Our Team
At Aurora Expeditions, our expert Expedition Team is at the heart of every adventure.
Passionate, knowledgeable, and deeply experienced, they bring the polar regions and remote destinations to life through guided excursions, engaging presentations, and first-hand storytelling.
From naturalists and historians to marine biologists and geologists, our team is dedicated to sharing their expertise while ensuring your journey is immersive, educational, and unforgettable. Whether spotting wildlife, exploring historic sites, or leading thrilling activities, they inspire a true spirit of discovery at every turn.
Greg Mortimer, OAM
Aurora Expeditions Founder & Expedition Leader
Growing up, Aurora’s founder was quick to show an interest in rock and mountain-climbing, and despite breaking his pelvis at the age of 15, his love for the sport didn’t falter – instead, it grew to new heights. In 1984, Greg and his expedition partner Tim Macartney-Snape became the first Australians to reach the summit of Mt Everest, and even more impressively, without the aid of supplementary oxygen.
Greg has been awarded an Order of Australia (OAM) for his services to mountaineering, along with three Australian Geographic Society Medals. After sailing to Antarctica in 1988, his love for expedition cruising was ignited, and he and his wife Margaret were inspired to found Aurora Expeditions a few years later. Over three decades on, Greg still relishes sharing his passion for exploration with expeditioners.
Howard Whelan
Expedition Leader
Howard’s lifelong passion for adventure, writing and filmmaking has taken him to many of the planet’s wildest places. One of the first to walk the 4000-kilometre Pacific Crest Trail from Canada to Mexico, he went on to cross the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea, spent three months in remote Russia writing for America’s Outside magazine, and was cameraman on the first Australian ascent of Mt Everest.
As the founding editor then publisher of Australian Geographic and trustee of the Australian Geographic Society, Howard led scientific expeditions to remote parts of Australia, often resulting in significant geographic articles for the journal’s nearly one million readers. In 2002 he lead the Antarctic filming expeditions that resulted in the Academy Award-winning Happy Feet.
Howard has been part of the Aurora Expeditions team since our inception over 20 years ago and has led expeditions every year since. Besides exploring much of the Antarctic coastline and sub-Antarctic Islands, he’s led trips in the Amazon, Galapagos, Kimberley, European Arctic, Russia’s Far East and the Northeast Passage.
These days he runs a polar logistics and media consultancy specialising in the environment, natural history and adventure. He was recently guest curator of the Australian Museum’s exhibition, TrailBlazers: Australia’s 50 Greatest Explorers, is a Senior Polar Tourism Guide and Fellow of the Explorer’s Club.
Florence Kuyper
Expedition Leader
After receiving her Masters degree in Educational Psychology in the Netherlands, Florence had a long career as a consultant-manager in the field of social affairs. Fluent in french, she is a cosmopolitan with a passion for deserts, history and nomadic people around the globe.
In 2004, she went for the first time to the big white desert; Antarctica, and her passion for this continent has drawn her back ‘South’ ever since. But Florence can also do extreme heat: she crossed 1,200 km of Mongolian desert on foot, together with a team and her Bactrian camel.
Florence also works on sailing yachts in the Arctic and Antarctica. She was Base Leader at Port Lockroy, a British historical base on the Antarctic Peninsula. Florence has worked in both polar regions since 2012 and she looks forward to sharing her knowledge and unlimited passion for the polar regions with you, especially in the field of history.
Mario Placidi Spring
Expedition Leader
Mario is an experienced Historian, Naturalist, Firearms Master and Expedition Leader, who has worked in the polar regions for almost a decade. He attributes his passion for adventure and the natural world to his father, who introduced him to skiing and mountaineering at an early age. Setting his sights sky high, he decided to study Aerospace Engineering, but after graduating his need for adventure and exploration inspired him to take a different path. In 2014, he moved to Longyearbyen in Svalbard to become an Arctic Nature Guide. After attaining his qualification, he guided ski expeditions in the Norwegian archipelago before discovering expedition cruising in 2015. Since then, he has shared his time between the Arctic and Antarctica.
Mario is fully devoted to the best and safest outcome for expeditioners, and relishes seeing them realise their dreams. On expeditions, he encourages everyone to be open to whatever these incredible places offer, and to embrace the fact that not everything is under our control and should be experienced as an adventure, just like the early explorers did.
Mario's favourite destinations include Svalbard for its incredible wildlife, and Greenland for its incredible views, huge mountains and majestic fjords.
Ashley Perrin
Expedition Leader
Ashley graduated from University of Southampton with a dual major with honours in Geography and Oceanography. She’s a fellow of the RGS (Royal Geographical Society) and has over 130,000 miles offshore as a skipper on vessels between 20’ and 185’.
From 2009-12, British Antarctic Survey appointed her as their first ever woman boating officer in Antarctica, in charge of all waterborne activities at Rothera, then King Edward Point, South Georgia. After three years living and working in the Southern Ocean, she became expedition staff on vessels sailing to Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands. A keen adventurer herself, she has climbed Aconcagua in the Andes, Island Peak in the Himalayas and even spent her honeymoon summiting Mount Kenya.
In 2019, she and her husband sailed their 30’ yacht from Newfoundland to explore the West Coast of Greenland.
Ashley enjoys planning safety-centric expeditions to polar regions involving citizen science when possible.
