PATRONS
Colonel John Blashford-Snell CBE
Colonel John is one of the world’s most renowned and highly respected explorers. He has mounted over 100 expeditions in the past 50 years all over the world, concentrating on scientific research and community aid. These expeditions have included the first descent of the Blue Nile, the first crossing of the Darien Gap by vehicle and navigating the course of the Congo River.
He was a founder of the Scientific Exploration Society whose aim is to foster and encourage scientific exploration worldwide. Through this body he launched the Operation Drake and Operation Raleigh programmes, allowing thousands of young people to experience adventure and scientific research.
In the 2019 New Year Honours list JBS was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to scientific research abroad and to young people in the UK. We are delighted that Col. John has become a Patron of our Young Explorer Programme.
Sir Ranulph Fiennes OBE
Sir Ranulph is described by the Guinness Book of Records as “the world’s greatest living explorer”. He has led 22 major expeditions to remote parts of the world, including both Poles. He is the only man alive to have travelled around the Earth’s circumpolar surface (more people have been on the Moon). He journeyed around the world on its polar axis, using surface transport only.
His record-breaking expeditions include travel by riverboat, hovercraft, manhaul sledge, skidoo, Land Rover and ski. He has discovered a lost city in Oman, climbed Mt. Everest and in 2015 became the oldest Briton to complete the Marathon des Sables, the toughest footrace on Earth. The Daily Telegraph listed Ranulph Fiennes as “one of the world’s top ten speakers” and he was the guest speaker at our 2017 Explorers evening at the RGS.
Sir Ranulph is a Patron of our Young Explorer programme. “I’m pleased to support the Explorers Against Extinction campaign. Species extinction is such an important issue.”
Image: Liz Scarff, Fieldcraft Studios
Benedict Allen
Benedict is established as one of the world’s leading modern-day explorers through expeditions famously achieved not with a phone, GPS or “backup,” but by preparation alone with remote indigenous communities.
The only person known to have crossed the Amazon Basin at its widest, arguably no one alive has lived so long isolated and alone in so many potentially hostile remote environments. His ventures include the first documented journey of the length of the Namib Desert, and likewise he is the only person known to have crossed the full width of the Gobi with camels alone.
Famous for his technique of immersing himself among indigenous peoples, today Benedict is also widely known for establishing the adventure genre in television. By using a handheld video camera rather than a film-crew he re-defined the landscape of TV, allowing millions of people around the world to witness for the first time adventures unfolding genuinely in inhospitable conditions.
Pip Stewart
Pip is an adventurer, filmmaker and presenter known for her bold expeditions and environmental storytelling. Her journeys have taken her deep into some of the world’s most remote regions, from a 10,000-mile cycle from Southeast Asia back to the UK to a 3,000-mile journey across Brazil to Peru, documenting the environmental challenges facing these landscapes.
In 2018, Pip joined Laura Bingham and Ness Knight on a world-first expedition, paddling the entire length of the Essequibo, South America’s third largest river, from source to sea. The journey through remote rainforest and gold mining regions brought global attention to an underexplored ecosystem – and to the very real risks of expedition life, after Pip contracted Leishmaniasis during the trip.
Today, alongside her work in film and conservation, Pip is also a mum, bringing a fresh perspective to adventure and storytelling, and continuing to inspire others to explore, protect and better understand the natural world.
Levison Wood
Levison is a professional explorer, author, photographer and broadcaster, best known for his immersive expeditions and bestselling travel series. He has travelled in more than 100 countries, undertaking some of the world’s most ambitious journeys, from walking the length of the River Nile to traversing the Himalayas and crossing Central America.
His work combines adventure with storytelling, often exploring remote landscapes, wildlife and indigenous cultures, and has been brought to a global audience through critically acclaimed documentaries and books.
Levison is a former Officer in the British Parachute Regiment, where he served in Afghanistan. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and The Explorers Club, and continues to champion exploration, conservation and a deeper understanding of the natural world.
Rebecca Stephens
Rebecca Stephens MBE is a pioneering British mountaineer, journalist, and motivational speaker. In 1993, she became the first British woman to summit Mount Everest, and the following year, the first British woman to climb the Seven Summits—the highest peaks on each continent . Her journey into mountaineering began during her tenure as a journalist when she joined an expedition to Everest’s North East Ridge in 1989, an experience that ignited her passion for climbing .
Beyond her climbing achievements, Rebecca has authored several books, including On Top of the World and The Seven Summits of Success, co-written with Robert Heller . She has also presented on BBC’s Tomorrow’s World and contributes to various publications. As a motivational speaker and leadership coach, Rebecca draws on her expedition experiences to inspire individuals and organisations to reach their full potential .
Gary Hodges
Gary is the UK’s best selling and most collectable pencil artist. He has sold over 110,000 personally signed and numbered wildlife art prints from 135 different editions. 125 of these limited editions have sold out – very few artists could make this claim.
