, Limacina inflata) in Villefranche and Monaco (IAEA) to test the impact of different carbonate chemistry parameters on pteropods nutrition, respiration, development and calcification.
This trip will be Steeve’s fourth in the Arctic but the first at an Ice Base. He is looking forward to the opportunity to carry out pH perturbation experiments on pteropods and to collect biological data from this poorly-studied area of the Arctic Ocean. GLENN COOPER  Ice Base Scientist Glenn Cooper is a member of the biogeochemistry group at the Institute of Ocean Science (IOS) in Sidney, British Columbia. The primary focus of his work is the effect of anthropogenic carbon on the North Pacific and Arctic Oceans, and its effect on ocean pH and changes in the carbonate system. This will be Glenn’s fourth trip to the Arctic region, but his first at an Ice Base. Previous trips were aboard Canadian Coast Guard ice breakers 'Louis St. Laurent' and 'Sir Wilford Laurier'. During these trips he was responsible for the collection of biological samples by Bongo tows, collection of sea water for chemical analysis, ice core sampling, and sea water analysis. For this project Glenn will be deploying two oceanographic instruments, one of which will analyze temperature, depth and salinity (CTD). The other is as an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) which uses sonar to record current velocities for a range of depths. He will also be collecting discrete water samples which will be returned to IOS for analysis of total inorganic carbon (TIC) and alkalinity.
SIMON GARROD  Ice Base Manager Simon has been working in the Polar environment for the last sixteen years, with the bulk of his work being in the Antarctic, both in summer and winter. During this period he has worked for the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), Adventure Network International, Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions, The Korean Antarctic Programme and Global Film Solutions. Much of his work has been acting as a guide, but he has also worked as Field Operations Manager for both Adventure Network and BAS, having just returned from a stint with the latter. In addition he worked for BAS as a winter Base Commander and authored the BAS Field Operations Manual. When not working, he can usually be found in the hills, sea kayaking off the coast of Scotland or tinkering with classic motorcycles. His home is in the Lake District in the north of England. IAN WESLEY  Kit Manager HARALD KIPPENES  Ice Base Guide Harald Kippenes came to prominence in the 2005 BBC recreation of the Amundsen & Scott race to the South Pole. A native Norwegian, he divides his time between his home in Oslo and his mountain retreat on the shores of stunning Nordfjord, which also serves as one of the bases for ‘Yourway’, his popular adventure travel company.
Harald’s adventures include two expeditions to Cho Oyu (the world’s sixth highest mountain), a crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in a sailboat following the original Viking route. He has also bicycled from Norway to China, and conducted emergency relief work in Haiti and Pakistan.
When he’s not introducing people to skiing, mountain biking and kayaking, Harald can be found in his log cabin, playing his guitar and listening to Johnny Cash.
As a polar guide on the Catlin Arctic Survey, Harald’s principal role is to ensure the safety of the scientists as they conduct their research. He is also responsible, with Ice Base Manager Simon Garrod, for the establishment of the Ice Base at the start of the project. Harald’s extensive experience with sled dogs makes him a natural choice to look after Brownie, the expedition dog.
FRAN ORIO  Ice Base Chef Fran Orio has worked in the travel industry for four decades, but it is her ability to produce delicious meals in extreme locations that caught the attention of the Catlin Arctic Survey when a second cook was suddenly required to join the Ice Base team. Fran, who had only just returned to Britain after the conclusion of her 13th season in the Antarctic, arrived in Resolute from Sheffield just five days after receiving the invitation to join the project.
The ability to produce Thai green curry, chocolate blancmange, and shepherd’s pie on a two-ring Coleman stove is no mean feat. But when she’s at home, Fran swaps her pots and pans for a spade and fork so she can attend to her beloved lavender and dwarf hyacinths.
JOHN HUSTON  Polar Guide John Huston is an American polar explorer and polar expedition guide. In the spring of 2009, he and his expedition partner, Tyler Fish, who also guides for the Ice Base, became the first Americans to ski unsupported to the North Pole (northpole09.com). In 2008 John guided a full-length expedition to the South Pole, a journey of 720-miles and 57-days. Along with Harald Kippenes, John dogsledded over 1400 miles on Greenland in 2005 as a member of a Norwegian team re-running Roald Amundsen's 1911 race to the South Pole as part of the BBC/History Channel documentary "Blizzard, Race to the Pole". He has run logistics for several polar expeditions and he ventures to the Canadian Arctic on a yearly basis.