Christophe Bouchoux
Expedition Leader
Christophe is an experienced Expedition Leader and guide, who has worked on expedition ships all over the world. While his peers were in school, Christophe was busy gaining a global education travelling the world. Instead of maths or science, nature became his main source of wonderment. He spent an incredible 17 years exploring iconic and remote destinations, gaining invaluable experience in the tourism industry. Most comfortable in the polar regions, he worked as a guide in Finnish Lapland for seven winters and a tour bus guide in Norway for a decade, before discovering expedition cruising in Svalbard. To this day, he considers Svalbard his favourite destination, on account of its incredible diversity of wildlife and landscapes and because it still manages to surprise him.
On expeditions, Christophe encourages expeditioners to forget about any daily program they have been given, and to trust our Expedition Team and let nature decide what will happen. He is particularly skilled at explaining difficult scientific concepts in everyday language, which makes him a passenger favourite and huge asset to your Aurora expedition.
Daniel Stavert
Expedition Leader
Daniel is an experienced Expedition Guide, Kayak Guide and Naturalist from the Blue Mountains in Australia. He has always been drawn to the beauty of wild places, the extremes of cold and light, and the abundance of life that can be found there. A curiosity for engaging in landscapes both physical and human led him to earn a Bachelor of Arts in History and gain additional qualifications in outdoor recreation, including an Australian national certification in training and assessment.
Daniel has guided people through the wilderness in Australia, Greenland, Svalbard, Fiji, the UK, Norway, and Antarctica. He possesses technical skills and experience in extended trip planning, wilderness first aid and expedition medicine, search and rescue, rock climbing and abseiling instruction, and expedition sea kayaking. He is passionate about the natural world and wildlife and has a remarkable capacity to teach and train others. Daniel’s extensive knowledge and friendly demeanor make him a valuable asset to the expeditions he joins.
Dr Roger Kirkwood
Expedition Leader
Roger has been exploring polar regions for over 40 years. In 1984, he first travelled to Antarctica as a krill research assistant on an Australian Antarctic Division, marine science expedition. He caught the Antarctic bug and returned nine more times to study zooplankton, seals, penguins and albatross. Mostly he was based in remote field camps – such as in the northern Vestfold Hills, on a glaciated Heard Island, on rock stacks in Drake’s Passage, and he spent a year beside an emperor penguin colony 60 km from Mawson Station – he did his PhD on emperor penguin foraging ecology.
As a marine biologist, Roger has published over 100 research and public articles, and four books - two text books and two children’s books. Away from his polar research, he has held a range of research positions - a fisheries biologist for Tasmanian Sea Fisheries and CSIRO Fisheries, a wildlife manager for Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife, a senior researcher for Phillip Island Nature Parks (investigating seals and seabirds in Bass Strait), and a project team leader at Wageningen Marine Research (in the Netherlands - studying human impacts on marine mammals in the Wadden and North Seas). Currently he lives in Victoria, Australia (with wife Marjolein and kids Jay and Emily), where he works as a contract biologist.
Since 1999, Roger has been a Naturalist and Expedition Leader for Aurora Expeditions - usually in the Antarctic, but also in Scotland and the Arctic. Combined with his academic training and field experience, he holds a Coxswain’s boat-driving ticket and SCUBA experience. He loves his work and is always keen to share his extensive wildlife knowledge with our curious passengers.
Isabelle Howells
Expedition Leader
Isabelle is a marine enthusiast from Cornwall, a part of the UK steeped in maritime tradition. She spent a lot of time on the water as a child and grew to have a deep passion for marine biology and the environment. Her love for the ocean led her to the Arctic, where she worked as a whale watching guide and trained as a commercial sailing skipper.
Her vast experience includes working in Iceland, Tromsø and Svalbard, and on traditional sailing boats and expedition ships as Expedition Leader in the East Greenland region. When she’s not on an Aurora expedition, Isabelle works for the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators in Communications, promoting responsible tourism in the region. Isabelle is passionate about sharing her knowledge with others while advocating for the protection of marine life and ecosystems.
A consummate organiser, Isabelle enables expeditioners to take advantage of every possible opportunity that arises. Onboard, she encourages expeditioners to spend as much time outside as possible – the longer you stay out on deck, the more you’re guaranteed to see!
Christian Savigny
Expedition Leader
Christian is an Ornithologist, Naturalist and Illustrator who has specialised in Antarctic tourism for 17 years. Realising his passion for birding as a child, he was inspired to study Natural Sciences and travel extensively in South America, Western Europe and southern and western Africa in search of unique species.
In 1998, he started sailing to the far south on research vessels, and is proud to have sighted rarities including albatrosses and petrels – new for Argentina and the Southwest Atlantic. This is just one of the reasons he is considered Argentina’s “pelagic birds guru”. Christian is passionate about working with NGOs such as the Wildlife Conservation Society and Birdlife in the Important Bird Areas, Red Data Book, Seabird Conservation programs and the ACAP.
Alex Cowan
Expedition Leader
Alex is an experienced Geologist, Mountaineer and professional Yachtsman who has been working in the polar regions since 2011. While studying for his degree in Natural Sciences, Alex became passionate about Geology because it allowed him to be a detective unravelling the secrets of the past to shed light on the present.
Serving as a board member of the Polar Tourism Guides Association and co-founder of the Polar Citizen Science Collective, Alex actively manages operations in challenging environments and conditions. He seeks to empower others to actively participate in scientific exploration, bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and engagement. With an unwavering commitment to discovery and a passion for sharing his expertise, Alex is ready to unveil new horizons and guide fellow adventurers through unforgettable polar expeditions this season.
