Meet our Explorers

Episode 6: Ollie Phillips

Ollie Phillips is a former England Rugby Sevens captain and World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year, who led his team to success on the global stage. Since retiring from the sport, he has built a compelling second career as an entrepreneur and sought-after speaker, drawing on his experiences to inspire others on leadership, resilience, and high performance. He has sailed around the world, run marathons in Africa for various charities and hosted the most ‘Northerly rugby match’ at the North Pole. Most recently, Ollie took on one of the greatest physical challenges on earth - completing the World's Toughest Row - and we are proud to count him as a much-valued member of the SES Advisory Board.   Whether on the pitch, the ocean, or the ice, Ollie's story is a masterclass in what it means to push the boundaries of human endeavour, and we hope you'll find his conversation with our Chair, Peter Felix, both fascinating and inspiring.

Episode 5: Mark Beaumont

Over the past two decades, Mark Beaumont has pushed the limits of endurance, spoken at thousands of events, and worked in over 100 countries. Amongst other Guinness World Records, he remains the fastest person to have cycled around the planet. Mark's passion for entrepreneurship takes him into a range of businesses, backing innovation and advising on growth. He lives in Edinburgh, Scotland with his wife Nicci and two daughters. Mark received our Lifetime Achievement honorary award in 2018 and is a member of our Advisory Board.   In this episode, Mark speaks with SES Chair Peter Felix.

Episode 4: Levison Wood

Levison Wood is a renowned explorer, writer, and photographer who has travelled to over 100 countries and authored 11 bestsellers. His major expeditions include walking the Nile, the Himalayas, Central America, and the Arabian Peninsula. He serves as Chancellor of Staffordshire University, is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the Explorers Club, and is an ambassador for Leica and UNICEF. We're proud to have him on our Advisory Board. In this episode, Lev speaks with SES Chair Peter Felix.

Episode 3: Lucy Shepherd

Lucy Shepherd goes where maps run out. A pioneering explorer, filmmaker, and writer, Lucy is driven by a commitment to reaching the truly uncharted - and to bringing those places back to life through film and the written word. Her work does more than document adventure; it inspires the next generation of scientists, explorers, and adventurers to look beyond the horizon and consider what might still be discovered. Lucy is also a passionate advocate for women in exploration, helping to open doors in a field that has for too long had too few of them. She is a much-valued member of the SES Council and was awarded the Society’s 2025 Plum Turner Pioneer with Purpose honorary award.   In this episode, Lucy joins SES Chair Peter Felix to talk about the places she's been, the stories she feels compelled to tell, and what drives her to keep seeking out the unknown.

Episode 2: Preet Chandi

Preet Chandi, known to many as Polar Preet, is a British physiotherapist and retired Army officer who has quietly rewritten the record books. In January 2023, she completed the longest solo unsupported one-way polar ski journey ever recorded, breaking not one but two Guinness World Records in the process - becoming the first person of any gender to hold that title outright. An SES Honorary Award winner and member of the SES Advisory Board, Preet's story is one of extraordinary determination: a first-generation British Asian woman who found her calling in some of the coldest, most unforgiving places on the planet.   In this episode, she joins SES Chair Peter Felix for a conversation about what it really takes to push beyond the edge of the possible - and why she's far from finished.