Roger Chao
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Roger Chao is an accomplished mountaineer, white water kayaker, caver, rock climber, polar expeditioner, backcountry skier, bike tourer, and hiker. He is also a fellow of the Royal Geographic Society and on the executive board of the Explorers Club.
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In 2006 Roger was awarded the prestigious Young Adventurer of the Year medal by the Australian Geographic Society for leading a world first expedition in South-West Tasmania, and in 2007 he became the youngest person to cross the Greenland Icecap from East to West unsupported and unaided, facing temperatures below -40C and winds of over 150km/ph, towing a 100kg sled behind him.
In 2010, he completed a 12-month expedition riding through Central Asia on a specially designed pedal powered recumbent quad bike, passing through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Xinjiang, towing a 300kg load and braving 60-degree deserts, -50c winters, and high altitude mountain passes.
Roger has also guided, trained and advised numerous clients on various world first expeditions (mountaineering, polar expeditions, kayaking, climbing, caving etc.) around the world.
He was also chosen to be a part of the Vice Chancellors Elite Athlete Support Program at Monash University, and awarded a commendation for the Sir John Monash medal.
Currently working as a social researcher on a longitudinal study of homelessness, he has also had stints working at the Wilderness Society, as a volunteer with Bush Search and Rescue, as an environmental consultant, and as a tutor for the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme.
In his spare time, he also works as a motivational speaker and workshop presenter, on topics as varied as leadership and goal setting, to ecological footprint reduction and environmental awareness. He is also currently developing his own range of Expedition equipment.