A native of Chicago, IL, John began guiding 10 years ago for Outward Bound in Minnesota, USA. There he fell in love with Norwegian polar exploration history and cross country skiing. He currently lives in Chicago, where he runs the office of, his and Tyler's expedition company, Forward Expeditions. He is a motivational speaker, polar expedition consultant and trainer. He also works part time in commercial real estate.
PEN HADOW  Project Director In 2003, Pen Hadow entered the record books when he became the first and only person, to trek solo, and without outside support, from Canada to the Geographic North Pole.
His first polar experience dates back to 1989, when, while working for a sports agency, he partnered a polar explorer photographing polar bears on the edge of the Arctic Ocean. Since then, Pen has clocked up more than 15 years of polar experience and has watched with dismay the changes taking place in the Arctic.
In 1997 Pen organised, inspired and secured most of the funding for the first all-women's relay to the North Pole, thereby enabling 20 women, with no previous polar experience, from all backgrounds and age groups, to reach the Pole.
In 2009 Pen led the first Catlin Arctic Survey. For his role in the expedition, Pen became one of Time magazine’s Heroes of the Environment along with colleagues Ann Daniels and Martin Hartley. MALIN HØISETH  Ice Base Chef Malin started life as a chef in 1998, working winter and summer seasons at Finse 1222, a hotel in the mountains of Norway where people train before expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic. In between the seasons she went travelling, discovering a love of Asian cultures which led to her completing a degree in South Asian Studies at the University of Oslo in 2003. On hearing about a role to chef for Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions, she jumped at the chance to work in the Antarctic, completing five summer seasons there. She is relishing the challenge of going from a summer in the Antarctic to a winter in the Arctic, where she will be chef at the Catlin Arctic Survey Ice Base. She is really interested in working closely with scientists at the front line of climate change. After her time at the top of the world, she will be reunited with her partner and their car for a planned trip from Alaska to Patagonia. ALASTAIR HUMPHREYS  Ice Base Communications Manager Alastair Humphreys spent four years cycling 46,000 miles round the world. His journey across 5 continents included 3 months riding through Siberia in temperatures as low as -40 Celsius. Alastair has written three books about this expedition. In 2008 Alastair competed in the gruelling Marathon des Sables in the Sahara desert, finishing as one of the top 10 British runners despite breaking his foot on the penultimate day. Alastair has also walked across southern India, rowed to France, sailed across the Atlantic and canoed 500 miles down the River Yukon. His most recent trip saw him walking a lap of the M25, the 120-mile motorway that circles London, in an attempt to see whether it is possible to find adventure in 21st Century England. Alastair is training for an expedition to the South Pole in 2011-2012. He is a keen photographer and a long-suffering fan of Leeds United. PAUL RAMSDEN  Ice Base Manager Paul Ramsden has extensive cold weather experience built up over the last 25 years in polar and mountain regions. He has managed scientific field programmes and logistics with the British Antarctic Survey as well as commercial projects in South Georgia, Iceland and Greenland. His experience of working on thin ice has lead to his involvement in a number of major film projects including the James Bond movie Die Another Day and Batman Begins. Paul is a winner of the Piolet d’Or, the world’s most prestigious mountaineering award. His expedition and guiding experience included many trips to Alaska, Canada, Patagonia and the Andes as well as the Himalayan regions of Pakistan, India, Nepal, Tibet and China. Paul is based in the UK and is a Chartered Safety Practitioner supplying consultancy services to a wide variety of high-risk industrial clients and government agencies including the Environment Agency, the Health and Safety Executive, ExxonMobil, BP and the BBC.
Operations Team
ANABEL BELTRAN  Head of Projects Anabel is the Project Manager for the Catlin Arctic Survey. Her responsibilities include creating and managing the overall project plan, with major focus on the master schedule and it's associated costs and risks.
New to the team in December 2009, she has spent the past ten years managing large, cross-functional projects in the airline industry.
Anabel is thrilled to be part of the Catlin Arctic Survey and says that it’s the enormous ‘complexity of delivery’ of this project that proves both challenging but also hugely exciting.
She recognises that Project Management is all about the people and says that it’s an honour to be heading up a team of such high-calibre individuals. ‘Ultimately, we all genuinely believe in what this project stands for and I can honestly say that my team inspires me every single day. I truly have the best job in the world’. LAURA COLES  International Operations Manager After gaining her degree in English Language and Literature and travelling around Thailand, Australia and New Zealand, the last four years of Laura’s life have been dictated by the changing of the seasons.
