He is the author of "The Unforgiving Minute", which recounts his expeditions to the North and South Poles as well as the crossing of several Australian deserts. He is also involved in various philanthropic ventures including as a former (until 2019) Board Member of Zoos SA (comprising Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park), fundraising work with Helping Rhinos (a UK charity aiming to save rhinoceros species from extinction) as an Ambassador of the Australian Rhino Project, and his former role as councillor of the Australian Conservation Foundation. He is also contributing author of the coursebook "Frozen Planet" produced by Open University, a course linked with the BBC's "Frozen Planet" series that aired in 2011.