Polly Murray – Keynote Speaker

Polly Murray is passionate about the outdoors. She has been involved in a number of adventures, exploring some of the planets most remote destinations.

She was the first Scottish woman to summit Mount Everest; first person to Telemark ski off the summit of Mount McKinley in Alaska; representing the UK in Nordic skiing; competing in a world cup Telemark ski race; a ski traverse of Bylot island in Northern canada with best friend Tash Wright; a remote Arctic island crossed only once previously in the 60’s by famous explorer, Bill Tilman; Sailing to the remote Antarctic island of Peter Oy and the sub Antarctic island of South Georgia.

Polly Murray has been been the presenter and assistant expedition leader on the award winning BBC “Serious” series. These programmes involve taking 8 kids, aged between 12 and 15 to remote areas of the world. Locations have ranged from deep in the Amazon rainforest to high up the the Andes and as far south as Cape Horn. These trips include following in the wake of some of the worlds greatest explorers. Other television work has included a guest appearances on “Live and Deadly” , for the BBC with Steve Backshaw and “Summer at the Top” for STV. She also completed a rock climbing ascent of The Old Man of Hoy, filmed for Scottish television.

Polly Murray has recently been involved in various challenges to help raise money for various charities, one of which was a gruelling 54 mile walk in 24 hours over the Perthshire hills, which she has done three times! The most recent trip was a ski traverse of the Monte Rosa region of the Alps; while this summer she plans to cycle the length of Wales on the challenginging Cambrian way – a trip to raise awareness and funds for children suffering with neuroblastoma cancers.