Her winters have been spent in Verbier, Switzerland working in a privately-owned luxury chalet and skiing as often as possible. Her summer seasons have been based around the globe following the Formula 1 Grand Prix calendar, working with the media and VIP Guests for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro.
Interspersed between these races Laura also worked for Buckinghamshire based Cavendish Events as an events manager for weddings and corporate events.
As International Operations Manager for the Catlin Arctic Survey, her responsibilities include preparation, planning and logistics for the trekking and Arctic Ocean Ice Base phase of the Catlin Arctic Survey, overseeing the movement of freighted equipment and personnel and liaising with overseas suppliers and official bodies. TIM CULLINGFORD  Science Manager Tim is the Science Manager for the Catlin Arctic Survey, responsible for liaison between the research scientists, explorers and the media.
He gained his BSc. degree in biochemistry at Imperial College London, and his doctorate PhD. at Kings College London. He has experience in coordinating international collaborative research and has presented extensively at international meetings.
As a scientist he has conceived, conducted and published original molecular-based experiments in the fields of neurology and cardiology. In particular, he has approached his research with an awareness of its relevance to human benefit and a ‘holistic’ systems view.
Such an approach informed his recent decision to develop a long-standing interest in human-driven changes in the global environment by undertaking the renowned Environmental Technology MSc at Imperial College.
Inspired by epic endeavours such as that of mountaineer Jo Simpson of ‘Touching the Void’ fame, Tim has also developed a keen interest in the resilience of the explorer under extreme conditions. Thus following completion of his MSc this year, and on invitation to interview, he was particularly excited to meet polar explorer and Catlin Arctic Survey Director, Pen Hadow.
Tim will be ensuring that rigorous scientific protocols and data interpretation is maintained throughout the project, and addressing issues peculiar to extreme-condition projects. CHIP CUNLIFFE  Head of Operations Chip has spent the last 11 years working in the expedition world. His first taste came as a volunteer on a three month expedition to Patagonia, after which he has organised expeditions all over the world and led expeditions to the more temperate and tropical climates of Romania, Zambia, Thailand, Guyana, Borneo and Belize.
After a short stint as a geography teacher Chip returned to the expedition world to work with Pen on last year’s Catlin Arctic Survey. For Chip, being at the leading edge of science alongside operating in some of the world’s most challenging environments is the most interesting part of the job, but of course he enjoys the opportunities that come his way to broaden his geographical horizons.
He feels understandably privileged to say he’s landed on the sea ice when he flew with Pen, Ann and Martin to their drop off point on the Arctic Ocean during the 2009 Survey, but even more so after he learnt that the whole of Resolute had to cut its electricity to power up the lights for his return landing! GABY DEAN  UK Operations Manager Gaby developed a hearty appetite for the outdoors whilst working for Cotswold Camping before going on to study geography at Newcastle University. After graduating she joined the London office of adventure travel company, World Expeditions. Although a temporary appointment at first, the company's inspirational attitude to responsible travel kept her there for almost a decade!
Gaby has since trekked, climbed or cycled on all seven continents and personal highlights include trekking in the Andes, cruising in Antarctica and travelling to Mali's legendary Timbuktu.
In need of a career change in 2009, Gaby left World Expeditions to satisfy her ambition to study nutritional therapy and currently enjoys combining her studies with her job at the Catlin Arctic Survey. Her role with the Survey currently involves sponsor relations and UK operations management. She also has an active role in charity work as a trustee for Porters' Progress UK and regularly volunteers as a lead cook with The Food Chain. JAMES FORTE  Geo Mission Corporate Policy, Client Accounts and Education Outreach James currently supports Geo Mission, the company behind Catlin Arctic Survey, on Corporate Policy, Client Accounts and Education Outreach. James is an independent Corporate Responsibility and Community Investment professional, specialising in the development and implementation of Corporate Community Investment programmes as well as Corporate Responsibility more generally.
James met Pen Hadow in 2007 and at that time worked with Pen and his team in taking forward what have become the Catlin Arctic Surveys. During 2009, James did what he enjoys most – taking forward the creation of a programme, Arctic Survey Education, from scratch and working on its development with a talented team of committed and creative people to deliver what is a highly regarded resource.
