Mark Agnew: podcast appearances and interviews

Mark Agnew is a British adventurer known for kayaking the Northwest Passage. In 2023, he was recognized as European Adventurer of the Year for this achievement. He is the heir apparent to the Agnew baronets of Lochnaw and the son of explorer Sir Crispin Agnew. Agnew is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and works as an international keynote speaker, focusing on themes such as resilience, change, and organisational performance.

Born in 1991 in Edinburgh, Agnew attended Fettes College and later studied at Newcastle University. Between 2013 and 2021, he resided in Hong Kong, where he served as the Outdoor and Extreme Sports Editor of the South China Morning Post. His expedition to kayak the Northwest Passage involved three teammates and was the first to complete the route entirely by human power without sails or motors within a single season. The journey stretched from Baffin Bay to the Beaufort Sea, defined as the boundaries of the Northwest Passage by the International Hydrographic Organization. The expedition faced extreme cold and dangerous polar bears. Following the event, Agnew and his team were charged under Canadian environmental and wildlife laws for alleged permits violations, but all charges were later dropped.

Agnew has also attempted to row across the Atlantic Ocean twice, in 2016 and 2018, experiences marked by significant mental health challenges. His adventurous pursuits are complemented by previous attempts from other teams to traverse the Northwest Passage by human power, with Agnew’s successful completion in 2023 marking a notable milestone in exploration.