Elena Wimberger
Expedition Leader
Elena's penchant for adventure began at a young age while reading tales of polar explorers such as William Scoresby and Ernest Shackleton. The pull to the wild and unknown has taken hold ever since. Between various levels of academic education, she has directed her energies towards developing her skills and knowledge of the great outdoors.
An avid outdoor enthusiast, her primary pastimes include skiing, climbing, hiking and mountaineering. Born and raised in the pacific northwest of the United States, Elena grew up enjoying the various mountain ranges her home area has to offer. She has worked asa ski instructor and Wilderness First Responder in the Cascade and Olympic mountains.
After receiving her B.A. in Politics and Spanish, Elena backpacked 4000kms across the United States, starting at the Mexican border and finishing in Canada. Other favourite trips include a two-month backpacking trip through Patagonia and tramping through the hut-systems in New Zealand.
In between her own adventures, Elena loves sharing her passion and energy for the great outdoors with our expeditioners on board.
Lelia Cataldi
Assistant Expedition Leader
Lelia was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. After obtaining her Bachelor’s degree in Tourism, she earned a scholarship at Eichstätt University in Germany to continue her specialisation in Geography. She then became a guide of Los Glaciares National Park and recently she finished an MBA in Hotel Management in Buenos Aires.
Lelia has worked and lived for 10 years in front of the breathtaking view of the Perito Moreno Glacier, in Southern Patagonia. There she is dedicated to high quality tourism, providing guests with a unique experience in close contact with nature. She loves sharing her wide knowledge and love of the National Park and surrounding areas with passion.
She takes great delight in working outdoors and helping others to enjoy and discover nature, especially if it is about South America! Lelia will make you feel and live the culture of any place she visits, tasting new flavours, admiring landscape and nature. At the same time she will provide you with cultural tips and information that will make all the difference in your trip. She will definitely guide you to make the most out of your destination.
Tamsin Both
Assistant Expedition Leader
Tamsin spent her youth working in remote wilderness lodges all around Canada, heli and cat skiing lodges in the mountains, remote fishing lodges on northern lakes and eco-lodges on the coast. She was inspired to start her career in the polar regions because she loves spending time in nature in the wilderness.
On a professional level, working and living in the polar regions for half the year is a dream, to do something for work that she truly loves feels like a big accomplishment. Tamsin is deeply passionate about increasing expeditioners understanding of wildlife and the natural habitat around us.
Dr Leopoldo Soibelzon
Assistant Expedition Leader
Leo’s parents encouraged his natural affinity for research and exploration by gifting him a microscope at a young age. Today, he is far beyond sketching insects in a notebook. A decorated biologist, sailor and explorer, you can still see that childlike wonder alive in his works. Leo has a degree in Biology and a PhD in Natural Sciences, majoring in the study of South American carnivorous mammals and is currently a Principal Investigator of CONICET.
In 2002, he participated in a research project on elephant seals in the South Shetlands and has returned to Antarctica every opportunity since. He’s lived every kind of Antarctic experience, living in small shelters, travelling in an Air Force Hercules plane, working with seals and penguins – all of which he is excited to share with you onboard.
Dot Robertson
Assistant Expedition Leader
Born and bred in Melbourne, Australia, Dot is passionate about the outdoors, adventure and travel. An avid hiker, she started working as a guide in 2008, leading adventurous travellers along the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea, the Inca Trail in Peru and the West Highland Way in Scotland, to name a few. Driven by her interest in history and culture, she has worked in diverse roles on on expeditions to Japan, Indonesia, Pacific, New Zealand, South America, Mediterranean, Antarctica and Australia’s Kimberley. Onboard, she looks forward to sharing her broad knowledge and experiences with like-minded travellers.
Dot's favourite destinations are Antarctica and Scotland for their remoteness, incredible beauty, amazing wildlife and fascinating histories. On expeditions, she advises expeditioners to stop and listen: "Whether it’s the sound of the wind, the wildlife or the complete silence, take in the sounds of nature and appreciate the beauty".
Nicole Genoud
Assistant Expedition Leader
Nicole is a skilful outdoor guide who has been working on expedition ships in the polar regions for over five years. Born in El Calafate, Argentina, Nicole grew up with some of the world’s most renowned national parks on her doorstep. Passionate about the outdoors and travel, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Tourism and Hospitality before launching into an outdoor career.
After leading hiking and kayak trips in Patagonia, she relocated to British Columbia to join the Sea Kayak Guide Alliance and hone her skills. In 2018, she got bitten by the polar bug and started working on Antarctic expeditions. In addition to sharing her knowledge, promoting conservation and introducing expeditioners to the wonders of the polar regions, Nicole is a certified Wilderness First Responder who takes pride in keeping expeditioners safe and well-prepared. In between expeditions, Nicole donates her time to a non-profit organisation, organising climbing courses and bouldering competitions.
Barbara Ostwalt
Onboard Expedition Manager
Barbara is a seasoned adventurer who brings with her a wealth of knowledge and skills gained from travelling and living abroad for over three decades. Passionate about people and hospitality for as long as she can remember, she completed studies in everything from hotel management and Food & Beverage to languages – she is fluent in three! Her commitment to pursuing her passions has led her along a unique path, blending cultural understanding and a fresh approach to life.
