Craig Mathieson (polar explorer)
Craig Mathieson is a polar explorer who is 'Explorer-in-Residence' with the Royal Scottish Geographical Society.
Craig takes selected young people from high school all over Scotland on a polar expeditions, to improve their confidence and self belief.
Overview
Born in Johnstone, Renfrewshire and raised in Buchlyvie, Stirlingshire, Mathieson was educated at Balfron High School. He began his working life overseas in the military, before moving into HM Customs & Excise as an inspector and anti-fraud officer. He spent seven years with Ernst & Young, before joining Johnston Carmichael in 2007. In January 2014, Craig Mathieson joined accountancy firm French Duncan to head a new VAT department. In 2018 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Abertay University in Dundee.Expeditions
He successfully led the first dedicated Scottish Expedition to the South Pole in 2004, man-hauling his sledge 730 miles over the Antarctic Continent, and two years later led an expedition to the Geographical North Pole, taking a 16-year-old boy, Chris Struthers of Falkirk as part of his team. Chris is now an engineering geologist based in New Zealand.In 2009 he was Leader of the 'Northern Lights' sea kayaking expedition on the east coast of Greenland
Appointments
He was appointed special advisor to HM Forces regarding Polar training and guiding in 2012.In 2013 he was appointed 'Explorer-in-Residence' by Royal Scottish Geographical Society.