In our last catch up of the year, we sat down with our TV and Projects Director, Zanna Baker, to learn about her career and love for the great outdoors.
From crossing Antarctica as part of the first all-female team to do so using muscle power alone to sailing from the Falkland Islands to South Georgia, Zanna doesn’t shy away from challenge and adventure. A vital cog in the Secret Compass machine, read all about her adventurous life below.
“At SCHQ, wild ideas seem to be made achievable… Our consultants are all truly inspiring people with a huge array of passions. You name a topic and someone will be able to comment on it.”
How did you end up doing what you do?
To be honest, I sometimes wonder this myself! I seem to have tripped and landed on my feet, with no initial idea that this was where I was headed. A school music scholar who dabbled in sport, the occasional dog walk, was scared of the sea and about whom school reports said ‘She could do with toughening up, she cries before she hits the ground’, joining the Army was probably not amongst most people’s predictions for me. Expeditions in cold places, a joy in untangling complexity and studying languages, stints in conflict regions in varying professional capacities, and here I am. Throughout it all, it’s been finding calm in being outdoors and juggling challenging situations that fuels my life.
What do you love about your work?
The people and the wild ideas that seem to be made achievable. SCHQ and our consultants are all truly inspiring people with a huge array of passions. You name a topic and someone will be able to comment on it.
What’s the wildest job you’ve ever done?
Is any of it really a job? Wildest remoteness: skiing across Antarctica or sailing from the Falkland Islands to South Georgia. Wildest team dynamics: accompanying journalists in Ukraine. Wildest logistics: guiding tourists in the DRC. Wildest ride: being a parent!
Who do you look up to in the adventure TV & Film world?
The production teams – so much legwork goes on that does not hit the big screen. Juggling personalities, logistics, budgets – you name the issue, they have probably found a solution to it. And usually with a smile on their face because of a passion for what they do.
Why is it so important to tell the stories that come with some risk?
Not everything is ‘high risk’, not everything is risky in everyone’s eyes, but risk is part of all walks of life. Understanding risks and challenging them in a safe manner can help show parts of life and parts of the world that not everyone has access to – perhaps a step to creating more understanding of the world in which we live.
What makes you good at handling risk?
Is anyone ever ‘good’ at handling risk on their own? I’m quite logical and like to break things down and analyse them, but I definitely work best in a team using all available knowledge and experience.
What would you be doing if you weren’t doing this?
If I could live life again and not have to do night shifts, I’d be a paramedic, or I’d work with international NGOs jumping from project to project.
What’s your idea of fun?
Hiking/ wild camping/ travelling in a campervan – on a long slow journey away from all technology. Preferably with a cold dip in the sea or a lake along the way (though both are equally as scary to me!).
What’s the greatest challenge you’ve taken on?
Transitioning to motherhood whilst juggling desires to travel to complex destinations.
Any irrational (or rational) fears?
I’m a born aquaphobe – but there’s a thrill in trying to challenge that, even if I do then hyperventilate in an embarrassing manner!
Zanna’s Secret Compass…
Favourite place you’ve ever visited?
South Georgia.
Somewhere you’ve never been but would like to go?
Alaska.
Best meal you’ve eaten when travelling?
Smoked salmon at the South Pole.
Favourite way to travel?
Slowly.
For more tales of adventure, follow @secret.compass on Instagram.