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Matty McNair

Leader of the first ever all women's expedition
to the geographic north pole

"Life is a journey, not a destination..."

Matty McNair takes her life down the road less traveled. In the spring of 1997, Matty led the first ever women's expedition to the Geographic North Pole; a remarkable achievement in polar history.

As her magnificent slides depict the intense challenges of traveling on the polar Ice cap, Matty shares her amazing journey to the top of the world. As expedition leader, she struggles to keep in balance the group's focused drive for "the big nail" with her belief that the key to success is in the style in which the journey is lived.

Her dramatic presentation reflects this style that pays attention to both logistical details, and enhancing a positive. supportive team atmosphere. For Matty leadership is having the courage to move into the unknown, to lead others where you have not been yourself. It's also about talking the right risks - knowing that to move forward you must take risks, but also that to move onto ice too thin can spell disaster. Matty and her husband are co-directors of NorthWinds Arctic Adventures. They live with their two children on Baffin Island in the New Nunavit Territory