| Antony Jinman claims he's ‘just a regular guy', | | | | AJ: My friends, family and community are very |
| but at the age of 29 his C.V. would suggest | | | | important to me. I surround myself with people |
| otherwise. Antony is a Polar Explorer, Public | | | | who believe in me and my dreams – and I |
| Speaker and recent Founder of not-for-profit | | | | dream big! There will always be people who doubt |
| organisation ‘Education through Expedition' | | | | me, so I keep my distance from them. If I didn't, |
| which has been endorsed by the United Nations. | | | | I would almost definitely not succeed. Community |
| Amongst his achievements is the recent | | | | support is so motivating – simple things like |
| completion of a 51 day expedition to the North | | | | being invited into a school to talk to the kids, |
| Pole to collect ice and seawater samples for the | | | | receiving a letter of thanks from a local |
| University of Plymouth's research into past Arctic | | | | organisation I've met with, or even just someone |
| climate conditions. During the trip he dealt with | | | | putting £1 in the donation tin. It makes |
| minus 50oC temperatures, skiing, snow-shoeing | | | | everything worthwhile. |
| and sometimes even swimming to reach the | | | | To what extent do you believe you can direct |
| North Pole. I had the opportunity to catch up with | | | | your life? |
| him prior to his trip to find out what makes him | | | | AJ: I think success in life is a mixture of |
| tick. | | | | pro-active effort to make things happen |
| Tell us a little about your background. | | | | combined with a bit of luck here and there. I'll give |
| AJ: I've always loved the great outdoors - skiing, | | | | you an example. Not so long ago I gave a talk |
| snowboarding, hiking, climbing, you name it. | | | | about my ‘Education through Expedition' work |
| Following a stint in the Territorial Army, my first | | | | at an art gallery. There were maybe thirty people |
| career step found me joining the Royal Navy but | | | | there, but it so happened that one of the women |
| it wasn't really for me. So I became a tour leader, | | | | in the audience, Sarah Green, was working at the |
| accompanying groups on adventure holidays | | | | United Nations and had links to the United Nations' |
| around the world. A few years later I gained my | | | | Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education, |
| qualification as an International Mountain Leader | | | | Vernor Muñoz Villalobos. Sarah liked what I was |
| which enabled me to start leading remote | | | | advocating and brought it to the attention Mr |
| expeditions, many of which took me to the | | | | Muñoz Villalobos who sent me a letter of |
| Arctic. My love of the Arctic combined with my | | | | endorsement for my work, providing great |
| desire to raise awareness of the changing state | | | | publicity and enhancing the credibility of my |
| of our world has shaped what I do today. I now | | | | organisation. Not only this, but Sarah has proved |
| run a not-for-profit organisation, ‘Education | | | | to be an excellent mentor during my efforts to |
| through Expedition', with the aim to inspire and | | | | establish the not-for-profit organisation that is in |
| educate children globally about world climate | | | | place today. So, just that one talk, possibly the |
| change and to do so through interactive | | | | smallest I've ever given, brought tremendous |
| expeditions and related school outreach work. My | | | | benefit. |
| focus is primarily, but not exclusively, on the arctic | | | | What, in your view, is the key to success? |
| regions, its Inuit people, its animals and landscape. | | | | AJ: Well, I typically define a polar trip as successful |
| How would you describe your approach to life? | | | | if I come back with all my fingers and toes intact! |
| AJ: You only get one chance at life and I believe | | | | But basic survival aside, I find it key to have my |
| in living it to the full. I want to make a worthwhile | | | | end game firmly and clearly in my mind and to |
| contribution, to be remembered for something | | | | not lose sight of it – for me currently this is |
| and to give back to my community. I use | | | | the 2012 Scott trip. I have a lot of alone time |
| experiences from my past to help shape my life | | | | during my expeditions without phone, laptop or |
| going forwards, building on successes, learning | | | | other distractions, which gives me the space to |
| from mistakes. I don't think there's anything | | | | contemplate where I'm at in my life and what I |
| wrong in looking back so long as you're doing so in | | | | want to do next. Your readers don't necessarily |
| order to improve your present and future. I | | | | need to go to the North Pole for several weeks |
| believe that everything you will be tomorrow you | | | | to do their own thinking, but just taking a step |
| are already becoming today. | | | | back from the craziness of life from time to time |
