Introduce yourself and tell us what you do for a job and your pathway to get there.
Hi, I’m Matty. I teach people about Antarctica. I share stories about what it’s like to live and work on, and travel to, the ice. I’ve been to Antarctica 11 times – mostly in my former role as a project manager at Antarctica New Zealand managing construction and renovation projects.
Through that work, I was inspired by the science, the wildlife and the landscapes, and decided I wanted to share more of that with the world. I became an accidental content creator while spending a winter at Scott Base in 2023, when several of my social media videos went viral. My audience of over 2 million followers has allowed me to talk about Antarctica as my full-time job.
What brings you joy in your job?
I love inspiring people to discover things about our world that they didn’t know before. I love receiving messages from parents and teachers who let me know that they’re using my videos and photos to teach the next generation about Antarctica.
Of course, I also love going to Antarctica. I feel incredibly privileged and extremely lucky that I get to experience what I think is the world’s most incredible place for a small part of each year. Every expedition brings new experiences and provides me with more stories that I can share with people.
Did you face any challenges to get where you are now?
Plenty! After my first visit to Antarctica as a tourist in 2014, I tried (and failed) multiple times to get a job in Antarctica so I could return one day. It took me three years of constant rejection and failure before I made it back.
Now, as a content creator, I face different challenges. Trying to keep up with ever-changing social media algorithms and post consistent content while growing a business is difficult, but it’s a challenge that I’m loving!
Why did you volunteer to be an Inspiring the Future role model?
I’ve done a lot of different things in my life so far. I taught English in Brazil, worked as a kayaking guide in Norway, and built power stations in Australia.
My career path has been unconventional. After a career pivot from construction engineer to content creator at age 35, I want to inspire the younger generation to let them know they don’t have to have life figured out as soon as they leave school.
What was the most memorable thing about your Inspiring the Future event experience?
I loved presenting at the Christchurch Careers Fair and having people try and guess what I do. It wasn’t until I revealed what I actually do that some people in the audience told me they’d seen some of my videos before and learned a thing or two about Antarctica!