Felicity Aston

Motivation

Leadership

Teamwork

Felicity Aston led the Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition, the largest and most international women’s team ever to ski to the South Pole. The team included women from Brunei Darussalam, Cyprus, Ghana, India, Jamaica, Singapore, New Zealand and the UK in the 38-day, 900km journey at the end of 2009. Felicity was responsible for selecting and training this diverse, multicultural team of ‘ordinary’ women for one of the most arduous journeys on Earth.

Previously, Felicity has led several other notable expeditions including the first British women’s crossing of Greenland, a 700km winter crossing of Lake Baikal in Siberia and an adventurous expedition in Iceland for young people with a brain injury. She was also part of the first, ever, all-female team to complete the Polar Challenge, a 360-mile endurance race to the magnetic north pole.

Trained as a Physicist and Meteorologist, Felicity’s first polar experience was as a scientist with the British Antarctic Survey. Based for three years on a remote research station on the Antarctic Peninsula, her job was to monitor climate and ozone but living on an isolated base with a crew of just 20 through two long, dark, Antarctic winters proved a greater challenge. Their resourcefulness as a team was twice tested when they were faced with an emergency medical evacuation from the South Pole, followed by a catastrophic station fire.

With such a wealth of experience at creating, training and working with teams, of all varieties, in high-stress situations, Felicity has a growing reputation for effective leadership and team management. Felicity has spoken about her experiences with audiences all over the world, sharing the lessons she has learnt (the hard way) about leadership, teamwork, goal setting and perseverance. Drawing on the trials and triumphs of her past expeditions, Felicity provides a fresh and insightful look at the factors that transform a group of strangers into a strong and successful team.
References:

"...a persuasive example of how determination, planning and sheer hard work can lead to the achievement of a common goal. We were left in awe." Price Waterhouse Coopers
"...a most gripping and humourous presentation of your experiences which I shall remember for a long time to come." Coregeo Ltd
"It was great to hear such passion and commitment ... refuels our faith in human endurance and spirit (especially of the female variety!)." Kiehl's
"The talk transported our girls wonderfully into the Antarctic environment and gave them a really vibrant view of what life there is like and of the important work that goes on there." Cheltenham Ladies' College