Over the years the huge demand for Gary’s prints has led to a lucrative secondary market, rewarding collectors with more than just the sheer beauty of his drawings. The first limited edition print “Green Turtle” was published in 1987 by Greenpeace and sold for £8.50. In recent years copies have changed hands for up to an incredible £3,500.00. Recently introduced embellished prints have smashed this record a number of times reaching as high as £6,700 for his 1993 Snow Leopard.
Gary has always insisted he could not draw wildlife without giving something back to wildlife and other charities. Over the years he has donated hundreds of thousands of pounds to numerous conservation projects and has been a supporter of Explorers against Extinction since we started in 2016. In 2019 we were delighted when he agreed to become a Patron of our Sketch for Survival initiative. In his role, Gary also leads the selection panel and is joined by an experienced panel of artists each year.
Paul Goldstein
Paul is an award-winning wildlife photographer, guide, conservationist and co-owner of highly respected safari camps in Kenya. Known for his no-nonsense views, uncompromising standards and an extensive eyebrow-raising lexicon, he has led photographic expeditions across the globe and remains a tireless advocate for ethical wildlife tourism and the protection of endangered species.
A committed and highly visible fundraiser, Paul has raised nearly £500,000 for conservation, particularly for Bengal tigers, completing marathons from Brighton to Mount Everest in his now-famous tiger suit.
Paul heads up our selection panel for Focus for Survival, bringing his experience, energy and sharp eye to the judging process.
Sophie Green
Sophie is an internationally recognised wildlife artist and conservationist, known for her striking hyper-realistic paintings of some of the world’s most vulnerable species. Her work has gained global attention, featured by organisations such as National Geographic and exhibited internationally, using art as a powerful platform to highlight environmental and ethical issues.
We have collaborated with Sophie over a number of years, working together to raise funds for conservation and spark conversation through high-profile exhibitions, including COP26 in Glasgow in 2021 and the Palace of Westminster in 2024.
Sophie plays a key role in Sketch for Survival, heading up our Sketch for Survival Junior selection panel. With her enthusiasm, experience and creative eye, she helps guide and inspire the next generation of wildlife artists.
AMBASSADORS
Ash Bhardwaj
Ash is an accomplished filmmaker, travel journalist and author of Why We Travel. His varied career has involved everything from working as a cowboy in Australia to playing rugby in New Zealand, to being a ski instructor in Switzerland and teaching Physics and Chemistry to sixth form students. In more recent years, his ventures have been focussed on reporting from some of the world’s most challenging locations and shining a light on the human condition through the people he meets and places he visits. Ash’s assignments have included traversing Everest with wounded British soldiers, trekking through the Albanian Alps retracing WWII SOE missions and meeting the Area Boys of Lagos in Nigeria.
Alison Nicholls
Alison is a wildlife artist based in Port Chester, New York, and a long-standing ambassador for Explorers Against Extinction. English by birth, Alison spent several years living in Botswana and Zimbabwe, where her deep connection to Africa’s people, wildlife and landscapes was formed. She has supported EAE from the very beginning and played a key role in our New York exhibitions and events in 2018 and 2022, as well as sitting on the Sketch for Survival selection panel. A passionate advocate for conservation, Alison’s art is rooted in sketching wildlife directly from life, and her work continues to support conservation organisations across Africa.
Toby Hough
Toby is an experienced self-shooting director and cameraman who spent 10 years with the RSPB Film Unit, before working freelance for independents and major broadcasters including BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4 and CH5. Well-known shows include Countryfile, the Chelsea Flower Show, Springwatch and Walking Britain’s Lost Railways. His work has taken him all over the world covering a wide range of species and habitats, from Madagascar to Chukotka in the Russian Far East where he memorably filmed polar bears and walrus…
Carol Barrett
Carol is a wildlife artist based in Edinburgh and a dedicated ambassador for Explorers Against Extinction. Inspired by nature from an early age, Carol trained at Edinburgh Art College before focusing her art on her lifelong fascination with wildlife. Nearly 40 years ago, a formative journey to Africa shaped her path as a wildlife artist and cemented her commitment to conservation. Supporting conservation has always been central to her work, and in recent years she has committed 100% of her artwork sales to conservation causes. A passionate advocate for EAE in Scotland (and beyond), Carol uses her art and voice to help ensure that iconic species, from elephant to cheetah, remain part of our world for generations to come.
Dharmendra Kumar – DK
Dharmendra, better known as “DK,” is a passionate advocate for sustainable tourism and wildlife conservation. Combining years of experience in the travel industry with a deep love for wildlife photography, DK has dedicated his life to promoting responsible travel across India. His hands-on approach—personally guiding immersive tours—offers travellers an authentic connection to India’s diverse natural and cultural heritage. Through community-based tourism initiatives, DK actively supports the preservation of ecosystems and the livelihoods of indigenous communities.