Pen Hadow is a leading explorer of the Arctic Ocean, now dedicated to advancing protection for the wildlife and ecosystem in the international waters around the North Pole.
Hadow leads the 90North Foundation www.90northfoundation.org which is advocating an upgrade of the existing fishing and shipping agreements to create a North Pole Reserve through a subsequent Arctic Treaty System. He is also director of the annual scientific research and public engagement programme, Arctic Mission, which supports the Unit’s work.
The 90North Foundation is introducing a significant new perspective on the Arctic’s diminishing sea ice, revealing that the environ mental issue is less about the geophysics of a melting layer of frozen sea water, and far more about the potentially catastrophic loss of a globally unique “floating ice-reef ecosystem” which includes some of the world’s most iconic species – polar bear, walrus, bowhead whale, orca, narwhal, beluga and seal.
In 2017 Arctic Mission sailed two 50’ vessels into the North Pole’s 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 mining, and therefore the human threat to the wildlife already-stressed by its reduced sea-ice cover habitat.
Previously, Hadow led the multi-award-winning £7.5m international scientific research programme, Catlin Arctic Survey (2007-2012) investigating the rates, causes and impacts of the Arctic’s rapidly melting sea ice.
In 2003 Hadow became the first person to trek solo, andwithout resupply, across the Arctic’s sea ice from Canada to the North Geographic Pole – a feat that took three attempts over 15 years … will likely never be repeated due to climate change. He is also the first Briton, without resupply, to both the North and South Geographic Poles from their respective continental coastlines.
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.Hadow is an Honorary Patron of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, British Exploring Society, Scientific Exploration Society, and The Explorers Club (UK Chapter).
Hadow’s affinity with the polar regions and its wildlife began through his extraordinary childhood connection with the dying words of Captain Robert Falcon Scott (‘Scott of the Antarctic’) and his son, the world-renown naturalist and WWF founder, Sir Peter Scott
"Everyone really enjoyed listening to him - Pen was so interesting" Absolute Corporate Events
"Pen Hadow's speech was a genuinely inspirational and motivating one. Having launched Marks and Spencer's Plan A initiative on the need to tackle the enormous challenge of climate change, it was fantastic to hear from someone who has witnessed global warming at first hand."
Lord Stuart Rose, former CEO Marks and Spencer - Pen spoke at the launch of their Plan A Initiative
"Our major clients were blown away by his achievements, it was a great lunch and real pleasure to meet Pen."
Coutts Private Banking
"I would like to thank you for the excellent contribution you made to the J8 Summit. Without your outstanding and truly inspirational talk, the event would not have been the great success that it was."
Cazenove Capital Management
"... the more he described the outrageously challenging conditions and situations he has overcome, the more I and the others around me found ourselves wanting to go on a polar expedition ourselves, so engaging is his style ¦ He's a charismatic personality who can shift people's perception of what is achievable."
Mark Taylor - Commercial Director, Unigate Dairies