Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition
In 2009, Felicity organised and led the largest and most international expedition of women ever to ski to the South Pole. Her team included women from the Commonwealth countries of Brunei Darussalam, Cyprus, Ghana, India, Jamaica, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom.
A short film about the team selection and training event in Norway, February 2009.
Representing a Commonwealth of 52 nations and a community of over 2 billion people around the globe, the expedition team comprised a diverse group of women selected from over 800 candidates who had applied to join the team through the expedition website. The application process was open to all, with the result that many of the expedition members had never been in sub-zero temperatures, never put on a pair of skis or spent the night in a tent before they began training for the journey.
Having spent a fortnight on the Hardangervidda Plateau in Norway training in winter conditions, and a further fortnight training in New Zealand, the team of novice explorers set out from the coast of Antarctica in November 2009 heading for the South Pole. They completed the 911km ski journey in 38 days, arriving at the South Pole on 29th December 2009.
On reaching the South Pole, the team members from Brunei and Cyprus were the first person from their respective countries to ski to the South Pole. Team members from Singapore, New Zealand and India became the first women from their country to ski all the way to the South Pole.
Marking the 60th anniversary of the Commonwealth, the underlying purpose of the expedition was to demonstrate the potential of greater intercultural understanding and exchange, while at the same time highlighting the achievements of women across the world.
Aurora, our virtual team member.
The team were the first expedition to 'Tweet' to the Pole, sending messages and 'phonecasts' via satellite phone. Educational Resources were developed using material from the expedition, introduced by 'Aurora', our virtual team member.
The team filmed themselves throughout the journey and the footage was developed into a full-length documentary which has been broadcast in several countries. A DVD of the film is available to purchase from the website shop here.
Felicity wrote a book about the expedition called, 'Call of the White: Taking the World to the South Pole'. It was a 2011 finalist in the Banff Mountain Festival Book Competition and has been translated into Mandarin.
“The expedition represents 5 continents, 6 faiths, 7 languages, 8 women and 1 daring ambition...”
A trailer for the documentary 'Call of the White' which tells the story of the Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition
“I commend you warmly for this exceptional initiative...”