Her diverse experiences have equipped her with an unparalleled ability to adapt to various situations onboard while always keeping an open mind towards solving diverse challenges. She firmly believes in the saying, “Do what you love, and you’ll never work another day in your life.” Onboard, Barbara loves the sense of unity and shared adventure that is created by the environment of camaraderie and exploration.
Kerry Lorimer
Onboard Expedition Manager
Kerry embarked on a transformative journey after university, spending 8 years exploring Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. During this time, Kerry worked on yachts in the Caribbean and sailed across the vast expanses of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It was through these experiences that Kerry became impassioned about 'ecotourism', recognising both the delicate balance needed to tread lightly on the environment and the potential for tourism to create positive change.
As the founder of a consultancy focused on sustainable tourism, Kerry successfully raised awareness within the industry, media, and among travellers worldwide. Kerry also made significant contributions to responsible travel literature by authoring Lonely Planet's pioneering book on the subject. Additionally, Kerry undertook a challenging expedition, sailing a 15-meter ketch with five companions from Ushuaia to South Georgia and back via Cape Horn.
Samantha Deer
Onboard Expedition Manager
It’s amazing to think that a background in Archaeology could pave the way for a successful career in tourism, such as Samantha’s role as the Onboard Expedition Manager. Samantha’s driving force lies in her love for people and the awe-inspiring world around us. With unwavering enthusiasm for the natural environment and human connections, she strives to offer a top-notch onboard experience.
Justine Bornholdt
Onboard Expedition Manager
Justine grew up in one of the most picturesque and remote countries in the world, New Zealand. From a young age, she spent time skiing on nearby Mt Ruapehu or family holidays to the dramatically scenic Cape Palliser, the southernmost point of the North Island.
After a six-year stint working in corporate hospitality in Sydney’s CBD, Justine changed her career path in 2007 to Tourism. Her accomplishments as a Travel Consultant for British travel company Trailfinders found her selected for overseas familiarization trips that ignited her desire for world travel even more. After living abroad in Canada and the United Kingdom, she travelled extensively before returning to Australia in 2014 when she completed studies in Marketing and Communications and joined the team at Aurora Expeditions.
Justine’s ambition and competence have led her to a diverse range of roles within Aurora’s head office and onboard their ships. As Hotel Manager, Assistant Expedition Leader and Expedition Coordinator, Justine has acquired a vast range of skills and knowledge to ensure all passengers, Expedition team, and Crew enjoy a safe and successful voyage. She has an effortless approach to problem-solving and an unconditional commitment to customer service.
When not onboard, Justine’s desire to explore the world remains whilst she continues to educate herself in scuba diving, photography, and videography.
Anne Oyasaeter
Onboard Expedition Manager
Anne arrived from Norway to Australia in 1987 and after a few years of doing odd jobs such as working in racing stables, cafes and a taxi-radio room, she began a job in travel at an agency specialising in Scandinavia, Iceland, Greenland, Russia, the Baltic's and Antarctica. Anne soon realized this was the perfect job for her and stayed there for 12 years. During this time she travelled extensively through Scandinavia as well as trips to Iceland, Greenland and Antarctica. Highlights (apart from any trip to Norway of course) was a two-week cruise to Antarctica from Puerto Mondt to Ushuaia and an eight-day cruise to Greenland around Disco Bay on the west coast.
After taking a break from working life to look after her fantastic son Olav and beloved dogs/pets, she joined Aurora Expeditions in the Sydney office and loved working across their products. But before too long, Norway was calling Anne home and she is thrilled to still be involved with Aurora and assisting with all things Arctic and beyond.
In her spare time Anne enjoys family life, great friends, a good book, food and wine and is always looking forward to her next trip away!
Gaby Pilson
Naturalist & Glaciologist
Gaby is an experienced expedition guide and self-proclaimed nerd with a Master’s in Outdoor Education. She fell in love with the natural world after a series of injuries prevented her from playing competitive ice hockey at her high school in the Adirondacks, so her teacher introduced her to ice climbing instead and she was instantly hooked. She spent the rest of winter ice climbing and spring rock climbing, before finding a job at a local gear store so she could stay and climb through summer.
At university, Gaby got heavily involved in her university’s outdoor program and gained numerous certifications in outdoor education, which led to her landing her first guiding job in Alaska. Onboard, Gaby loves teaching people about glaciers, weather and Earth sciences. She claims to find most subjects to be interesting – we encourage you to test this on your expedition!
Zhongyuan Chen
Naturalist
Chen is an experienced interpreter and language expert with a passion for nature and 28 Antarctic expeditions under his belt so far. After graduating with Bachelor’s Degree in English Language and Literature alongside a Master’s Degree in Organisational Behaviour, Chen gained experience working as a quality engineer, translator and interpreter in the aviation industry.
Chen’s passion for interpretation led him to pursue advanced qualifications in the UK, obtaining another Master’s Degree in Interpreting and Translating in 2017. Working as an Expedition Interpreter, Chen embraces the opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and immerse himself in the beauty of nature, sharing this joy with fellow expeditioners. Chen enriches each expedition with his knowledge and professionalism, leaving a lasting impact on fellow adventurers.
Aviaaja Scluter
Naturalist
Aviaaja has almost 20 years’ experience as a Polar Guide under her belt. Raised in Nuuk, Greenland, Aviaaja grew up hearing stories and legends about her homeland, which contributed to her fascination with history and culture. Longing to explore the world, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish Language and Culture combined with Anthropology and Tourism. After her first taste of guiding while living in South America, she returned home in 2014 and found work as a Polar Guide – since then she has spent every Arctic season on expedition ships, land-based adventures and helicopter tours. Since her first visit to Antarctica 2016, she has spent over 400 nights camping on the continent and visited incredible places like the South Pole, South Georgia and the Ross Sea. Aviaaja feels privileged helping to open expeditioners’ minds to local histories, nature and cultures on polar expeditions.
