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Jett Britnell Photographics

Tag: Royal Canadian Geographical Society

Life As It Happens

Jett Britnell Appointed to Royal Canadian Geographical Society’s Board of Governors

Jett & Kathryn Britnell Posted onNovember 6, 2025November 30, 2025 Comments are off
RCGS 72dpi logo

Board of Governors

Jett Britnell RCGS
I’m eager to work alongside the distinguished members of the College of Fellows who serve on the RCGS Board of Governors.

I’m deeply honoured and genuinely thrilled to share that I was elected to the Board of Governors of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS). What made this moment even more meaningful was learning from the Chair of the Nominating Committee that the panel’s decision was unanimous.

RCGS HQ Jett Britnell
RCGS HQ

My heartfelt gratitude goes to two dear friends and RCGS Fellows, Janis Peleshok and Jenn Thornhill Verma, whose nominations and unwavering support made this possible. I’m also profoundly thankful to Robin Brooks, another cherished friend and RCGS Fellow, who always speaks highly about me in rooms I’m not in.

RCGS Annual General Meeting

I would be remiss not to acknowledge the warm congratulations and encouragement I received from members of The Explorers Club-Canadian Chapter who were present at the RCGS Annual General Meeting. Your friendship and support mean the world. The same goes for my learned friends and colleagues at the RCGS. Ever since I was elected to the RCGS College of Fellows in 2017… I have been proud to serve and foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of Canada… its people, places, natural and cultural heritage… both nationally and globally.

RCGS Flag
RCGS Flag

As the Honourable Lois Mitchell, President of the RCGS, often reminds us… Gratitude is one of the strongest and most transformative states of being. It shifts your perspective from lack to abundance. Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. On this, I couldn’t agree more.

On November 5th, 2025, I attended my first Board meeting with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. I move forward with purpose, deep gratitude, and unwavering commitment to the Society’s ongoing mission. 🇨🇦

ExplorationLife As It Happens

Global Explorers Summit (GLEX) Ottawa 2025

Jett & Kathryn Britnell Posted onSeptember 19, 2025September 19, 2025 Comments are off
Screenshot

A Summit of Minds, A Lesson in Leadership

“The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual.”
— Vince Lombardi
RCGS Explorers Club flag - Jett Britnell
Royal Canadian Geographical Society and Explorers Club logo flag
Kathryn and I have returned home from Ottawa after attending The Explorers Club’s Global Exploration Summit (GLEX) 2025, and the afterglow of thought still lingers. As images and reflections from fellow attendees surface, one truth is clear: something extraordinary transpired. People were stirred. Friendships were forged. Minds were opened to the cosmos above and the human spirit within.
RCGS HQ Jett Britnell
Headquarters of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, where GLEX Ottawa 2025 was held.
In the quiet descent that follows such a gathering, there is a collective reckoning, a gentle attempt to absorb the gravity of all that was shared. Those who were there know. Some admitted to tears, not only from awe at the immensity of space or the fragility of our planet, but from deeper themes that threaded it all together: love, empathy, humanity, and the unyielding drive to explore the unknown.
GLEX 2025 Jett Britnell
GLEX 2025

To call the summit inspiring would be an understatement. A better word is transformational. It reminded us that discovery is not only about what lies beyond the horizon, but also what lies within.

This summit was made possible through the partnership of two storied institutions. The Explorers Club, founded in 1904 to champion scientific exploration, and The Royal Canadian Geographical Society, established in 1929 as Canada’s leading voice for geography, exploration, education, and environmental stewardship, joined forces to bring GLEX to Ottawa.
Richard Wiese and John Gieger Jett Britnell
Richard Wiese and John Geiger
Richard Wiese, President of The Explorers Club, captured the spirit of the occasion: “GLEX is the Davos of exploration and we wanted to host it in Canada this year. Canada has played such a vital role in the history of exploration, and we collectively felt that our Canadian brothers and sisters were not getting the proper recognition or love they deserve from their neighbors to the south.”
John Geiger, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, echoed the urgency: “With a dearth of enlightened leadership globally, it is more important than ever to build cross-border alliances with organizations dedicated to scientific inquiry and the health of the planet… We are honoured at this critical moment that they would opt to host their most important summit in Canada.”
Members of Explorers Club Canadian Chapter
Members of the Explorers Club’s Canadian Chapter who attended GLEX.
By choosing Ottawa as the stage for GLEX 2025, these two leaders did more than organize an event. They modelled the kind of leadership the world is hungry for: bold, inclusive, and grounded in shared purpose. When the leaders of two respected exploration societies come together and lead with purpose, they demonstrate that exploration is not just about discovery; it is also about fostering a sense of community and shared purpose. It is about shaping a better future for humanity and reminds us that we are all connected and move forward best when we move forward together. 🇨🇦
Jett Britnell, FI’16
Canadian Chapter Chair
The Explorers Club Canadian Chapter
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