Felicity Aston MBE is a renowned climate scientist, polar explorer, expedition leader, and record-breaker. She holds the distinction of being the only woman to have skied across Antarctica alone and the first person to traverse the continent purely by muscle power. Over more than twenty years, Felicity has led several challenging expeditions in extreme environments, including the first British women’s team to cross the Greenland ice sheet, the largest and most internationally diverse women’s team to ski to the South Pole, and a team of women from Europe and the Middle East that skied to the North Pole.
Felicity views her expeditions as both physical and psychological journeys. She believes that great achievements come from building personal confidence and mental resilience rather than innate talent. She has openly shared her experiences of profound loneliness while traversing Antarctica alone, her battle to face the extreme climate each morning, and the perseverance required in moments of adversity. Her insights on dealing with isolation and reintegrating with society after lockdown have resonated with many.
Her expeditions have repeatedly set diversity records, filling data gaps, reshaping scientific understanding, and proving that individual efforts matter more than stereotypes. In 2023, Felicity is set to lead the B.I.G. North Pole 2023 expedition to collect crucial sea ice research material. Despite witnessing the impact of global warming firsthand, her outlook remains pragmatically optimistic, emphasizing hope and resilience.
Felicity has authored five books about her expeditions, with her latest, Polar Exposure: An All-Women’s Expedition to the North Pole, published in 2022. She has co-presented two BBC documentaries and been featured in top news outlets including National Geographic, Vanity Fair, and Marie Claire. She is a Fellow of both the Royal Geographical Society in London and The Explorers Club in New York. Additionally, she has been appointed MBE and awarded the Polar Medal for her services to exploration.
Felicity Aston MBE is a renowned climate scientist, polar explorer, expedition leader, and record-breaker. She holds the distinction of being the only woman to have skied across Antarctica alone and the first person to traverse the continent purely by muscle power. Over more than twenty years, Felicity has led several challenging expeditions in extreme environments, including the first British women’s team to cross the Greenland ice sheet, the largest and most internationally diverse women’s team to ski to the South Pole, and a team of women from Europe and the Middle East that skied to the North Pole.
Felicity views her expeditions as both physical and psychological journeys. She believes that great achievements come from building personal confidence and mental resilience rather than innate talent. She has openly shared her experiences of profound loneliness while traversing Antarctica alone, her battle to face the extreme climate each morning, and the perseverance required in moments of adversity. Her insights on dealing with isolation and reintegrating with society after lockdown have resonated with many.
Her expeditions have repeatedly set diversity records, filling data gaps, reshaping scientific understanding, and proving that individual efforts matter more than stereotypes. In 2023, Felicity is set to lead the B.I.G. North Pole 2023 expedition to collect crucial sea ice research material. Despite witnessing the impact of global warming firsthand, her outlook remains pragmatically optimistic, emphasizing hope and resilience.
Felicity has authored five books about her expeditions, with her latest, Polar Exposure: An All-Women’s Expedition to the North Pole, published in 2022. She has co-presented two BBC documentaries and been featured in top news outlets including National Geographic, Vanity Fair, and Marie Claire. She is a Fellow of both the Royal Geographical Society in London and The Explorers Club in New York. Additionally, she has been appointed MBE and awarded the Polar Medal for her services to exploration.
