SES Explorer Series: Mark Agnew - There Will Be Headwinds

Mark is a world first record setting kayaker. He and his three teammates, called The Arctic Cowboys, became the first people to kayak the entire Northwest Passage. The expedition took 103 days and was packed with polar bears, storms, sea ice and near-death experiences. The feat was only possible as the ice disappears more each year.

Mark will have you on the edge of your seat recounting the tales of endurance. He ultimately learns that adventure is not about the outcome, it is about the experience and the people you do it with.

Mark's talk has been rated 9.5/10 by a secret audience vote aboard Saga Cruises and called "outstanding, the best talk of its kind I've heard". The Royal Scottish Geographical Society said it was "dramatic, amusing, exciting".

Mark is born and bred from Edinburgh. He moved to Hong Kong in his 20s where he worked as the Adventure Sports editor for the South China Morning Post. He has since moved back to the UK where he works as a keynote speaker and author. His book about the Northwest Passage is due to be released in June 2025.

Find out more about Mark on his website and socials (Instagram and Twitter).

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Tuesday 28 October 2025

Venue: The Boulevard Bar, Hollywood Arms, 45 Hollywood Road, Chelsea, London SW10 9HX

- Drinks in the bar from 6.30pm

- Talk starts at 7pm (followed by Q&A)

- More drinks in the bar afterward, if wanted!

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Host or Publisher Scientific Exploration Society