Pen Hadow is a leading explorer of the Arctic Ocean, now dedicated to advancing protection for the wildlife, biodiversity and ecosystem services in the high seas region of the Central Arctic Ocean surrounding the North Pole. In 2023 he was awarded the Shackleton Medal for ‘Protection of the Polar Regions’.
In 2017 Pen led the Arctic Mission, with the expedition’s two 50-foot sailing vessels entering the Central Arctic Ocean, the first vessels in history to do so without an icebreaker> The expedition demonstrated the increasing accessibility of these waters to surface vessels – namely, commercial shipping, fishing, tourism and mining – and the associated risks to the wildlife, already-stressed by the reduced sea-ice habitat and other environmental stressors.
Previously, Pen initiated and 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 dwindling sea-ice cover.
In 2003, Pen became the first person to trek (and swim) solo, and without resupply, across the Arctic Ocean sea ice from Canada to the North Geographic Pole – a feat that took three attempts over 15 years, and will likely never be repeated due to sea-ice loss. He is also the first Briton to trek without resupply to both the North and South Geographic Poles from their respective continental coastlines.
Pen 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, exploration and conservation. He is also an Honorary Patron of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, the British Exploring Society, the Scientific Exploration Society, and The Explorers Club (UK Chapter).
Pen’s affinity with the polar regions and its wildlife began through his extraordinary childhood connection with Captain Robert Falcon Scott (‘Scott of the Antarctic’) and his son, the world-renown naturalist, conservationist, television presenter, and WWF-founding chairman, Sir Peter Scott.