I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the Fellowship for its support of my 2012 Trans-Papua Expedition. The aim of the project was to research ancient inter-tribal trade routes within the remotest parts of Indonesian Papua, by leading a six-month expedition on foot across the island.

Since completing the expedition, I have been able to significantly raise awareness of the incredible role these highly complex trade routes once had in spreading culture, as well as goods, peacefully through a multitude of Papuan indigenous groups, who had been written off historically simply as warfaring cannibals.

Lectures about the findings took me across the UK many times. I wrote numerous articles for the national and international press and spoke on BBC Radio, including the BBC World Service.

Personally, aside from the huge boost to my confidence and the development of my own adventurous spirit, the project helped me understand just how easily judgements can be wrongfully formed from outside a people or subject area – a vital lesson that I carry with me today as I continue my career as a BBC documentary presenter, broadcaster, writer and public speaker.