Rob was born in Australia, after his parents immigrated there and grew up in Sydney with his brother and sister. Throughout school years and beyond Rob was an active sportsperson involved in various sports including tennis, marital arts, soccer, running, surfing and cycling. After finishing school, Rob completed his degree in Actuarial Studies and Statistics and obtained an MBA.  He then worked for an investment banking company, in corporate finance and securities markets till the age of 31. 

After this he had a short career break before joining an asset management company in 1989. In 1992 he was seconded by his company to their London operation and has lived in the UK since then.  During this time Rob had worked in the asset management business where he was responsible for a significant part of the business with responsibility for almost half the assets under management and a sizeable group of fund managers and other staff located in multiple international centres.  

Rob got married in 1996 to Jo. In late 2000 Rob was diagnosed with his second bout of cancer. After recovering from this, Rob and Jo decided to leave their jobs for some time out together, which led to their expeditions around the world.  Since returning to the UK Rob has worked with UBS as a Group Managing Director and Global Head of Fixed Income and he is now the CIO of Henderson Global Investors.

Jo  was born in the UK and grew up with her two brothers in Droitwich in the West Midlands and later in Penn, Buckinghamshire.  From an early age Jo was involved in various physical pursuits including ballet, gymnastics, skiing and climbing and family holidays were often spent camping and hiking in the Lake District or Wales or on her fathers homemade sailing boat.  In addition to the usual school studies, Jo regularly represented her school and competed successfully over many years in both short and long distance running at county and district level.

 Jo completed a 4 year degree course in ‘Business Management and Retail’ at the Metropolitan University of Manchester. Whilst studying, she used her summer vacations to work and travel abroad, paying for it with her term time jobs. During this time Jo worked for Camp America as a sailing instructor and lifeguard, Operation Raleigh In Kenya on community projects and various community/ church based projects in Bolivia, Greece and Malaysia.  Jo also worked regularly with youth groups over a ten year period.

After her first degree, Jo obtained a 'Diploma in Biblical Studies' from King’s Bible College, Edinburgh, prior to joining the Marks and Spencer’s ‘Graduate Management Training Programme’. Jo continued to work with M&S for several years in various buying departments throughout Women's and Menswear. She then retrained to be a Physiotherapist and worked at University College London Hospitals (UCLH), one of the country’s leading NHS trusts in addition to working for the London Welsh Rugby club for several seasons.  

After Rob’s second episode of cancer in 2000,  Rob and Jo decided to take some time out and left their respective jobs which led to their expeditions around the world.   Since returning, Jo has has worked in the NHS as a physiotherapist and written a book – HOLDING ON - about their adventures. Jo now speaks regularly at conferences and events for corporates, charities, schools, churches and clubs.  Jo has become involved with various organisations/charities relating to special needs and disability and has organised and hosted a conference for parents and professionals regarding Prader Willi Syndrome.

Rob and Jo are patron/ambassador to a number of charities and actively fundraise for various charities through organising events, competing in Alpine cyclosportives and endurance events,  as well as triathlons in the UK and the Alps. 

Rob and Jo now have 2 young sons - Ben and Sam.