Team
Liv (pronounced ´leave´) Arnesen´s rich life experiences, both on and off the ice, have made her an internationally recognized leader and role model for women and girls. A self-proclaimed´keen´ but not fanatical outdoors enthusiast, Arnesen is most interested in the development of adults and children. Through her diverse roles as a polar explorer, educator and motivational leader, Arnesen ignites passion in others to reach beyond their normal boundaries and achieve their dreams by sharing her own stories about exploring some of the most remote places on earth. You can read more about Liv here.
Ann Bancroft is one of the world´s preeminent polar explorers and an internationally recognized leader who is dedicated to inspiring women,girls and audiences around the world to unleash the power of their dreams. Through her various roles as an explorer, educator and sought-after speaker, Bancroft believes that by sharing stories related to her dreams of outdoor adventure, she can help inspire a global audience to pursue their individual dreams. You can read more about Ann Bancroft here.
Expedition Team
Kim Smith resides in Cape Town, South Africa and is pursuing a Masters degree in Developmental Studies. With her university, Kim has had the opportunity to travel extensively and has begun a global dialogue that has further solidified her dedication to community development. “The ideas and views of friends from all over the world further ignited my passion for wanting to be an instrument of change.” Kim works with various non-profitable projects in townships such as Khayelitsha and Bonteheuwel in Cape Town addressing the changes her country faces as a means to promote collaboration and cooperation with one another in an effort to achieve great things. “I am an ordinary person from a small community in Cape Town, but my ability to dream and to dream big has never failed me.”
Read more about Kim here
Bachendri Pal is Chief Adventure Programmes at Tata Steel Ltd. in India and a nationally honored expedition leader. Bachendri’s accomplishments in mountaineering are an inspiration to audiences of all ages particularly empowering to women. Bachendri shares the stories of her Everest expedition as a platform to encourage others to also realize adventure and enterprise in their lives and to reach for their “own Everest.”
Read more about Bachendri here
Olfat Haider is Program Manager at Beit Gaefen – an Arab-Jewish Center in Haifa. One of her projects involves leading an annual student expedition to the Alps. Olfat was born and raised in Haifa, Israel, where she lives today. As an outstanding young volleyball player, she joined the Israeli National Women’s Team, as its only Arab member. She has been involved in several projects promoting peaceful co-existence between Jewish and Arab youth in Israel. She has also led and facilitated numerous multicultural and multi-ethnic groups of various ages in wide-ranging projects and initiatives.
Read more about Olfat here
Lisa Kanawa is a Senior Advisor on Maori Strategy with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in New Zealand. Dedicated to sustainable development, Lisa is in a unique position to engagee indigineous people in national issues pertaining to natural resources and climate change to raise their development and economic potential. Lisa enjoys the diversity of the communities she works with and also the diversity of the aspirations.
Read more about Lisa here
Marcia Gutierrez, from Chile, is the fifth member of the team. Marcia’s profile will be up shortly.
Wang Jing is one of China’s select few women mountaineers. She sets down all her climbing exploits on her blog, which is staple reading among Beijing’s outdoor enthusiasts. Wang is co-founder of the Beijing Toread Camping Equipment Co., Ltd., and she personally hand-stitched the first Toread tent and also designed the company logo. It took ten years of hard work to establish Toread as Beijing’s premier outdoor products company.
Read more about Jing here
Heard lately