The Master welcomed the consorts of the Officers, Court Assistants and members of the Honorary Court at the annual New Year Dinner held at the Guildhall. Principal speaker was Fueller Per Wimmer, astronaut, adventurer, philanthropist, entrepreneur, global financier, author and private island owner who spoke about his extraordinary journey.
Speaker Per Wimmer
Our Principal Speaker for this dinner was our very own Per Wimmer, who joined the company last year. In the spirit of this year’s theme, Involve, we’re celebrating the remarkable accomplishments of our own members.
Per Wimmer is an astronaut, adventurer, philanthropist, entrepreneur, global financier, author and private island owner. His life’s story is one of exploration, pioneering spirit and turning ambitious dreams into reality—not only through his own adventures and upcoming trip to space, but by inspiring children worldwide to pursue their own aspirations. One commentator described him as “a true Indiana Jones meets 007 James Bond.”
Per is expected to become the first private Dane in space. He has completed extensive space training, including zero‑gravity flights, high‑altitude MIG‑25 missions over Siberia at Mach 3, L‑39 fighter jet training, medical exams and centrifuge launch simulations. A Founding Astronaut with Virgin Galactic since 2005, he will fly on one of the first commercial SpaceShipTwo missions.
A respected figure in the global space and exploration community, Per is a Fellow of the New York Explorer’s Club, the Royal Geographic Society, the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Scientific Exploration Society. In 2022, he completed zero‑g flights with Apollo astronaut Charlie Duke and ESA astronauts Thomas Pesquet and Jean‑François Clervoy.
In 2008, Per and Ralph Mitchell completed the world’s first tandem skydive over Mount Everest, jumping from 29,500 feet in –50°C conditions and landing at 12,350 feet after a sixty‑second free fall. This spirit of pushing boundaries and pioneering new experiences defines Per’s approach to life.
His adventures span the globe: living with Amazonian tribes, participating in a land‑speed record attempt, driving a modified F‑104 Starfighter Jet in Nevada and walking over volcanoes in Hawaii.
In 2022, he completed a “Top Gun”‑style experience, landing and launching from the USS Nimitz on a C2 Greyhound Navy aircraft.
Per is deeply committed to inspiring young people and works with UNICEF, the Hospice Foundation, Ideas Foundation, Share Space and other charities.
He shared his extraordinary journey with us in an audio‑visual presentation at the dinner.