On Wednesday 1st March 2023 we invited Stephanie Innes-Smith to Downside to take part in our series of Sixth Form lectures.
Stephanie is a polar explorer who recently resumed her army reserve service with the Army Intelligence Corps after returning from five years teaching in international schools in Qatar and Oman. She qualified as a family lawyer in 2016 and subsequently worked for a domestic violence charity, supporting women through the court process. Stephanie started running in 2016 and is committed to increasing female participation in arduous exercise, particularly in culturally permissive locations through her work in schools and as an ambassador for the charity ‘Free To Run’, which endeavours to support women and girls to run in conflict zones. She has just returned from the South Pole, as part of the joint civilian and military INSPIRE22 expedition to conduct scientific research on human metabolism. Stephanie is studying for an MA in Psychotherapy next year and is currently preparing to row across the Pacific in June 2024. Pupils and staff found Stephanie’s talk incredibly uplifting and inspirational.
