Ing. Oldrich Bubak, MBA

Author, educator, explorer, and benefactor

  • Earned an M.S. in engineering at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the Czech Technical University (CVUT) and an MBA from the SPML, both in Prague.
  • Took on difficult assignments in a number of occupations ranging from engineering, research and development, global performing arts, to travel management.
  • Continues to work as a professional guide, interpreter, facilitator, and an instructor. He is committed to education, sustainability, environmental protection, and social causes globally.

 

SELECT ACHIEVEMENTS

 

  • Became the first Czech person to reach both the North and South Pole on foot/skis, by way of the unique North Pole Light Expedition (1996) and South Pole Millennium Expedition (2000), both part of the From Pole to Pole
  • Achieved notable feats in the extreme regions of the Arctic and Antarctic, including on a number of successful international expeditions, all under the auspices of his ongoing project From Pole to Pole, an effort to search, discover, and share.
  • Produced various travelogues, a set of international publications, and over 100 photographic exhibitions at home and abroad, based on experiences from his journeys. The common denominator across his works is the exploration and deeper understanding of the rare parts of the globe, especially in polar, subpolar, and high mountain areas, remaining untouched, and their conservation and sustainability.
  • Visited most of the world’s countries. Became a key member of the “Czech Travelers Club”.

 

He continues to be engaged in a number of socially oriented activities, at home and abroad.

 

OUTREACH

 

  • In recent decades, he has familiarized audiences from schools and universities, as well as public and private corporations, senior clubs, hospices, foundations, and others with the world, its treasures, and its challenges, near and far.
  • Many of his works channel themes of protecting natural and social environments, and are targeted at audiences across ages.

 

CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

 

  • Founder of the Czech-Nepalese Society “DANEBAD” (2000), the result of a long-standing relationship with Nepal and its people, focusing mainly on helping Nepalese education. His charity includes donations of essential educational material, “godparenting” to Nepalese and Tibetan students (dozens of students so far have been paid for basic three-year education, focused on reading and writing), as well as helping people affected by the devastating earthquake.
  • Organized a number of benefit events including concerts, the proceeds of which have been donated to people in the areas most affected by devastation, most recently by the earthquake. Concerts were organized in cooperation with the Chamber Orchestra of the University of Hradec Králové, the Czech Marketing Agency and the Svítání School, o.p.s. under the auspices of the Vice-president of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic and of the Governor of Pardubice Region.

 

ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY

 

  • A medalist in a World Photographic Cup (WFC) 2017, category Reportage. WFC is among the most prestigious world photography competitions.
  • Awarded a prize Personality of Czech Photography (2017) from the Czech Association of Photographers.
  • As a photographer, he believes in the power of the lens and the image, in his hands indispensable tools in reading the world around us in a more holistic way, in deeper discussion about the environment, and in fostering an important conversation about the future of our planet.

 

His exhibition sets, viewed now by upwards of 100, 000 people, cultivate the spaces of many public and private venues as temporary or permanent exhibitions.

 

PUBLISHING

 

  • The Poles of the Planet (SPML, 2018) is a trilogy of books that takes a different view of the planet’s poles, including the geographic and the Himalayans ones, as well as those of our own making. This international project includes material not previously available and has been endorsed by world-class explorers and authors.
  • Touches of the World’s Ends (2004) is a photographic narrative book (now sold out) in which he invites readers on an exciting and engaging journey to the majestic regions near the poles, to the Arctic and Antarctica, to the realm of fascinating superlatives and contradictions. The book was awarded first place at the festival of films, photographers and publications with travel themes Go Kamera (2004).
  • Království Lo / Mustang – the forgotten Tibetan kingdom (Knižní klub, 2005) is another unique project, though sharing a common denominator with other works: an exploration of untouched, unspoiled parts of the world. The book was honored with a personal thank you from the King of Mustang, Jigme Palber Bista.
  • Recent books also focus more on the spiritual development of man and society. He asks deeper questions about the meaning of human existence and tries to answer them in an elegant if compressed way, in manner closer to poetry than prose. Among his books in the genre include: Ve stínu Everestu – růženec emocí dobrodruha (Metafora, 2006), Můj anděl strážný musí být asi unavený (Metafora, 2007), Thu Dže Čche (POLY: Bubák, 2009), Ting Tangl (POLY: Bubák, 2011), Probudil jsem spící kundaliní (POLY: Bubák, 2016), and Amundsen’s Journey (POLY: Bubák 2019), among others.
  • As part of the From Pole to Pole project author released a DVD Journey combines film with live music performed across genres, exceptional in terms of content and form.

 

In addition:

 

  • The author has published works in Czech and international journals.
  • His cooperation includes the national Czech Radio and Czech Television.
  • Founded an own publishing house POLY, which focuses primarily on helping aspiring authors.

 

His books are sold and available in libraries not only in the Czech Republic but also in Europe, North America and Asia. Every year he participates in the Magnesia Litera competition.

 

EDUCATION

 

  • Member of the board of the Society for Management and Leadership (SMPL) in Prague, where he is involved in educating professionals from a range of business areas, imparting them knowledge of leadership under pressure, uncertainty and in multi-cultural conditions.
  • Educator with over 30 years of experience in teaching English as a second language of both young and adult learners.

 

Contact

Media and other inquiries: author[at]frompoletopole.com