Explorer Conference

The Explorer Conference is a one-day educational event that encourages young people to develop the skills and mindset of early Antarctic explorers. Through inspiring talks, interactive workshops and hands-on challenges, students explore the ‘Explorer Mindset’, developing qualities such as curiosity, innovation, resilience, teamwork and leadership, and discovering how they can apply these in their own lives.

The conference connects the history and heritage of Antarctic exploration with opportunities for young people to challenge themselves, build confidence and step outside their comfort zones.

2026 Explorer Conference

2025 Explorer Conference

Explorer Conference 2023

One hundred Year 12 South Auckland school students from 11 schools from the AIMHI network were inspired and challenged at the Antarctic Heritage Trust Explorer Conference held at Manukau’s Due Drop Events Centre on 1 June.

Ministry for Culture and Heritage Chief Executive Laulu Mac Leauanae opened the Conference by encouraging students to think about how they might develop their ‘explorer mindset’ – using traits of curiosity, resilience, teamwork, innovation and leadership.

Students heard from inspirational speakers including Faumuina Felolini Maria Tafuna’i, and workshopped topics led by young people who have taken part in the Trust’s Inspiring Explorers Expeditions™.

Faumuina educated students on the art of wayfinding – a model that draws on the wisdom from Pacific star navigators and ocean voyagers who navigated and settled the Pacific. Faumuina has herself sailed multiple voyages on doubled hulled waka as a master navigator.

Wayfinding for Life creates a safe space for rangatahi to discuss the many challenges they face. “We’re on this journey together, navigating the highs and lows of life while celebrating whakapapa, diversity, and each individual’s vision of success,” says Faumuina.

Workshops with Trust Inspiring Explorers™ alumni

The alumni included Brando Yelavich – the first Kiwi to circumnavigate the entire coastline of New Zealand. The 8,700km journey took 600 days and changed his life forever. In 2018 he joined the Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ to ski across the Greenland Ice Cap.

Brando motivated students to explore the world around them, sharing his extraordinary story.

“It doesn’t matter where you start your journey. Every time you fail, you accumulate resilience; there’s no finding yourself – only creating yourself.”

William Pike spoke about his journey, including sharing the incredible story of losing his leg in the Mount Ruapehu eruption. William went on to climb Mount Scott in Antarctica as part of the Trust’s Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ in 2017.

Troy Sanday from De La Salle College said he was inspired by William’s story and how he overcame huge challenges.

“But William didn’t let the challenges stop him and I thought he was very brave that he went back to the place where he lost his leg.”

Laura Andrews, who recently skied almost 1000km to the South Pole with the Trust as part of their latest Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ led a workshop called ‘Who’s in your waka’? Laura shared her journey to the South Pole and what she learnt about how to build a great team.

Oscar Hayhow from Rosehill College said hearing from Inspiring Explorers’ alumni was eye-opening.

“Do better and keep moving was a message I heard a lot today. Hearing how other people overcame their challenges – it gives you good perspective. Just give it a go and if you don’t like what you are doing, then change it.”

Action-based Learning

In the afternoon, students put what they learnt at the workshops into action with a session at Wero Whitewater Park where they built their own rafts and raced them.

For Treannah Truong-Truiai from Pakakura High School, it was her first-time rafting, which she said was very challenging.

“It was hard but we worked as a team and most important, all finished together. We communicated really well as a team,” she said.

Antarctic Heritage Trust Executive Director Francesca Eathorne says, “It’s been fantastic to see these young explorers step out of their comfort zone today. Our Inspiring Explorers have loved sharing their stories – hopefully inspiring these students to answer the call to explore, to overcome their challenges – developing their explorer mindset.”

Other Inspiring Explorers hosting workshops were seven-time Godzone adventure race competitor Emily Wilson, Antarctic Heritage Trust Board member Georgie Archibald and former Squawk Squad CEO Owain John.

Thank You

The Trust would like to acknowledge primary supporters Sir Noel and Sue, Lady Robinson, and Inspiring Explorers™ Fund donors including Royal Society Te Apārangi, Mace Charitable Foundation and Dulux New Zealand for making the Explorer Conference possible.

If you want to help fund more programmes like this, click here.

2021 Explorer Conference

Antarctic Heritage Trust was excited to deliver our inaugural Explorer Conference on 2 July in Auckland, New Zealand attended by 100 Year 12 students from South Auckland high schools.

The Conference was officially opened by New Zealand’s Prime Minister Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, who told the students Sir Ernest Shackleton was her childhood hero and urged them not to let a lack of confidence hold them back.

Focused on the explorer qualities of curiosity, resilience, leadership, innovation and teamwork, the conference encouraged students to adopt an explorer’s mindset and have the confidence to step outside their comfort zones.

They heard from inspirational speakers and workshopped topics led by young people who have taken part in the Trust’s Inspiring Explorers Expeditions™. The students then challenged themselves in action-based learning activities at Vector Wero Whitewater Park.

Trust alumni William Pike, who lost his leg in an eruption on Mount Ruapehu, delivered a keynote speech. William climbed Mount Scott in Antarctica with the Trust in 2017.

“My message is to step outside your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid, have the confidence to know that new experiences will make your stronger – don’t let anything hold you back,” he told the students.

For Edgewater College students, Hannah King and Yalda Ahmadi the conference was a day to remember.

“I’ll always remember the Prime Minister saying that you never know what you’re capable of until you try,” said Hannah.

Yalda says the stories the Inspiring Explorers shared were amazing.

“You don’t often hear stories like that. It made me realise that we can dream big and achieve hard things if we set our minds to it,” said Yalda.

Explorer Conference_2021_Hot shots_AC_11

Among the Inspiring Explorer alumni was Brando Yelavich who was the first New Zealander to circumnavigate the country on foot, walking the 8,700km coastline. Brando joined the Trust’s expedition to ski across the Greenland ice cap in 2018.

“Through the many different and challenging experiences I’ve had, I’ve learned that achieving your dreams can be as simple as changing your mindset and how you perceive things. I shared some of the times I learned the hard way and urged the students to learn from my mistakes!”

Trust General Manager Operations and Communications Francesca Eathorne says that it was exciting to see the Inspiring Explorers alumni sharing their stories, leading the Conference with passion and confidence and seeing how they engaged with students, encouraging them throughout the day to embrace an explorer mindset.

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Thank You

The Trust would like to acknowledge primary supporters Sir Noel and Sue, Lady Robinson, and contributors to the Inspiring Explorers™ Fund for making the Explorer Conference possible.

If you want to help fund more programmes like this, click here.