Justin Packshaw: Explorer, Entrepreneur & Philanthropist

Justin Packshaw is Chairman and Partner at JORO, a high-end travel company built on crafting extraordinary journeys. But long before the bespoke itineraries and tailored global adventures, his life was shaped by older siblings, military discipline, and a hunger to prove himself. “I’m the youngest of four,” he says, “and I was always trying to catch up. I was ambitious, driven, wanted to make my mark.”

That mark turned out to be literal, too, etched across the Arctic, Antarctica, Mount Everest, and nearly every extreme environment known to man. One of his most daring feats? A full, unsupported crossing of Antarctica with teammate Jamie Facer-Childs. 2,700 kilometers. Kite skiing. Temperatures plunging into the minus 50s . Winds over 100 miles per hour. The nearest humans were aboard the International Space Station. “It was a black-and-white mission. You do it, or you don’t come back. But Jamie and I, we had total trusted in each other. That kind of challenge strips away ego. You can’t hide. You either contribute, or you become a liability.”

One of Packshaw’s most vivid analogies for confronting fear comes from his time parachuting in the Army. “If I took you to 12,000 feet and opened the door and said you need to jump out, every fibre of your being would scream ‘No.’ You know, this isn’t a sprained ankle scenario. It’s life or death one. But either you get pushed, or something inside you says, ‘I’m doing it.’”And then comes the magic. “Five minutes later, you’re on the ground and you feel a million dollars and a foot taller. You’ve crossed a critical fear threshold.” But this isn’t a man advocating blind bravado. “There’s a fine line between bravery and foolhardiness. You’ve got to prepare. Respect the risks. Do your homework. But then, you go.”

Despite all the noise and drama of modern life, Packshaw is a champion of silence. “I’ve spent over 40 years on expeditions, much of which you’re in solitude, alone with your thoughts. The high Arctic and Antarctica are majestically beautiful but they can be brutal, unforgiving and one dimensional. Monotonous with no distraction, just what’s inside your head. It’s cathartic. And sadly, we don’t do it enough anymore. We’ve forgotten how to sit with ourselves.”

He’s also a map lover, not just in the literal sense, but philosophically. “Maps fascinate me. There was a time when they didn’t exist. People just went, they created the maps. We live in an age where everything’s known. But adventure starts when you cross the line where the map ends.”

Packshaw’s stories often come back to one truth: humans are remarkable machines, especially when we work together. “I once did a 450-mile endurance race to the Magnetic North Pole with this amazing Italian woman, Cristina Franco. Everyone else was an alpha male. International ex-rugby players. You could feel them thinking, We’re going to eat you alive. But we won, by five hours.” He credits Cristina’s eye for detail and teamwork. “A good team isn’t about ego. It’s about saying, ‘I suck at this, but I’ve got your back here.’ It’s pure, and it’s powerful.”

He has witnessed firsthand the grim reality of climate change. “I’ve seen the Arctic disappear before my eyes. Thirty years ago, you could man-haul/ski to the Geographic North Pole. Now, the ice is getting too thin and precarious. In Antarctica, a volume of ice the size of Mount Everest isn’t re-freezing each year. That’s terrifying.”

But he isn’t hopeless. He’s passionate about education, about sharing the reality. “There’s a solution. It’s all of us. It starts with awareness, education and action.”

Despite a life of extremes, Packshaw’s reflections are grounded. He speaks with clarity, purpose, and surprising humour. “I grew up in Malta. I love the Med, sunshine, good music, and a bit of mischief. Honestly, I hate the cold,” he laughs. “And yet, I’ve spent most of my life in places colder than a banker’s heart.”

He credits the military with honing his clarity under pressure. “The military system of making an appreciation of a situation, whether dangerous or not, is second to none. We were taught to ask, ‘What if’ at every junction of a plan, so that one was forewarned of the unknown’. He adds that One can apply it this to businesses, relationships, life, everything.” But perhaps his greatest revelation is this: resourcefulness trumps resources. “You don’t need money to chase a dream. You need passion, creativity, grit and determination. A lot of people with the right resources don’t do anything. But someone resourceful? They’ll find a way.” Packshaw leaves me with one final insight, equal parts challenge and invitation. “Look,” he says, leaning in. “We’ve got one shot at this life. Be your best version. Roll your sleeves up. Don’t whine. And if you fail? Fine. At least you learned something.”

The life of Justin Packshaw isn’t about accolades or flags planted in remote places. It’s about permission, the audacity to begin. So if you’re sitting at a crossroads, wondering whether you should step out of your comfort zone—ask yourself this:

What would you do if you weren’t afraid? Then do it anyway. Because, as Packshaw reminds us: “Think big, Challenge assumptions and create a vision bigger than the current reality. Never forget that humans are meant to excel”

“Whatever you think you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, magic, and power in it.” - Goethe. Justin Packshaw quotes this line with the kind of reverence most people reserve for holy texts. And if you know anything about the man, you’ll understand why. At 60, with snow in his hair and fire still in his eyes, Packshaw is not just a veteran adventurer. He’s a renaissance man of exploration, equal parts soldier, sailor, philosopher, and relentless optimist. And perhaps more than anything, he’s a reminder that the spirit of adventure is alive and well, if only we dare to chase it.

“Exploration is about allowing your soul to sing,” he tells me, perched casually with the sort of relaxed authority that only comes from years of throwing oneself at the edge of the map. “It starts with curiosity. You don’t think you can do something, but something inside you says, ‘I’m going to find a way.’ That’s when the magic starts.”