| What are you focused on at the moment? | | | | is so beneficial to your overall wellbeing and sense |
| AJ: I'm about to embark on another expedition to | | | | of direction. Having a firm target, however, |
| the North Pole which will be used for scientific | | | | doesn't mean rigidity in how you get there; being |
| research, a project by Plymouth University to | | | | flexible about the journey opens up new |
| collect ice samples of algae and analyse them. | | | | possibilities for success. Sometimes there will be |
| The aim is to increase our understanding of | | | | things in life that are outside of your control – |
| climate conditions of the past. As with all polar | | | | take the recession for example, which no doubt |
| trips it will be physically and mentally demanding so | | | | played a part in me failing to secure sufficient |
| I'm in full-on training mode at the moment to get | | | | funding for my first South Pole expedition. Rather |
| myself ready. The January cold weather spell in | | | | than getting down over it, I looked at how I could |
| the UK has been helpful, although it still doesn't | | | | effectively use the extra time it gave me. I |
| come close to the minus 40 degree temperatures | | | | moved my focus onto my educational work and |
| I'll be facing at the Pole! | | | | developed my non-profit company. I kept my |
| [Antony reached the North Pole on Earth Day, | | | | goal of getting to the South Pole firmly in mind |
| 22nd April 2010 – read about his success at | | | | but just accepted that now was not the time. |
| What are you building towards? | | | | What keeps you motivated? |
| AJ: 2012 will mark the 100th anniversary of the | | | | AJ: I'll often break down an overwhelming task |
| death of Captain Robert Falcon Scott, Britain's | | | | into smaller steps that are more manageable. How |
| greatest polar explorer and a native of my home | | | | do you ski 400 miles? By taking the first step. |
| town, Plymouth. The aim is to revisit his final | | | | Also, I appreciate the small signs that I'm making |
| campsite in Antarctica, where a memorial service | | | | a difference – a primary school child asking for |
| will be held for relatives of Scott and the four | | | | my autograph after I've shared my experiences |
| other men in his team who lost their lives there. | | | | to his or her class; the round of applause at the |
| Whilst 2012 may seem like some time off, it's | | | | end of a motivational speaking slot; recognising |
| important for me to now focus on further | | | | that things I used to find daunting, like public |
| increasing my polar experience and also raising | | | | speaking, can be overcome; knowing that I'm |
| awareness of what I'm doing in order to secure | | | | doing something I really enjoy. Simply the journey |
| the all-necessary funding to continue. | | | | through life can be so rewarding. |
| What are your biggest challenges and how have | | | | What's next? |
| you overcome them? | | | | AJ: My upcoming North Pole expedition (now |
| AJ: Probably my biggest ongoing challenge is in | | | | completed at time of going to press) and further |
| securing finance for expeditions. I'm just a regular | | | | trips to prepare myself for the 2012 Scott |
| guy, not an academic or a business guru, so | | | | Centenary Expedition. I'll also continue to spread |
| figuring out how best to package who I am and | | | | the word about my ‘Education through |
| what I do in a way that convinces people and | | | | Expedition' work to raise the funding needed to |
| corporations to sponsor me has been an uphill | | | | continue these projects on climate change and |
| struggle – but not of the kind I'm used to! | | | | sustainability. A big part of that lies with the Inuit |
| Perseverance is key – trying all possibilities and | | | | communities I have been visiting over the past |
| then thinking of a few more, and never giving up! | | | | three years and will continue to visit. And overall, |
| Getting the support of Plymouth University has | | | | continuing to strive for making a worthwhile |
| been a major step forward in professionalising my | | | | contribution to our world and the people in it. |
| activities - bringing me projects, credibility, a small | | | | Thanks Antony! |
| support staff and an office. Also, speaking out | | | | To learn more about Antony's work on |
| about what I'm doing helps. When I have an idea | | | | ‘Education through Expedition' visit his website |
| for a next expedition I tell as many people about | | | | at |
| it as I can. This generates awareness, brings | | | | And to give some thought as to how Antony's |
| feedback, and, more importantly, makes me feel | | | | story might inspire you, I noted a few points |
| a certain amount of accountability in following | | | | reflected in his message that you might like to |
| through – this kind of pressure works for me! | | | | consider... |
| Where do you get your support? | | | | |