Skip to main content
The Actuary: The magazine of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries - return to the homepage Logo of The Actuary website
  • Search
  • Visit The Actuary Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit The Actuary Magazine on LinkedIn
  • Visit @TheActuaryMag on Twitter
Visit the website of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries Logo of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries

Main navigation

  • News
  • Features
    • General Features
    • Interviews
    • Students
    • Opinion
  • Topics
  • Knowledge
    • Business Skills
    • Careers
    • Events
    • Predictions by The Actuary
    • Whitepapers
    • Moody's - Climate Risk Insurers series
    • Webinars
    • Podcasts
  • Jobs
  • IFoA
    • CEO Comment
    • IFoA News
    • People & Social News
    • President Comment
  • Archive
Quick links:
  • Home
  • The Actuary Issues
  • March 2017
03
People & Social News

South African actuary takes on a South Pole challenge

Open-access content Tuesday 7th March 2017 — updated 5.50pm, Wednesday 29th April 2020

Jethro De Decker is preparing to set a Fastest Known Time (FKT) from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole.

2

Jethro De Decker is preparing to set a Fastest Known Time (FKT) from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole. 

His aim is to do this unsupported and unassisted, that is, using only human power. 

In 2016 he spent time in Siberia at the Baikal Ice Marathon to experience what racing in Antarctic-like temperatures would be like. He returned without too much frostbite and his next training event was the Yukon Arctic Ultra. 

This is a non-stop 485km race across the icy Yukon in February when temperatures can drop below -40 degrees Celsius.  Aside from the freezing temperatures, sleep deprivation is a huge challenge as he has only 192 hours to complete the race.

Jethro is not new to ultradistance endurance expeditions.

In 2010 he competed in the Tour d'Afrique - the world's longest bicycle race - 12,000km from Cairo to Cape Town.  He finished in second position and joined the exclusive EFI Club. Membership is reserved for those who manage to cycle Every F-ing Inch from the Giza Pyramids to the Cape Town Waterfront. 

He has also cycled across Tibet via Everest Base Camp, the length of the Carretera Austral in the Chilean Andes and the Freedom Challenge Race Across South Africa. 

Jethro competes internationally in ultra-distance trail running too. In 2015 he placed in the top-100 of the Ultra Trail World Tour after completing the 165km Diagonal des Fous race across Reunion island. He is fundraising for Conservacion Patagonica, an organisation which creates national parks in Patagonia.

You can follow his progress south or support Conservacion Patagonica via Jethro's blog (www.nextbigadventure.wordpress.com).

Jethro started his career in Cape Town. He has since lived in India and Amsterdam and is now based in Singapore, where he is the Regional Head of Insurance Product Strategy & Planning across Citibank's APAC and EMEA business.

This article appeared in our March 2017 issue of The Actuary .
Click here to view this issue

You may also be interested in...

2

Top SCOR to the 2016 award winners

Top SCOR to the 2016 award winners
Tuesday 7th March 2017
Open-access content
2

Windermere dinners for those living by the lakes

The Argonauts Dining Club is for actuaries working outside traditional fields. It was established in 1955 and has over 60 diners.
Tuesday 7th March 2017
Open-access content
2

SALLY BRIDGELAND AND NICK SALTER SCALE DEATHDEFYING HEIGHTS

On 14 October 2016, the Master of the Worshipful Company of Actuaries (Sally Bridgeland) and the Junior Warden and past President of the IFoA (Nick Salter) abseiled down the outside of St Lawrence Jewry church beside the Guildhall in London.
Tuesday 7th March 2017
Open-access content

BIRMINGHAM ACTUARIAL SOCIETY HOUNDING PUBLICANS AND RUNNING LIKE HARES

On 18 November 2016, Birmingham city centre was awash with actuaries who descended on the local pubs to take part in the annual Birmingham Actuarial Society Hare & Hounds pub quiz.
Tuesday 7th March 2017
Open-access content
2

UK CO2 emissions fall to lowest level for almost 100 years

A huge fall in the UK’s coal use last year saw CO2 emissions decrease to their lowest levels since miners went on strike in 1926, according to analysis by Carbon Brief.
Tuesday 7th March 2017
Open-access content

No existential crisis for economists claims Vicky Pryce

The profession of economists is not in crisis for failing to predict the financial crash in 2007-08, or the resilient performance of the UK economy following the Brexit vote.
Tuesday 7th March 2017
Open-access content

