Welcome to the fourth Shackleton Medal.
‘Optimism is the true moral courage’
We believe that if the Boss was alive today, he would be striving to the utmost to save the polar regions from the myriad threats they face. Polar protection is a global priority: what happens at the poles impacts our entire planet and the nature and scale of these threats is becoming more apparent every year as the graphics below highlight. There are reasons to be pessimistic, but that’s not in our nature. There is science to be done, people to persuade, advances to be made.
The Shackleton Medal shines a light on the activists, scientists, explorers and communicators that are stepping forward to make a difference. A £10,000 prize and a hand-struck silver medal will be awarded to the person judged to have done the most to protect the polar regions so loved by the Boss. The judging criteria reflect the character of Shackleton himself; we are looking to reward people who have shown courage, determination, ingenuity and leadership in their work.
SHACKLETON MEDAL WINNER 2025.
CORMAC CULLINAN
Environmental lawyer and Rights of Nature advocate
In a closely fought race, Cormac Cullinan has emerged as the winner of this year's Shackleton Medal for the Protection of the Polar Regions. Cullinan won because of his radical plan to protect the Southern Ocean and Antarctica through a new Antarctic Rights Initiative. A South African lawyer who cut his teeth on anti-apartheid legislation, Cullinan became a major figure in environmental law when he wrote Wild Law: A Manifesto for Earth Justice. This argued for the first time that natural phenomena – such as rivers, or forests – should be given legal "personhood" so they could be defended in court cases.
The work won him global recognition and now his Wild Law firm is taking the concept to a whole new level, spearheading a movement which argues that the entire continent of Antarctica and the surrounding Southern Ocean should be given rights as a distinct legal entity. “Nobody’s making decisions about Antarctica based, really, on what’s best for Antarctica,” he said. “If we could get its [legal] status to at least that of a country, then it could be represented at the UN or in court."
Cullinan is the fourth winner of the Shackleton Medal for the Protection of the Polar Regions, which was set up in 2022 to perpetuate Shackleton's legacy of courage, leadership and determination against the odds at the poles.
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THE 2025 SHACKLETON MEDAL
SHORTLISTED NOMINEES
TODAYS POLAR ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCIES
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCIES OF 2024
WHY THE SHACKLETON MEDAL MATTERS MORE THAN EVER
PREVIOUS WINNERS OF THE SHACKLETON MEDAL
SHACKLETON MEDAL WINNER 2024.
VALÉRIE COURTOIS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE.
Valérie Courtois, winner of the 2024 Shackleton Medal for the Protection of the Polar Regions, is at the forefront of a powerful movement that has revolutionised environmental conservation in Canada and is seizing the attention of world leaders. Her vision to connect Indigenous Guardians as the “eyes and ears on the ground” to preserve ecosystems has won Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s backing and seen her nominated as one of Time Magazine’s 100 most Influential Climate Leaders.
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SHACKLETON MEDAL WINNER 2023.
PEN HADOW
EXPLORER & CONSERVATIONIST.
Whittling down from the significant longlist of nominees for the 2023 Shackleton Medal for the Protection of the Polar Regions was a challenging but inspirational task for the judging panel.
We were proud to announce that record-breaking explorer and conservationist, Pen Hadow, was awarded the Shackleton Medal for the Protection of the Polar Regions. The award recognises Hadow's decades-long commitment to protect the central Arctic Ocean and his latest initiative to establish a Marine Protected Area in the region.
“I was stunned to receive such a special award which came at a critical moment in the roll-out of our conservation mission for the Arctic Ocean. It gave our work extra currency and topicality - and attracted a considerable and touching response from within the polar community.” - Pen Hadow
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SHACKLETON MEDAL WINNER 2022.
DR. HEÏDI SEVESTRE - 05.04.22.
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCHER,EXPEDITION LEADER AND CLIMATE ACTIVIST.
The winner of the inaugural Shackleton Medal for the Protection of the Polar Regions was Dr. Heïdi Sevestre, the pioneering climate activist, expedition leader, scientific researcher, documentary maker and lobbyist.
Amongst an exceptionally strong list of nominees, Dr. Sevestre stood out for the extraordinary courage she has demonstrated working in the field and her drive and determination to communicate her message.
You can see Heidi in action in the new National Geographic docuseries, Arctic Ascent, which follows renowned climber Alex Honnold and his team as they venture into Greenland's remote and icy wilderness.
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