Michael Dunjey: A Climbing Life

Michael Dunjey was born in Perth, Western Australia. He moved to Pakistan as a youngster, where his father worked as a doctor. It was there, at the base of the Himalayas, that a dream was planted in Michael's first began to dream of scaling the monstrosities.

After returning to Perth in his teens, Michael went on to complete an Engineering degree and commenced a successful engineering career. It was during this time, in the early 90s, that Michael commenced his formal climbing career with a rock-climbing course.

Multiple expeditions in Pakistan and a trip to the massive Cho Oyu in Tibet followed and Michael was thoroughly hooked. Importantly, he learned of his body’s ability to function well climbing at high altitude.

In 1996 Michael set his sights on Mt Everest. In order to free up time to train he gave up a successful engineering career to commence studies in podiatry at Curtin University of Technology.

In 2001 Michael completed his fourth major expedition to Pakistan’s Mount Spantik (7,027m), before an expedition to Muztag Ata (7,546m) in China as preparation for his Everest expedition in 2007.

As well as the necessary physique, fitness and climbing expertise, Michael has organised his
full family and professional life around 10 solid years of training and planning.

Becoming the first Western Australian-born climber to summit Mt Everest will be a significant personal achievement, but Michael also sees his efforts as a tangible way of showing others how they can set goals and take steps towards larger-than-life goals.