Felicity’s Polar career began in 2000, when she travelled to Antarctica for the first time with the British Antarctic Survey as a meteorologist.

BRITISH polar explorer Felicity Aston is an author, speaker, expedition leader and former Antarctic scientist. In 2012 she became the first woman to ski alone across Antarctica. It was a journey of 1,744km that took 59 days to complete and which gave her a place in the book of Guinness World Records.

In this exclusive interview Felicity talks to us about the transformation from scientist to Polar expedition leader and we find out about some of her current projects and an exciting expedition planned for 2017.

To find out more about Felicity and her availability as a speaker go www.felicityaston.co.uk.

Had you always had a passion for adventure and if so where did this stem from?

This is a question I get asked a lot and to be honest it’s hard to pinpoint it. I was always a sporty person who enjoyed being outdoors, although I was in no way a tomboy, but when you ask me if there was something or someone who really initiated my passion I wouldn’t be able to give you a sure answer.

What about your passion for Antarctica? Was that something that stemmed from school?

Again I can’t say it was something that was always on my mind when I was younger. Of course, you study and learn about these things and become interested but it wasn’t something I was sure I would go on to do from a young age. Saying that I found myself out there at the age of 23!

Felicity has gone on to organise and lead numerous expeditions to remote places around the world, but particularly to the Polar regions.

Tell us about your time out there then? Was it how you imagined it to be?

It wasn’t. You arrive at and start living on a station is fully of people and machines and it really isn’t what you imagined. However, there was one time near the beginning when I managed to get out and immerse myself in the surroundings and that was a pretty amazing experience.

What was it like being there for two years? Were you pleased when you finally got back home?

You can imagine what it’s like spending two years with some people who started to irritate you after a few months. Overall it was amazing but there were times when I missed home.

How did it feel when you received your MBE?

It made me so proud. The fact that my parents were so proud made it even more of an achievement and obviously a moment in my life that I will never forget. To be honest it was something unexpected but I am very honoured that it was something that was given to me  Unexpected. Parents.

Could you tell us about your future plans and any projects you currently have in the pipeline?

I will be the expedition leader for an international team of women from across Europe and the Middle East which will set out to ski the last degree to the North Pole in April 2017. The expedition will face many physical challenges – temperatures down to -40°C, polar bears and shifting pack ice – but the core purpose of the expedition is to foster greater dialogue and understanding between women from Western and Arabian cultures. In addition, the expedition will work to inspire all women to reach beyond the expectation of others to fulfil their own ultimate life ambitions.