Leadership on Ice: Negin Nazarian’s Journey to Antarctica with Homeward Bound

In this special blog post, read about 21st Century Weather Chief Investigator Negin Nazarian’s inspiring voyage to Antarctica as part the Homeward Bound program.

Why was I there?

I promised Antarctica reflections and penguin photos, so here we go! 

First and foremost: why was I there? The answer is to take part in the most unique leadership program there is – one designed by women, for women, with sustainability and the health of our planet at its very core. 

This trip followed 12 months of training as part of the Homeward Bound program – a transformative experience and one of the most privileged opportunities of my career, and a global initiative empowering women in STEMM to lead for a sustainable future.

How did it feel to be there?

Stepping onto the shores of Antarctica felt like stepping into a different world, one that was both breathtaking and heartbreaking. Even for someone like me — who has dedicated her life to environmental causes — witnessing the raw beauty of nature alongside the undeniable evidence of climate change was an experience like no other. The impact of human activity is etched into the very landscape, in melting glaciers, abandoned whaling stations, shifting wildlife patterns, and the delicate balance of a fragile ecosystem under threat. We were reminded that no place is too remote to escape global crises, like the devastating spread of avian influenza among bird populations that restricted many landings. Our planet doesn’t recognise borders, claimed territories, or ownership. It’s an interconnected world, home to vulnerable human and non-human beings, needing us to urgently act.  

What did I learn about leadership, and me?  

This journey was about more than just witnessing the environmental crisis. At its core, Homeward Bound is a leadership program, and it challenged me to reflect on what kind of leader I want to be. Those who know me might find it surprising, but I embarked on a mission to discover my ‘silent voice’. After a decade of navigating the competitive, high-pressure (and sometimes toxic) culture of academia, I finally felt the privilege — or perhaps the ability — to step back, not only to make space for others but also to explore the boundaries of my own ambitions and expectations. 

Being confined on a ship, unplugged from emails and free from everyday responsibilities, allowed me to quiet myself (well, relative to my usual pace!) and pause for reflection. It also taught me when it’s time to step up and lend my voice — when a challenge demands my occasionally loud (!) presence to push things forward. The experience, from strategy mapping to exploring leadership style inventories, marked the start of this journey — one that began in stillness but moves forward to action, with intention. 

From remote places to places within? 

This trip was also a return to my roots in ways I didn’t fully expect. It turned out that I am the first Iranian on the Homeward Bound voyage to Antarctica! 

For someone like me, who has lived and worked in five different countries over the last 15 years and has family outside her birth country, the question “Where are you from?” is one of the most perplexing. Representing my adopted home, Australia, on the global stage while having proud Iranian roots (& looks!), an American accent, and two Latin languages in tow, the answer is rarely straightforward. But being on the ship, many miles away from my many homes, I felt a deep responsibility to represent, while also reflecting on a complex mix of identities that we all put on display. It also made me realise how challenging it can be to hold onto something so dear while navigating a world that, despite its promises of being global and multicultural, isn’t always ready to embrace that complexity. 

Las compañeras de viaje

Luckily, I wasn’t alone on my trip to the south end of the world! A remarkable part of this journey was sharing the experience with over 120 strong-minded, mind-blowingly impressive women. Unlike our daily life, I was surrounded by people who share the same values — or are deeply committed to coming together and negotiating what those values should be on our voyage, and why. 

There’s something incredibly powerful about working alongside others who are just as passionate about creating a better, more sustainable future. But even in a group like this, where our goals align, there’s still a lot of hard work to do. Building true collaboration means having difficult conversations, confronting our differences, and challenging each other in ways that push us to grow. It’s not always easy, but it’s necessary — and it’s the kind of work I’m willing to do to shape the future of our planet. 

What will I take forward?  

Antarctica taught me many things — about leadership, about climate action, and about myself. But perhaps the most lasting lesson is this: the connections we make, the stories we tell, and the identities we carry all shape the work we do and the future we fight for. And that future depends on us coming together, across cultures, disciplines, and continents, to protect this planet we all call home. 

Now, the urban climatologist in me needs to understand how the stories we tell in our cities — of heat, resilience, and adaptation — are also being written thousands of kilometres away, in places most of us will never visit but are intimately connected to. What happens in Antarctica doesn’t stay in Antarctica. It influences the climate we experience in our urban environments, and the threads of our shared future are woven across continents and oceans.

By Negin Nazarian, Chief Investigator of 21st Century Weather and Associate Professor at UNSW.