Alan Parker


Motivational, Business

Alan Parker is Australia’s leading Antarctic tourist lecturer and has taken part in over seventy voyages to the Antarctic Continent. He has worked in Antarctica at all of the Australian stations and has sixteen years experience presenting on Antarctic subjects to tourists visiting Antarctica by ship.

Born 10th August 1935 in Melbourne Australia, and after primary and technical education, Alan became a Carpenter for the Chief Technical Officer Building.  He wintered at Macquarie Island in 1965-66 and took part in summer expeditions to Casey Station in 1967 on the voyage “Nella Dan”, where he was in heavy pack ice for 26 days and completely beset for sixteen days.

During 1970-71 he was a member of The Australian National Research Expedition and took part in the Prince Charles Mountains Survey, which involved 60 days in the field. The summit in the southern part of Clemence Massif, Eastern Antarctica, was used as the site of the geodetic survey station and later named “Parker Peak” after him.

Alan joined the Department of Supply Antarctic Division in 1970 and worked at The Australian Antarctic Division Head Office in buildings until 1972. In 1971, he was Deputy Leader of the Relief Expedition to Macquarie Island and similarly for the Relief Expedition to Mawson Station in 1971-72.  He also served as Officer-In-Charge of Davis Station wintering party. From 1977-78, he lived below the Arctic Circle for 15 months and under his leadership, his party re-discovered the lost records of Sir Hubert Wilkins at Walkabout Rocks.

In addition to being awarded a Polar Medal by the Queen, Alan holds two Australian Antarctic Medallions – Davis 1977 and Macquarie Island 1966. He is the Author of six children’s books on Antarctic animals and is the Manager of 60o South Antarctic Education Service. 

Since 1991, Alan has been working on tourist ships to both East and West Antarctica including the sub-antarctic islands, Kerguelen, Heard Island, Crozet, Amsterdam, Saint Paul, Macquarie, Campbell, Snares, Auckland, Faulklands, South Georgia, King George Island, Livingston Island, Half Moon Island, Deception Island, Beagle Channel, Cape Horn, Drake Passage, Port Lockroy, Neumayer Channel, Lemaire Channel, Beagle Channel and Paradise Harbour and Paradise Bay.  During the Antarctic summer he works as lecturer and guide.

His speaking topics include:
Frozen Hearts – Motivation and Leadership in Isolation
An Unordinary Place – Antarctica, its Mysteries

Alan’s academic qualifications include Diploma of Science, Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management, Graduate Diploma of Business in Industrial Relations, Graduate Diploma in Organisational Behaviour and Graduate Diploma Building Project Management.

Alan is married with 3 children and 8 grandchildren.