Iain Rudkin

Iain is one of the UK’s most experienced Polar Guides.

Iain worked for the British Antarctic Survey for seven years spending three winters and seven summers guiding scientific projects. The rich diversity of this work took him from the wildlife-rich sub Antarctic islands through to the harshness of early season work on the polar plateau. 

Following on from this Antarctic apprenticeship, Iain worked on science projects in the Russian, Greenlandic and Norwegian Arctic and then most recently working as an Expedition leader in the expedition cruise ship industry. 

Since 2016, Iain started a new chapter in his polar career guiding clients on Antarctica’s highest peak and working on the sea ice at remote camps for Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions (ALE). He progressed to become one of the travel safety managers helping to oversee the company’s operations in the extremes of Antarctica. Iain has an in depth knowledge of ground penetrating radar (GPR) technology - used to identify crevasses hidden beneath the surface of the ice.

He is currently the station manager for the British research base at Ny-Ålesund in Svalbard.

QUALIFICATIONS/CREDENTIALS

• Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS)

• NEBOSH NGC in Occupational Health & Safety

• UK Qualified Mountain Leader

• WEMSI Wilderness First Responder

• Cold Water Qualified Diver (Drysuit)

• Arctic Firearms Certification

• RYA Powerboat Level 2 (with commercial endorsement)

• PhD in Chemistry

• Ground Penetrating Radar Operator