Previously, James worked for many years with KPMG, the accountancy, audit and advisory firm. As the firm’s first Director, Social Responsibility he managed the development of the firm’s Community programme and was later appointed Director, Corporate Citizenship, Europe. James’s earlier experience ranges from Selection & Search, Employee Communications, Development Centre Assessor to Global Client Account Management. PEN HADOW  Project Director In 2003, Pen Hadow entered the record books when he became the first and only person, to trek solo, and without outside support, from Canada to the Geographic North Pole.
His first polar experience dates back to 1989, when, while working for a sports agency, he partnered a polar explorer photographing polar bears on the edge of the Arctic Ocean. Since then, Pen has clocked up more than 15 years of polar experience and has watched with dismay the changes taking place in the Arctic.
In 1997 Pen organised, inspired and secured most of the funding for the first all-women's relay to the North Pole, thereby enabling 20 women, with no previous polar experience, from all backgrounds and age groups, to reach the Pole.
In 2009 Pen led the first Catlin Arctic Survey. For his role in the expedition, Pen became one of Time magazine’s Heroes of the Environment along with colleagues Ann Daniels and Martin Hartley. DOMINIC HILTON  Head of Online Communications Dominic has been hooked on all things ‘adventure’ since the age of 11, when he first read Sir Ranulph Fiennes’ epic account of his crossing of Antarctica.
Having graduated from Leeds University with a French and Italian degree Dominic then secured a job as a journalist and travelled throughout Africa, the Middle-East and Asia for three years.
Upon his return to the UK he decided that a job in the ‘Polar’ industry would be a sensible career path. The first stage of his masterplan involved writing letters to the major UK-based Polar explorers (all four of them). Pen made the mistake of sending back a typically polite reply, which then prompted a sustained bombardment of emails and phone calls. Dominic has now been working with Pen for the past three years, predominantly as Head of Online Communications.
Dominic is a keen (as opposed to good) fell-runner and photographer. ANDREW JACKSON  Technical Engineer Andrew is a highly experienced software developer and system architect who has been working in the industry for over twenty-five years. He typically works in the embedded sector (where microprocessors are used in things that don't look like computers).
Although principally involved in software he has been closely associated with the hardware required in such systems, specifying, designing and implementing such systems. He has a good understanding of many technologies in use today ranging from networking (TCP/IP) through to Wireless USB.
He is helping Catlin Arctic Survey to develop the communications system that will keep the teams on the ice in touch with the rest of the world.
He has run his own business for the last fourteen years. ROD MACRAE  Head of Communications Rod is Head of Communications at Geo Mission and this is his second Catlin Arctic Survey project. He’s a former broadcaster and, after training at the BBC, worked as a producer on Radio 4, including the 'Start the Week' and 'You and Yours' programmes. He also worked on Radio 1 and Radio 2.
As a TV news reporter and correspondent he’s worked for ITV and Reuters in the UK and USA, and covered the Kosovo war during the Balkans conflict.
He was appointed Director of Communications at Greenpeace International and has gone on to specialise in sustainable and environmental communications. Other major independent projects include the launch of the photographic exhibition 'Earth from the Air' at the Natural History Museum, a documentary production for Ogilvy & Mather, plus communications strategy and media relations for National Express, RPS, Carbon Free Group, Oxford Geoengineering, Solar Cities, Oxford University’s Young Lives programme and Procure4. Somewhere along the way he has acquired an MBA, an allotment, a few awards, an admiration for explorers and twin daughters. CLAIRE MARGETTS  Field Team Coordinator Claire graduated with an LLB in Law. In between investigating international legalities behind the Arctic Ocean and writing her dissertation, she learned how to surf, fly light aircraft and obtain her motor racing license.
Reluctant to be tamed by the prospect of a courtroom, she spent two years as a marketing and brand manager for active clothing company howies. In 2009 she worked for the emerging speaking event The Do Lectures, successfully fulfilling the brief of planning, producing and turning it into a sustainable business.
While this is her first major expedition, she has always had a thirst for travel. She has independently worked, trekked and explored her way around the world, including visiting the highest and iciest points of Patagonia, cycling around Asia, sailing down the Amazon and snowboarding in New Zealand.
As Field Team Coordinator, Claire deals with the logistics and coordination for all personnel, with special focus on the Explorer Team. She has organized their training, sourced and customized their kit, commandeered sponsors and done everything logistically possible to get them ready for the ice. She has even learned to translate Inuit. PERRAN NEWMAN  Technical Engineer Now aged 63 years old, Perran has spent all his working life in product research and development. This has exposed him to a great variety of technical disciplines. Couple this with his interests in the ‘History of Technology’ and he feels competent to tackle most projects that do not require ‘state of the art’ solutions.