Marcos Goldin
Naturalist
Marcos’ journey to becoming a Polar Guide began as a child exploring the stunning landscapes of Patagonia, fostering a deep connection with nature by diving, spearfishing, skiing and climbing. Seeking a better understanding of the places he cherished, he pursued a degree in Geology.
After working as a Reservoir Geologist, he decided to follow his calling and become a Wilderness & Outdoor Guide, leading trips in the mountains of Patagonia. He eventually settled in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, and started guiding on Antarctic expeditions. Marcos enjoys researching and learning about the places we visit and passing his knowledge on to expeditioners. Polar Guiding is the perfect avenue for him to share his enthusiasm and knowledge of the outdoors in nature’s own classroom – he has a rare talent for bringing geology to life and making it accessible to everyone!
Joselyn Fenstermacher
Naturalist
Part outdoor experiential educator and part field biologist, Joselyn began her global education and travel feats at the age of 13. Since then, she has studied field biology in Tanzania and Ecuador, monitored brown bears in Alaska, worked with endangered birds in the forests of Hawaii, taught rock climbing and backpacking in North Carolina, surveyed rare plants in Texas, been employed as a chef and boat driver in the Adirondacks of New York, worked as a biologist and interpretive ranger at a variety of U.S. National Parks, trained in helicopter operations over Maui and deployed as a wildland firefighter in the western United States.
After earning a Master’s degree in Botany, this eclectic background helped her land a job working in support of the US Antarctic Program at McMurdo Station. She went on to spend several seasons on the ice, including two winters at the South Pole where she for a time, the world’s most southerly farmer! After volunteering to give several local tours for both the station community as well as visiting expedition cruise ships, it was a natural step to join the ship-based expedition world as a way to merge her passion for education and desire to experience more of Antarctica - and really the rest of the globe.
When not somewhere far afield with expedition work, back in the U.S, Joselyn spends most of her time in the Big Bend region of far western Texas where she enjoys guiding, botanising, and watching and listening to life go by in the Chihuahuan Desert from the porch of her off-grid, fancy camping home.
Joselyn is passionate about learning more about the world around her, and sharing that passion with others-- hoping to inspire a broader appreciation for, and understanding of, the fascinating world we live in.
Ian McCarthy
Naturalist
Ian has worked as a wildlife filmmaker for over 30 years, mostly for the BBC Natural History Unit based in Bristol. In that time, he’s filmed on many of the big David Attenborough series such as Life In The Freezer, Planet Earth, Blue Planet and Frozen Planet and have won a BAFTA for Life In The Freezer and two prime time EMMYs for Blue Planet and Human Planet.
During that time, Ian has lived, worked and camped for long periods in remote wildernesses, from northern and eastern Greenland, Ellesmere Island, the Antarctic Peninsula, Siberia and the Subantarctic islands of South Georgia and Marion Island.
He’s swum with huge brown bears in British Columbia and been chased by a musk ox in Greenland. He has howled with wolves in Montana, snorkelled with thousands of sockeye salmon in the icy rivers of Alaska and walked through a mine field in Afghanistan.
Ten years ago Ian moved to Cornwall with his wife Anne and opened The Wild Studio, Cornwall where they exhibit and sell Ian’s panoramic wildlife pictures.
“I try to capture the sense of space and grandeur in a landscape and yet bring a feeling of intimacy with the wild creatures that I photograph. My films and photographs come from a lifelong love affair with the natural world. But as the wild places come under increasing threat, I’m constantly reminded how fragile nature is, and with that comes a new wonder for its ephemeral beauty which I do my best to bring to my images“.
Linda Steutel
Naturalist
Linda is an is an experienced Doctor, specialising in Emergency, Aviation and Wilderness Medicine, who has discovered the secret to being balanced and happy. For her, it’s alternating her medical career with expedition guiding! Linda’s lifelong passion for the outdoors, nature and meeting people from different cultures has seen her travel and work in different countries around the world. Eventually her adventurous spirit led her to the polar regions, working as a physician on expedition cruise ships. After working in remote and wild destinations, Linda was inspired to pursue a career in guiding, to satisfy her passion for nature while inspiring people to become ambassadors for these regions. After completing a three-year International Wilderness Guide course, she has guided in European Alps, Pyrenees, Canadian Rocky Mountains, the polar regions and counting!
Jonathan Chester
Naturalist
Jonathan’s passion for nature and the great outdoors stems from adventures roaming the bushlands of Adelaide Hills in Australia as a young man. His extensive knowledge of polar history, geography and ecology, combined with firsthand experience and expertise garnered during the writing of his many books on polar subjects.
Jonathan has had many experiences scuba diving, hiking and rock climbing which led to scaling
the faces of the legendary Mount Arapiles and Moonarie to mountaineering in New Zealand. Then spending the next decade “living to climb”, from the world’s highest peaks to more remote mountains, then shifting to decades of polar expeditions and adventures in Antarctica.
Cape Dennison, Commonwealth Bay, East Antarctica, where Douglas Mawson’s built his famous Huts in 1911.