Latest from March 2017

2

Young investors set to take advantage of incoming LISA

It has been found that 60% of investors aged 18-39 plan to open a lifetime individual savings account (LISA) after it is launched later this week, according to The Share Centre.
Monday 3rd April 2017
Open-access content
2

Calls for 'urgent' review of inadequate social care funding

Inadequate government funding has resulted in councils providing fewer people with social care, and deterioration in the overall quality, according to a select committee report.
Monday 3rd April 2017
Open-access content
2

UK DB pension deficit falls to £500bn

The collective deficit of defined benefit (DB) pension funds in the UK fell by £20bn from February to stand at £500bn at the end of March, according to PwC’s latest Skyval Index
Monday 3rd April 2017
Open-access content

Latest from small_opening_image

2

COVID-19 forum for actuaries launched

A forum for actuaries has been launched to help the profession come together and learn how best to respond to the deadly coronavirus sweeping the world.
Wednesday 25th March 2020
Open-access content
2

Travel insurers expect record payouts this year

UK travel insurers expect to pay a record £275m to customers this year as coronavirus grounds flights across the world, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has revealed.
Wednesday 25th March 2020
Open-access content
2

Grim economic forecasts made as countries lockdown

A sharp recession is imminent in the vast majority of developed and emerging economies as the deadly coronavirus forces businesses to shut down across the world.
Tuesday 24th March 2020
Open-access content

Latest from 03

2

Young investors set to take advantage of incoming LISA

It has been found that 60% of investors aged 18-39 plan to open a lifetime individual savings account (LISA) after it is launched later this week, according to The Share Centre.
Monday 3rd April 2017
Open-access content
2

Calls for 'urgent' review of inadequate social care funding

Inadequate government funding has resulted in councils providing fewer people with social care, and deterioration in the overall quality, according to a select committee report.
Monday 3rd April 2017
Open-access content
2

UK DB pension deficit falls to £500bn

The collective deficit of defined benefit (DB) pension funds in the UK fell by £20bn from February to stand at £500bn at the end of March, according to PwC’s latest Skyval Index
Monday 3rd April 2017
Open-access content

Latest from People & Social News

ui

People & Society news: March 23

Around the globe Reaching new heights in Nepal
Wednesday 1st March 2023
Open-access content
rseh

Pensions sub-committee seeks new recruit

Are you an experienced pensions actuary who is keen to be involved in responding to pensions industry consultations? Do you have technical expertise in UK defined benefit and/or defined contribution occupational pensions, and an interest in broader social and regulatory policy? If so, the Pensions Consultations Sub-committee of the Pensions Board is looking to appoint a new member.
Tuesday 28th February 2023
Open-access content
web_p47_Inside-Story_Mohamed Aly Soliman.png

Inside story: Mohamed Aly Soliman

Where are you based?
Wednesday 1st February 2023
Open-access content
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

Latest Jobs

Exposure Management Analyst

London, England
£40000 - £50000 per annum
Reference
148639

Pricing - Casualty Actuary

London (Central)
£128K + bonus + benefits
Reference
148638

Reporting Contractor

Negotiable
Reference
148636
See all jobs »
 
 
 
 

Sign up to our newsletter

News, jobs and updates

Sign up

Subscribe to The Actuary

Receive the print edition straight to your door

Subscribe
Spread-iPad-slantB-june.png

Topics

  • Data Science
  • Investment
  • Risk & ERM
  • Pensions
  • Environment
  • Soft skills
  • General Insurance
  • Regulation Standards
  • Health care
  • Technology
  • Reinsurance
  • Global
  • Life insurance
​
FOLLOW US
The Actuary on LinkedIn
@TheActuaryMag on Twitter
Facebook: The Actuary Magazine
CONTACT US
The Actuary
Tel: (+44) 020 7880 6200
​

IFoA

About IFoA
Become an actuary
IFoA Events
About membership

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy
Think Green

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to The Actuary Magazine
Contribute

The Actuary Jobs

Actuarial job search
Pensions jobs
General insurance jobs
Solvency II jobs

© 2023 The Actuary. The Actuary is published on behalf of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries by Redactive Publishing Limited. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part is not allowed without written permission.

Redactive Media Group Ltd, 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