Inspiring Explorers - Greenland Ice Cap - 2018

Brando Yelavich

Brando Yelavich will be a name familiar to many New Zealanders. Brando was diagnosed with ADHD and Dyslexia at a young age, and as a result, he struggled with traditional learning environments. Feeling directionless, and despondent about his place in life, he made a bold decision to set out into the world on his own and circumnavigate the entire coastline of New Zealand, a feat that had never been accomplished before. Brando set off into the unknown on February 1 2013, thinking it may take him eight or nine months to complete the expedition. Six hundred days and over 8,700kms later he completed his journey and his life was changed forever.
Since achieving that remarkable feat of mental and physical endurance, Brando has dedicated himself to becoming a full-time explorer. He put the icing on the cake of his circumnavigation of New Zealand by completing an expedition around Stewart Island, at the bottom of the South Island, and has ventured to the Himalayas. He is passionate about inspiring others to explore the world around them through school talks and presentations, and his growing online presence. In his own words…

“There’s no right or wrong in adventure. It’s a beautiful way to bring people together and to spread happiness. I want to inspire curiosity and exploration for all of humanity.”

Bridget Kruger

Thirty-year-old Bridget Kruger is no stranger to the great outdoors, having worked for years as an outdoor instructor and adventure therapist all over the world. Bridget divides her home time between Australia and New Zealand, depending on where her work takes her. She has something of a Nansen connection herself – with family based in Norway – where she studied for a semester for a Masters of Trans- Cultural European Outdoor Studies.
Bridget had a life-altering experience while working in Canada as a dog sled guide. She was involved in a serious accident, when a person lost control of their sled and ran her over, leading to a traumatic head injury. Bridget slept for nearly three months and had to regain her short-term memory, the ability to think coherently, as well as the ability to balance properly. Through her long recovery, Bridget found solace in nature. As she puts it…

“There is something about adventuring in nature that ignites the spirit and brings out the best in us.”

Hollie Woodhouse

Christchurch-based designer and adventure enthusiast Hollie Woodhouse isn’t one to shy away from an opportunity to explore the world, a fact that’s perhaps best summed up by the name of the magazine she founded in 2015 – ‘Say Yes To Adventure’. Hollie’s thirst for adventure has taken her to the Sahara Desert and the Amazon Jungle, where she competed in endurance events covering over 200km in five days. Back home, Hollie has competed in events including the Coast To Coast and Red Bull Defiance.
Hollie is passionate about inspiring others to get into the great outdoors and give things a go. In addition to Say Yes To Adventure, she is an avid blogger, having written about her travels and adventures for the past five years. As well as this she has shared her stories of exploration and discovery through public talks and presentations. Her ‘say yes’ attitude is what keeps pushing her to face new challenges. The way Hollie looks at it…

“I don’t want to look back on my time and regret not having given every opportunity that comes before a go.”

Keith Parsons

Australian Keith Parsons has managed to pack a lot into his twenty-seven years. A skilled photographer and videographer, Keith’s work has taken him all over the world. In between stints in London and Melbourne working as a picture editor for a national media company and a content coordinator for a non-government organisation, he spent a year in sub-Saharan Africa, where he worked as a freelance visual journalist. Keith is an avid endurance runner, mountain biker and all-round outdoor enthusiast.
Coupled with his love of the outdoors is a passion for polar-history, and the exploits of heroic-era explorers like Fridtjof Nansen. Keith describes Nansen’s influence in exploration and beyond…

“Fridtjof Nansen’s original journey is, in my mind, one of the most notable feats of polar exploration, as we know it ushered in a prolonged period of firsts. However, to me Nansen’s political and humanitarian efforts are even greater; resulting in his 1922 Nobel Peace Prize.”