Advice: “Be Flexible!”The weather and ice conditions can vary greatly, often going from one extreme to the other changing plans, activities, or destinations. All part of the adventure of Antarctica!
Kelsey Camacho
Naturalist
A writer, historian and our resident Svalbard expert, Kelsey loves listening to stories as much as she enjoys telling them. After moving to Svalbard from the United States, Kelsey immersed herself in books about the remote Norwegian archipelago, to better understand its landscapes and history so she could share what she learnt with visitors. In particular, she was enamoured with the stories of the early explorers and the diverse dreams people have sought in the Arctic over the years. Guiding fits Kelsey like a glove – she thrives on helping expeditioners appreciate the pristine places Aurora visits, and pinpointing their moments of awe when they encounter iconic wildlife for the first time in the wild.
Heather Chrystie
Naturalist & Ecologist
A wise teacher once told Heather that she should study the subject she enjoyed most, which inspired her complete a Bachelor of Science in Physical Geography. This led to a rewarding career in natural history that has taken her all over the globe. After spending 10 years guiding polar bear trips in Canada and five years in Iceland leading expeditions, she now feels completely at home in the Arctic and considers herself a “polar bear nerd”. She has also guided in the Canadian Rockies, the Swiss Alps and the UK, ran an organic vegetable farm, taught English and worked as an Environmental Consultant. Onboard, she draws on her extensive and diverse experience to inspire and engage expeditioners. When she’s not working on expedition cruise ships, she enjoys skiing, and has joined month-long skiing expeditions in both the Himalayas and Iceland.
Graeme Snow
Naturalist
Graeme was working in electronic engineering and IT when he landed a job at the Australian Antarctic Division and fell in love with the great white continent. After 20 years of service, he sought a chance to explore beyond the Australian sector on Antarctic expeditions. With 30 years' experience living and working in the polar regions, including guiding on over 100 expeditions, Graeme has a unique blend of knowledge and experience that is hard to match. His favourite destination is Greenland, for its immense scale and the fact that it is so far from the usual tourist trail.
Graeme loves life at sea as there is always the chance of something unexpected happening and thrives on passing on all he’s learnt from fellow researchers. He believes that the more you understand an environment, the more you can appreciate it. On expeditions, he encourages expeditioners to sit quietly and take the time to watch everything going on around them, so they can remember the experience that much better.
Dr Annette Scheffer
Naturalist
Annette is a marine biologist who specialises in whales, penguins and open ocean ecosystems. She holds a PhD in behavioural ecology of king penguins at the Subantarctic islands of South Georgia, Kerguelen and Crozet, and has worked on protected areas for macaroni penguins with the British Antarctic Survey, BirdLife International and CNRS France.
Annette has 15 years of experience as a whale watching guide and advisor for underwater film and photography teams in the Azores and Patagonia. As a guest lecturer for marine biology and sustainability with Heidelberg University in Germany, Annette now regularly takes students to the Azores for first-hand experience of the open ocean and to gain close experience with whales and dolphins, sharks, manta rays and seabirds.
Besides her work as a scientist and lecturer, Annette is collaborating with international education institutions to pass on her passion for the oceans and raise awareness of the fragility of the sea and its inhabitants.
Annette currently lives between Cambridge (UK), Heidelberg (Germany) and the Azores, where she works on sustainable fisheries, whale foraging behaviour and educating the next generation.
Dani Abras
Naturalist & Marine Biologist
What began as an 8-year-old with a love for whales and dolphins led Dani to dedicate her life to the research and conservation of marine life. Born and raised in Brazil, she graduated with a degree in Marine Biology and a Master's degree in Biological Oceanography before diving into whale research for the next 12 years. After specialising in the study of Humpback Whales’ migratory dynamics of between Antarctica and Brazil, Dani felt inspired go beyond her expectations and share her knowledge.
She began work as a full-time Expedition Guide and Naturalist on ships all over the world, journeying from the warm tropics to the icy polar regions. What she loves about expedition travel is how every voyage is unique and there is always a possibility of something remarkable happening anytime, day or night.
Dr Ben Maddison
Naturalist & Historian
Avid historian and climber, Ben’s love of history began during his high school years. His passion for history led to an MA in Social and Industrial history and a PHD in Australian history. For many years, Ben was an academic specialising in polar, colonial and working class history in the History Department at the University of Wollongong, New South Wales.
An active researcher, Ben is published extensively in Australian and international historical journals. His book Class and Colonialism in Antarctic Exploration, 1750– 1920 (Pickering & Chatto, 2014) is a study of Antarctic exploration ‘from below’, focusing on the sailors, sealers, whalers, cooks, mechanics, engineers, stokers and radio operators, who were all necessary in bringing the upperclass 'hero explorers' to the continent and supporting their expeditions. He is currently writing A History of the Southern Ocean (forthcoming, Routledge 2018), gazing out on his subject matter from Bruny Island, Tasmania, where he lives.
When not writing, Ben engages in his other lifelong passions for exploring wild places. Ben has pioneered climbs in Tasmania, Victoria, NSW, Greenland and North Wales and he is currently developing new rock climbing routes in the Bruny Island area.
Alasdair McGregor
Naturalist & Historian
Alasdair is a Sydney-based painter, writer and historian, who has enjoyed a love of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean spanning more than 30 years.
Alasdair’s contact with the region began on the 1983 Heard Island Expedition – his first big adventure – in which he played a supporting role in the second only ascent of 3000-metre Big Ben, the active volcano that dominates the island. Two voyages with the Australian Antarctic Division's Humanities Program followed in the next couple of years.
