Parker Liautaud – Keynote Speaker

Parker Liautaud is a polar explorer and a leading climate change campaigner.

At age 19, he became the fastest, unsupported person ever to ski to the South Pole, and is the youngest person to reach both poles. Liautaud has undertaken three expeditions to the North Pole since turning 15 years old, and his expeditions always aim to draw attention to the immediate need for action to address climate change. In December 2013, he was named in Time Magazine’s 30 Under 30 list of people changing the world, and in March 2014, was honoured by The White House as a Champion of Change for Engaging the Next Generation of Conservation Leaders.

On December 24, 2013, Parker Liautaud completed the Willis Resilience Expedition, a 349 mile trek from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole. He broke the previous record held by Norwegian explorers, by almost 4 days when he reached the South Pole after 18 days, 4 hours and 43 minutes. The Willis Resilience Expedition, featured a 16-episode live show dedicated to climate change, which hosted 25 debates and discussions on the issue with leading experts from the scientific community, the private sector, NGOs, and government. On the return trip Liautaud took 6.5-foot-deep earth samples, which researchers at GNS New Zealand are analysing for changes in composition that could shed light on the pace of climate change in the region.

Liautaud has partnered with leading academic institutions, including the International Atomic Energy Agency, GNS New Zealand and others, to conduct research on the climate system. He has also worked closely with the United Nations Foundation and the Yale Climate and Energy Institute on the communication of climate science.

Parker Liautaud is also an ambassador for One Young World, which gathers together young leaders from around the world, helping them make lasting connections to create positive change. With One Young World, he has shared the same stage as Kofi Annan and Sir Bob Geldof, has addressed over 1200 delegates from 190 countries, and led several initiatives with other One Young World Ambassadors.