During recent years Perran has provided small systems for use in Arctic environments and he has the necessary mechanical, electrical, electronic and software resources to handle such projects primarily on his own. This gives him full control of the work and allows completion to tight deadlines.
His contribution to the latest Catlin Survey is the provision of a highly insulated, very tough container to hold seawater samples gathered by the Explorer Team. The container has to be heated and many safeguards must be provided to prevent freezing of the samples.
Perran has also built a compact 2 channel Iridium data link to allow data files to be transmitted off the ice. The unit contains comprehensive data logging to allow the performance of the battery pack at low temperatures to be evaluated. JACKIE PEDERSEN  Press Relations Officer Jackie Pedersen has over 20 years experience in international marketing and communications. She has held senior PR, marketing, management and business development roles in corporate and consultancy environments.
Her experience spans a variety of sectors including technology & industrial, architecture, food & beverage and environment. Jackie played a key role in media relations for the 2009 Catlin Arctic Survey, a programme that delivered over 4 billion opportunities to learn about the Survey in the global media.
When not working she is a keen rugby fan, following the fortunes of Wasps and going to as many international games as possible.
She also enjoys sailing in and around Europe, art, opera and partaking in good food & wine, the latter of which she balances out with long country walks with her dog. TOM RENNELL  Communications Executive Tom graduated from the University of East Anglia with a BA in Politics and Philosophy 4 years ago. Since then he has also completed his MSc in International Politics from the University of London School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). Tom has worked in a variety of jobs from media, to politics, to journalism as well as various attempts to travel the world. More recently he worked as an online and print journalist. Tom joined the Catlin Arctic Survey Operations Team in January 2010 and is an integral part of the communications department. In his spare time he is despairingly searching for that elusive first novel and the fame and fortune therein. He will also take any opportunity to shamelessly plug the quiz night he runs at the Old Crown pub in Highgate. Sunday nights at 6.30 £2 to enter. MARTIN RHODES  Expedition Doctor CAROL RUDDOCK  Head of Finance Carol came to Geo Mission, the people behind Catlin Arctic Survey, with a background of economics and accountancy training followed by several years working with American banks in London. She then took some time out to pursue her interests in homeopathy and craniosacral therapy while bringing up a couple of great kids.
Since then she has been working with several businesses running systems, preparing accounts and keeping track of the money. The businesses are very diverse ranging from garden designers and IT companies to recruitment consultants and property developers.
Carol has lots of other interests, and loves living in London with all its opportunities for fun and entertainment.
She is really excited to be part of the Geo Mission team and sends out her thanks to the entire team for making her feel welcome. JON STRATFORD  Explorer Team Fitness Training After completing 14 years in the Royal Marines, Jon established Commando Active, through which he provides one-on-one and group personal training. He draws on his wealth of experience from working and operating all over the world and from his time as a Physical Training Instructor within the Royal Marines to develop individuals, groups, teams and organisations in their health and fitness, but also in confidence building and improving organisational dynamics.
He is an expert in expedition fitness, weight management, pre and post natal exercise and sports specific training and has worked with clients to achieve a wide variety of goals. Jon has featured in and written articles for various health and fitness publications and newspapers.
As well as having a broad range of qualifications and experience in the health and fitness industry, Jon is also an outdoor pursuits instructor, specialising in climbing, canoeing and mountain biking.
In his downtime, Jon enjoys rock and ice climbing, cross-training, photography and spending time with his wife and two children at their home in sunny Devon. SAL THOMAS  Communications Manager Having been an advertising exec, brand manager, sales promotion practitioner, media promotions director and freelance copywriter, Sal has enjoyed a healthy dollop of experience from across the marketing communications spectrum. She has also worked with a host of blue-chip brands including Kellogg’s, Sky, Discovery Channel, Quorn, Vileda and Barclays.
However, when offered the opportunity to do something a little more environmentally minded on the Catlin Arctic Survey, she willingly jumped on board.
When not worrying about the fate of marine organisms that neither know nor care of her existence, she writes comedy. Highlights include a 2008 Edinburgh show, having sketches aired on BBC Radio 7, being shortlisted for the Beeb’s first ever College of Comedy and being invited to attend a writing master-class with David Mitchell at Broadcasting House. David wore top-to-toe brown for the occasion.
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