In the late 1990s, Alasdair was the artist and photographer for two Mawson’s Huts Foundation summer conservation expeditions to Cape Denison, then in 1999 Alasdair staged Mawson’s Antarctica: A view from the huts, a major exhibition of his Antarctic paintings and photographs. In 2000, Alasdair curated the Australian High Commission to Canada's photographic exhibition, '… that sweep of savage splendour': A Century of Australians in Antarctica.
Alasdair has published three books with Antarctic themes: Mawson’s Huts: An Antarctic Expedition Journal (1999); Antarctica: that sweep of savage splendour (collected writings – editor 2011); and a biography of the renowned polar photographer Frank Hurley: A photographer’s life (2004). His other books include Grand Obsessions: The life and work of Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin, winner of the 2011 National Biography Award.
Away from Antarctica, Alasdair writes regularly for Australian Geographic and his research and creative interests range over architecture and design, natural history, and the history of exploration.
Alasdair has worked as a lecturer on tourist voyages to Antarctica since 2005, and has been a keen member of Aurora Expeditions’ Antarctic expedition team since 2012.
Nina Gallo
Naturalist & Historian
A professional adventure guide and intermittent resident of the Blue Mountains, Nina has been drawn to the polar regions since her first otherworldly experience of the midnight sun in 2002. Since then she has spent time in far northern Canada, the Himalayas, the Alps and deserts in America and Australia, always seeking out quiet, wild corners to explore. These experiences have instilled in her a deep respect for the balance of systems in the natural world.
Nina spent four years at university studying everything from literature and politics to science, Chinese medicine, psychology and French before graduating with a BA and an appreciation for good storytelling. She also trained as an outdoor guide, getting most excited about roped adventures, rescues and wilderness first aid.
Nina has worked as a canyoning guide and climbing instructor in the Blue Mountains, first aider and volunteer manager on events in the Simpson Desert, and as a guide and lecturer in Antarctica. She feels immensely privileged to travel to these places and shares her passions for the natural world, human stories and adventure with all the wonderful people she meets.
Nina is the author of Antarctica, published by Australian Geographic in September 2020.
Jack Alscher
Naturalist & Historian
Jack’s passion for the wilderness was sparked during an Aurora Expeditions Scotland voyage, which explored the Hebrides and Orkney and Shetland Islands. Further travels through the spectacular fjords of Norway, Svalbard in the High Arctic, and to the ecological wonder of the Galápagos Islands only reaffirmed his passion for the ocean and wild places. A keen outdoor enthusiast, Jack trekked to Nepal’s Everest Base Camp at 14. In addition to trekking, he also counts competing in ocean swims, surfing, stand-up paddle-boarding and backcountry skiing among his hobbies.
Jack has worked alongside our Product Team since 2013, helping with the onboard development of new vessels, while spending as much time as he can at sea as part of our experienced Expedition Team. Jack is always eager to explore, experience new adventures and share his love of remote places. During an expedition, Jack loves being at the mercy of Mother Nature, and never knowing what the next moment will bring or when the next wildlife encounter will be. The ice may come in or wind may pick up, forcing the team to adapt to ‘Plan B’, ‘Plan C’ or even ‘Plan D’ on a single morning, so you never know what incredible experience is in store.
On expeditions, he encourages expeditioners to look up from their cameras and take in special moments to develop a connection to these places and make the memories of them all the more special.
Carol Knott
Historian
Carol’s passion for archaeology began with rescue excavations of medieval English towns, ports, churches and castles. After receiving a Masters degree in Archaeology and History from the University of Glasgow, she continued this work with investigation of some of the great medieval abbeys, palaces and gardens of England. In 1988 she returned to her native Scotland, and since then has lived and worked amongst the windswept islands of the Outer Hebrides, with field researches focused on ‘the archaeology of survival’ - the study of remote communities and deserted places.
Until 2012, Carol also worked for the National Trust for Scotland as archaeologist for St Kilda, helping to understand and preserve the unique heritage of this World Heritage site.
She also travels worldwide and in the polar regions as a guide and lecturer on expedition ships, including to Svalbard, Greenland and extensively to Antarctica, where she has found a second home under canvas on the ice cap.
Jeff Nagel
Firearms and Polar Bear Safety Director & Historian
Whether he’s on white-water rafting adventures in the American West or skiing the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, guiding outdoors has always felt natural to Jeff. He maintains the highest level of safety in the Arctic as a Firearms Master for polar bears. Jeff thrives off the demand for constant vigilance and counts his binoculars as being a more important tool than even his rifle. He is honoured to take expeditioners right to the heart of nature in the polar regions, to help them gain a truly new perspective. After a lifetime of work in different outdoor industries, he still loves learning from and exploring with fellow Expedition Team members.
His favourite destination is Svalbard, specifically a fjord named Hornsund. This fjord has everything from bird cliffs to magnificent glaciers to towering mountain peaks and is a hot spot for polar bear sightings in southern Svalbard.
On expeditions, Jeff likes to offer this advice: "Get out on deck! I know it’s a lovely ship but get outside! The scenery, the wildlife, what you came here for is outside of those doors."
Haining Wang 王海宁
Mandarin Speaking Expedition Guide (探险队员/讲师)
Haining hails from China but has grown up in many places. He loves outdoor activities such as hiking and kayaking, and enjoys reading adventure stories since childhood.
