In late January 2025, the Homeward Bound Transform cohort of 124 women and non-binary leaders with backgrounds in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics and Medicine (STEAMM) departed Ushuaia, Argentina aboard the MS Island Sky for a 15-night voyage to the southern continent.
Representing 24 nationalities and an extraordinary diversity of disciplines, professions and lived experiences, participants had already spent 12 months developing their leadership, strategic capability, scientific collaboration and visibility. Antarctica became the living classroom where those ideas, relationships and aspirations came together.
As one of Earth's last great wild places, Antarctica offers a powerful perspective on our planet's interconnected systems. Its vast landscapes, abundant wildlife and rapidly changing environment remind us of both the beauty and fragility of the natural world. Experiencing this place firsthand inspires a deeper commitment to leading for a sustainable future and creates bonds between participants that have endured long after the voyage ended.
Our journey began by sailing through the Beagle Channel between Argentina and Chile, before crossing the legendary Drake Passage. With swells of up to 4 metres, it wasn’t quite the notorious ‘Drake Shake’, but still an unforgettable introduction to the Southern Ocean, marvelling at albatross and other seabirds soaring across the waves. Near the end of our second day at sea, we made our first landing by Zodiac at Half Moon Island in the South Shetland Islands.
Over the following eleven days, every landing and every Zodiac cruise revealed something new. Towering mountains. Bright glaciers. Icebergs sculpted by wind and sea. Vast penguin colonies alive with sound and movement. Curious seals resting on drifting ice. Humpback whales surfacing alongside our boats. No two days, and no two locations, were ever the same.
The voyage traced a path through some of the most spectacular landscapes of the Antarctic Peninsula. Each stop offered its own story, shaped by weather, wildlife, ice and the constantly changing conditions that make every Antarctic expedition unique. The interactive map below follows our route and highlights the locations we visited. Select a destination to discover photographs from participants as we experienced Antarctica together.
Want more? Check out this incredible 360° panoramic video, captured by voyager Virginia Corrigan and edited by Matt Browning of Clemson University's Virtual Reality & Nature Lab. This video can be downloaded to virtual reality (VR) headsets for a full immersive experience, or simply viewed online. Click to learn more about Tandem VR™.
