Born and raised in Sydney, Pemberton was educated at Knox Grammar School and the University of Western Sydney. He climbed his first alpine peak when he was 16. He raised $100,000 for his Everest climb and another $100,000 to fund his climbs of the remaining Seven Summits, which he completed in late 2006 and was the third youngest person in the world to complete this feat. He produced a documentary film of his Everest ascent, entitled To Stand Above the Clouds.