Ann Daniels

Ann Daniels is one of Britain’s leading female polar explorers and is among the very few people in the world who have walked to both the North and South Geographical poles.

Ann Daniels was part of the first British all women’s team to walk to the South Pole and put together and led the three woman team who walked from Canada to the North Pole to become the first all women’s team in the world to walk to both poles

She is a Polar Guide and has led 3 major scientific expeditions on the Arctic Ocean working with scientists to better understand the problems facing the fragile Arctic Ocean.  Her achievements have been recognised by many bodies including the Guinness Book of Records, The Pride of Britain Awards and The Women of the Year Awards.  She has earned the freedom of Yeovil town and has received an honorary degree from Exeter University.

Ann Daniels is a leader of men and women at the ends of the world and gives presentations on leadership, teamwork, motivation and environmental issues, tailoring every speech to her audience bringing out the key elements that are important to the event.

Ann is an inspiration to those who hear her speak. Her warmth and honesty make her presentations compelling and her positivity, grit and determination illustrate what can be achieved by the many and not the few.

Expeditions include:

2011

The only remaining member of the original team, Ann, together with American Tyler Fish led a four man team on the final Catlin Arctic survey.  Arguably the most ambitious of Catlin’s expeditions, this team included a cameraman and a scientist and not only measured the thickness of the sea ice but studied the thermohaline circulation of the Ocean and captured the working expedition on camera for a potential TV documentary.

2010

Leader of the second Catlin Arctic survey ice team.  Following the 2009 expedition Ann, together with Martin Hartley and Charlie Paton completed a polar expedition successfully reaching the North Pole after 60 days and 270 miles.  After a long days sledge hauling they manually drilled the ice up to 5 metres thick and collected water samples to assist scientists better understand the effects of Carbon Dioxide on the Arctic Ocean.

2009

Navigator, path finder and head of ice operations for the Catlin Arctic survey.  The team, including Pen Hadow and Martin Hartley manually measured the thickness of the ice covering the Arctic Ocean and Ann led from the front for 74 days over a 233 mile transect, making difficult decisions in the most extreme environment on earth.

2005

Solo expedition across the Arctic sea ice from the Russian pack ice.  Ann spent 21 days on the ice alone, had encounters with 5 polar bears and completed a 124 mile journey across the moving Arctic Ocean

2004

Guided last degree expedition to the North Pole, where 15 captains of industry made a 60 mile journey across the sea ice to reach the North Pole safely.

2002

Ann put together and took part in the first female team in the world to ski to both poles.  Temperatures as low as -50º for the first 26 days severely hampered progress and success looked doubtful from the start. The girls were hit by three storms so severe they were unable to erect their tent and huddled together for 3 days surviving with little food and water.  They suffered frostbite, back problems and carbon monoxide poisoning and after 47 hazard filled days one of the team had to be evacuated due to frostbite and wet gangrene.  Despite these setbacks Ann and her fellow team mate achieved their goal and reached the pole triumphantly.

2001

Ann became the first British female North Pole guide.  She leads groups from varying backgrounds the last degree to the North and South Poles.  The most inhospitable environments in the world.

2000

Ann and four other women became the first all British women’s team to reach the South Pole on foot.  Pulling sledges weighing over 140 lbs and navigating by the sun the team travelled 700 miles across Antarctica, the most inhospitable continent in the world.