Tokyo – -- NTT DATA will send a dozen employees to Antarctica from November 25 to December 2, 2026, as the first chapter of "Intact, intelligent action.", a global sustainability initiative meant to turn corporate commitments into practical steps for fragile places.
The program combines awareness, technology and stewardship. It grows out of the company's "Planet. Prosperity. People." framework, which guides its operations, innovation, sustainability solutions and client engagement.
Twelve NTT DATA employees join 60 other leaders on Robert Swan's final-led Antarctic expedition
The NTT DATA team will travel aboard the Magellan Explorer with polar explorer Robert Swan, OBE, and his 2041 Leadership on the Edge expedition. More than 60 other business and community leaders will take part. The agenda covers leadership under pressure, climate policy, sustainability and innovation.
The trip marks 40 years since Swan led a 900-mile unsupported walk to the South Pole in 1986. He reached the North Pole three years later and became the first person to walk to both. Since 2003 he has led more than 20 ship-based Antarctic expeditions. The November voyage will be the last he personally organizes and leads, though he will keep working with NTT DATA.
NTT DATA began working with Swan in 2022 and named him Sustainability Ambassador in 2025. To address emissions from the trip, Swan is making a donation per participant to support rainforest regeneration in Australia. The source does not give the amount.
Prior NTT DATA projects reached 2.1 million young people in more than 25 countries
The company's existing sustainability work includes more sustainable IT practices across its operations and data centers. It also includes a Smart Rainforest initiative in Australia's Daintree Rainforest and sponsorship of Swan's Undaunted: South Pole 2023 expedition. Swan's 2025 "Ice Station" broadcasts from Antarctica, which NTT DATA supported, reached an estimated 2.1 million young people in more than 25 countries.
David Costa, Chief Sustainability Business Officer and Head of Sustainability Innovation, said the initiative aims to speed the move "from sustainability commitments to actions that support the planet."
Open-frame flag will travel from Antarctica to later chapters of the initiative
A flag woven from small materials contributed by people worldwide will link each chapter. Expeditioners will raise the open frame on the ice to frame the landscape, then remove it to symbolize keeping the continent intact. The frame will later move to other locations as the initiative expands.
Pep Torres of Stereonoise provided creative direction, including the name, design, participatory concept and flag. NTT DATA has not announced locations for later chapters.