Felicity Aston is a Polar scientist and expedition leader who spent 3 years living and working at Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic Peninsula for the British Antarctic Survey. The resourcefulness of the station team was twice tested when they were faced with an emergency medical evacuation from the South Pole, followed by a catastrophic station fire.
Returning from the Antarctic in 2003, Felicity has led several expeditions, including the first British women’s crossing of Greenland 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.
Felicity is currently the leader and chief organiser of the Commonwealth Women’s Antarctic Expedition which will involve a team of women from Cyprus, Ghana, India, Brunei Darussalam, Singapore, New Zealand, Jamaica and the UK, skiing to the South Pole at the end of 2009 to mark the 60th anniversary year of the Commonwealth. The expedition involves selecting and training a diverse, multicultural team of ‘ordinary’ women for one of the most arduous journeys on Earth.
With such a wealth of experience at creating, training and working with teams, of all varieties, in high-stress situations, Felicity, already 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