Heïdi Sevestre Keynote Speaker

Leading glaciologist and climate change communicator
Explorer and researcher specialising in Arctic and polar regions
Advocate for climate action and environmental sustainability

Heïdi Sevestre's Biography

Dr Heïdi Sevestre is a renowned glaciologist, explorer and climate communicator whose work focuses on understanding the rapidly changing cryosphere and its implications for our planet. Raised in Haute-Savoie in the French Alps, she developed a deep connection with the mountains through skiing, climbing and mountaineering, inspiring a lifelong fascination with glaciers and the forces shaping the natural world.

At the age of 17, Heïdi discovered that it was possible to build a career studying glaciers after meeting a Swiss mountain guide who told her that some people were paid to explore and research them. Inspired by this encounter, she made the decision to dedicate her life to understanding glaciers and the impact of climate change on some of the world’s most fragile environments.

Today, Heïdi divides her time between scientific research and global science communication. She leads expeditions to some of the most remote frozen regions on Earth and, in January 2026, completed an extraordinary 80-day ski-kite traverse of Antarctica. Alongside her fieldwork, she delivers keynote speeches, contributes to films and documentaries, and works to make climate science accessible to audiences around the world.

Her work has received international recognition, including the Shackleton Medal (2022), the Prix du Rayonnement Français Environnement (2023), and selection as a European Young Leader by Friends of Europe (2024). In 2026, she was named to the prestigious Explorers Club 50, recognising fifty individuals making a significant impact on the world through exploration, science and discovery.

Heïdi is also the author of four books in French, including Découvre les glaciers avec Heïdi Sevestre, Demain C’est Nous, Sentinelle du Climat and Sentinelle – Voyage au Coeur des Glaciers. She featured in the National Geographic and Disney+ series Arctic Ascent with Alex Honnold (2024), while a major documentary chronicling the Under Antarctica expedition is currently in production with Gedeon Programmes and France Télévisions.

Why glaciers matter — to all of us

Climate change: where we really are

What we can still save

Climate solutions that work now

Real expedition stories from the field

Leadership and teamwork in extreme environments

Resilience and adaptation

She is a renowned glaciologist and climate expert whose research focuses on the rapidly changing polar and mountain environments shaping our planet’s future.
She brings exceptional credibility through extensive scientific expeditions across the Arctic, Antarctica and other remote regions at the forefront of climate change.
She is an engaging and inspiring speaker who translates complex climate science into clear, accessible and actionable insights.
Her unique combination of scientific expertise, exploration and storytelling helps audiences understand the real-world implications of glacier loss, rising sea levels and environmental change.
Her insights equip organisations and leaders to better understand climate risk, sustainability challenges and the urgent opportunities for positive action in a changing world.