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LeasePlan ladies complete Arctic Challenge

708_Team at the finish line
LeasePlan ladies complete Arctic Challenge

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7 May 2015

LeasePlan ladies complete Arctic Challenge
The LeasePlan ladies completed their challenge on Baffin Island last week

LeasePlan Arctic Challenge Team

  • Anisha Vaja – Junior Credit Risk Analyst
    Carrie Knox – Account Manager LeasePlan
  • Charlotte Edney – Fleet Services Executive LeasePlan
  • Ella Petch-Stewart – Account Manager LeasePlan Go
  • Joanna Miles – Head of Customer Experience
  • Kimberley Day – Account Manager Network
  • Leela Bassi – International
  • Louise Goodall – IT
  • Melanie Sanghani – Operations and Service
  • Rebecca Whittaker – Marketing Automotive Leasing
  • Samantha Carlin – Commercial Solicitor Finance
  • Sue Cashmore-Thorley – Head of Fleet Services
  • Viv Bowra – Learning and Development Manager
  • Emma Virgo (reserve) – Data Analyst
  • Janine Hamblin (reserve) – Client Services

THE all-female LeasePlan team successfully completed their Arctic Challenge last week.

The epic journey was undertaken as part of the fleet and vehicle management company’s worldwide drive to challenge how people think about diversity and inclusion.

The Arctic Challenge saw the team travel to Baffin Island in the Arctic Circle, between Greenland and the Canadian mainland to complete the 90km ski-trek.

Having battled unseasonably cold temperatures, which plummeted as low as -30C overnight, and having spent the first half of the trek walking into a storm with gale force winds, the team were delighted to complete the 10-day Challenge a day ahead of schedule.

Director of HR, Steve Moss, said;

“What these women have achieved would be praiseworthy under any circumstances, but in the brutal conditions they encountered it is nothing short of remarkable. The combination of spirit, tenacity and teamwork saw them home, and has inspired the thousands of people who have been following their journey.”

The women were met at the finish line by professional adventurer and gender equality advocate Debra Searle MVO MBE, who led the project and took the women through their training, but was not able to take part due to an injury sustained before the trip. The team reserves were also present in the ‘welcome party’ after they were sent to Baffin Island by LeasePlan.

Debra added;

“I am so proud of the team having pulled through such extreme weather conditions and made it successfully to the end.

“Numerous local people have told us that the conditions have been unusually severe for April. The scars on their bodies are evidence of that – they look like real polar explorers with peeling faces and frost-nipped fingers!

“Thankfully, all of those injuries will heal with time and their sense of achievement will continue to grow as they process all that that they have achieved. I feel blessed to be here – albeit on crutches – to celebrate with them.”

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