Pen Hadow

Pen Hadow is a leading explorer of the Arctic Ocean, and is now dedicated to the United Nations process that will advance protection for the wildlife and ecosystem in the international waters around the North Pole.

Hadow leads the 90oNorth Unit (not-for-profit) which advocates an international agreement to create a protected area for the international waters of the Arctic Ocean; and he is director of the annual scientific research and public engagement programme, Arctic Mission, which supports the Units work.

The project has introduced a new perspective on the Arctics, revealing its significance as a living reef upon which an entire and unique ecosystem depends (rather than lifeless blocks of drifting ice).

In 2017 Arctic Mission sailed two 50 yachts into the North Poles international waters, the first non-icebreaking vessels in history to do so, to demonstrate the increasing accessibility of these waters to surface commercial shipping, fishing, tourism and mineral extraction, and therefore the emerging human threat to the wildlife already stressed by the reduced sea-ice cover.

Previously, Hadow led the multi-award-winning US$10m international scientific research programme, Catlin Arctic Survey (2007-2012) investigating the rates, causes and impacts of the Arctics rapidly melting sea ice, while being the honorary patron of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, the British Exploring Society, the Scientific Exploration Society, and is president of the OH Adventurers.

In 2003 Hadow became the first person to trek solo, and without resupply, across the sea ice from Canada to the North Geographic Pole a feat unrepeated to date, that took three attempts over 15 years to achieve.

Hadow has written books, including the best-seller, Solo, self-filmed a TV documentary for National Geographic, presented a series on BBC Radio 4, and contributed to numerous TV documentaries and books about adventure and exploration.