Marco Cremona

Marco is a 40-year-old mechanical engineer, an environmental consultant and a regular contributor to opinion columns in the local media.

In his professional life, Mr Cremona is a water specialist and is recognised as the leading water expert in Malta. Some of his projects have received international acclaim and have featured on foreign TV stations including Al Jazeera and SIC (Portugal). Marco has also lent his expertise as an overseas volunteer in Kenya, Ecuador and post-Tsunami Sri Lanka. In August 2008, Marco was short-listed as one of 30 finalists worldwide for the Junior Chamber International (JCI) 2008 Outstanding Young Person of the World award.

His climbing experience started with a successful expedition to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (2005). As his climbing ambitions increased, Marco climbed Mera Peak (2006) in the Himalayas and Cerro Aconcagua in the Andes. With the 6,962 metre high Aconcagua climbed in January 2008, Marco (and challenge8000 team member Greg Attard) holds the national elevation record. More recently Marco also climbed Jbel Toubkal in the Atlas Mountains.

Commenting on his mountaineering and altitude obsession, Marco says, "There is something about climbing mountains that no other physical or mental achievement brings. I'm not sure if it's the view from the top, the danger or the sheer fact that most people would choose not to do it, even if someone were to pay them. In the end I want to climb Everest because it's the world's highest mountain and it represents the ultimate personal challenge. I want to do exceptional things and above all I relish the mammoth challenge of making these expeditions a reality. And, of course I want to see the Maltese flag flap on top of the world and make history.