Pen, 46, is a leading polar explorer and was the first man to trek solo from Canada to the North Pole without re-supply in 2003.
The trek is widely thought to be a more demanding challenge than climbing Everest, and all before Pen had failed.
He is also the first Briton to trek without re-supply to the South Pole. He has been a polar guide for 18 years and in 1997 he organised the first all-women's relay to the North Pole.
Pen, from Dartmoor, is a supporter of the Green Guardian Awards and gave a moving speech about the effects of global warming on the arctic at the regional awards in November.
He is the director of the Catlin Arctic Survey and will be responsible throughout the expedition for obtaining data on the water, sea ice and weather.
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