David Knoff is a former Antarctic Station and Voyage leader and led the team at Australia’s Davis Research station in 2020. The worst of the COVID-19 pandemic then left them isolated far longer than ever expected. David’s new book ‘537 Days of Winter‘ tells the story of what happened.
In this episode with David, I ask him:
- What were the physical and psychological changes that you went through during that time?
- In Antarctica, how do you manage the balance between looking after yourself as the leader and looking after the group’s needs?
- When things weren’t going well, how did you find the motivation to keep going? What did you do to motivate others?
- What was the biggest change you noticed when you got back after having missed 2020 and the worst of the pandemic?
- What was the biggest challenge when it came to writing about your experience?
- And so much more.
To watch this inspiring episode, click the video link below.
With a combined 15 years of experience on the frontlines of diplomacy and conflict, David Knoff's professional career has taken him to all corners of the globe.
In October 2019, David embarked on an Antarctic Expedition to lead Australia’s Davis Research station for a year. What he and his team couldn’t have predicted was that whilst they were away, a global pandemic would change the world they left and leave them isolated longer than ever expected and forced to endure an extended stay without resupply and alone.
David returned from Antarctica in April 2021 having spent an incredible 537 days away from Australia and having missed 2020 and the worst of the pandemic response and faced a new challenge of adjusting to a changing world.
Specialising in remote leadership, isolation, resilience and leadership through adversity, David's story is a unique example of adventure and challenges in the harshest environments and circumstances. David's book, '
