Mr Rawlinson's principal climbing style is lightweight, two man, independent expeditions. He developed his skills initially in the rugged Southern Alps mountains of New Zealand, where he climbs each year. These proved an ideal training ground, given their remote nature, steep, glaciated routes and extreme weather patterns, with Mr. Mr Rawlinson having achieved many important ascents.

Since 2000, Mr Rawlinson has climbed independently all over the world, from the Andes of South America to the Alborz of Iran and from the Caucasus in Russia to the Yosemite Valley in the USA. In 2009, together with a lightweight three man team, Mr Rawlinson made three ascents of unclimbed peaks in the Tien Shan mountain range located in Kazakstan.

In 2011, Mr Rawlinson attempted a climb of the North Ridge of Mt Everest, located in Tibet. On that expedition Mr Rawlinson suffered a severe attack of High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, leading to an emergency descent. Undaunted, Mr Rawlinson attempted the North Ridge in 2012, and successfully reached the summit of Mt Everest on 19 May, the principal topic of his lecture.

Grant 'Axe' Rawlinson is a New Zealand mountaineer, resident in Singapore. After breaking his leg playing for Singapore in the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament, Mr Rawlinson decided to become a mountaineer. An expert on oceanography, his profession is the marketing of sonar systems to map the deepest oceans, which he balances with his mountaineering career. Mr Rawlinson speaks regularly on his climbing adventures and is well known for his down to earth, engaging and witty presentation style.