Adrian McCallum
Joined Atlas Obscura in 2026
Adrian McCallum is Head of Engineering at University of the Sunshine Coast and manages courses in soil mechanics and weather and climate. He is fortunate to have led a life of adventure and exploration around the globe and is an expert in remote area site characterisation. He holds a PhD from the Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge and additional degrees in oceanography, meteorology and civil engineering. In 2002 he was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal for his stewardship of the 2001 Australian Army Centenary Everest Expedition. He is a Menzies Scholar and previous Director of the Menzies Foundation. During twenty years’ service across the Australian Defence Forces he served in numerous diverse roles such as helicopter navigator, meteorologist and civil engineer and he has led or participated in adventurous scientific expeditions around the globe. These investigations have taken him to many far-flung locations including Svalbard, Greenland, across the Arctic and Antarctica, and to the Himalaya and the ice caps of Patagonia. He orchestrated Sir Ranulph Fiennes' ground-breaking 2013 winter Transantarctic expedition and he regularly consults on polar infrastructural and operational matters. He is passionate about empowering youth via immersive expedition journeys, for the mind, body and soul.
