New Zealander Russell Brice has been leading expeditions to the Himalayas since 1974, and he is the owner and operator of Himalayan Experience, the largest commercial expedition operator on Everest. He prides himself on his safety record, his success in supporting foreign climbers’ aspirations on Everest and other mountains. Individually, he has the world record for the fastest single solo ascent without oxygen of both Cho Oyo and of Ama Dablam, and in 1988 became the first climber to cross the infamous Pinnacles of the NE ridge of Everest with Harry Taylor.

Russell is a member of the British Mountain Guides Association and Syndicat National des Guides de Montagne. He is also a co-founding Director of Friends of Humanity – a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping disadvantaged people in various parts of the world, and is a patron of Smile High – a charity with the vision of providing much needed dental services in remote parts of the world. He has assisted many film and TV companies to coordinate their Everest shoots.