He joined Chinese Antarctica Research Expedition (CHINARE) in 2004 and stayed at Zhongshan station (69°22’S) for one winter season and two summer seasons doing science research. His science projects include Upper Atmosphere Research, Geomagnetic and Sea Ice research. During the Antarctic winter days, he enjoyed observing emperor penguins, Weddell seals and skuas as well as camping and hiking in Larsemann Hills. He then got E.E. Master’s degree and joined multinational companies to pursue a business career.
He is a world traveller and particularly loves glaciers and the aurora borealis. Since 2016, Haining began to work part-time as a polar guide in Antarctica and Arctic regions. Haining has a publishing workshop focusing on polar books translation and publishing. He also provides consulting services to local tour agencies.
Haining is joining Aurora Expeditions' new ship, M/V Greg Mortimer during its maiden season in Antarctica in a role of a cultural guide to assist our Mandarin speaking guests in discovering the wonders of the Frozen Continent.
王海宁，探险队员。海宁来自中国大陆，在多个城市生活。从小喜爱各类户外活动包括徒步，皮划艇以及阅读探险故事。2004年加入中国南极考察队，在南纬69度的中山站连度过一个冬季两个夏季进行科学考察，独立负责高空大气物理观测，并参与地磁观测和海冰观测。在南极冬天的日子里，海宁的业余爱好是观察帝企鹅，威德尔海豹和贼鸥，并热衷于在拉斯曼丘陵地带进行露营和徒步探险。在取得电子工程硕士之后，他加入国际公司追寻商业职业发展。海宁一直热爱环球旅行，尤其热爱冰川和极光。从2016年起，他开始成为南极和北极的极地向导。2018年初海宁拥有自己的专注极地书籍引进与翻译的图书工作室，并为国内的旅行公司提供极地咨询顾问。
Fiona Wardle
Photography Guide
Fiona finds immense joy in combining her love for nature and photography, sharing this passion with others to create truly unforgettable experiences. One of her proudest accomplishments is being shortlisted for Wildlife Photographer of the Year— an honour that fuels her drive to push creative boundaries. Additionally, Fiona serves as an ambassador for Girls Who Click, a role that allows her to inspire young women in photography and conservation.
A passionate educator, Fiona aims to cultivate a deep appreciation for the natural world, hoping to instill her skills and enthusiasm in others. Among her most memorable travel experiences was her journey to the Ross Sea, one of the planet’s most remote and untouched regions. Immersed in pristine wilderness and surrounded by incredible wildlife, Fiona also had the privilege to explore historically significant sites, making it an adventure she will never forget.
Scott Portelli
Photography Guide
Scott Portelli is an international award-winning wildlife, nature and underwater photographer. He’s a member of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP) and is regarded as a leading professional in his field. Scott has spent thousands of hours in remote locations across the globe filming and photographing nature, wildlife, the underwater environment and wild places.
Scott has spent over a decade working in the polar regions with a focus on Antarctica, the Subantarctic and Artic regions, producing a unique portfolio of fine art photography that showcases the intricate environment and its intriguing inhabitants. Working in extreme conditions, Scott’s photography provides a rarely seen glimpse above and below the surface in some of the harshest places on the planet.
As a professional nature, wildlife, underwater and aerial photographer, Scott spends a lot of time travelling the world to remote destinations in search of some of the most amazing creatures on the planet. For Scott, it is about the journey, bringing an idea to life by capturing a moment in time or by evoking an emotion. Each image has a unique story that is usually a very intimate moment that Scott may have shared with the subject.
“To create interesting concepts, it sometimes involves me immersing myself in an environment in order to research the location, subject matter and what opportunities may present themselves. I once spent two months on the back of a snow mobile in Baffin Island, Canadian Arctic in minus 37 degrees just to do a reconnaissance of the region for a series of photos I wanted to produce. In the end, I love what I do and I love sharing the natural world through photography.”
Scott was awarded at the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year in London in 2016, announced National Winner of the Sony World Photography Awards 2016 and Winner at Travel Photographer of the Year 2015. More recently, he was awarded winner in the Animal Behaviour Category at the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year ANZANG 2017, winner in the Underwater Category of the Asferico International Nature Photography Awards 2018 and runner up in the Behaviour Category at Underwater Photographer of the Year 2019. His conservation documentary also took out two awards at the prestigious French Underwater Film Festival in Marseille.
Scott's other notable awards include:
- 3rd Prize - National Geographic Travel Photo Contest - Nature Category 2019
- Winner - 13th Annual Black & White Spider Awards 2018
- Highly Honoured - Nature's Best, Windland Smith Rice International Awards 2018
- Winner - Sony World Photography Awards 2016
An accredited licensed RPAS/UAV Pilot, Scott has worked on aerial projects for some of Australia’s most sought-after tourism destinations.
Scott runs photography workshops and lectures to show enthusiasts and experts alike the best way to get the most out of their photography. On his Polar tours he specialises in Nature & Wildlife photography bringing the best tips and techniques for photographing in challenging locations.
Scott Portelli will be a special guest photographer on our Antarctica: Through the Lens voyage, departing 25 January 2027.
Stas Zakharov
Photography Guide
Stas' biggest professional and personal accomplishment is designing and leading sailing yacht expeditions to Chukotka and Wrangel island and snorkelling with leopard seal in Antarctica. His polar expedition career was inspired by a need to be able to explore the world from every angle.
Pia Harboure
Photography Guide
As a child growing up in the 80s, Pia was fascinated by film and the power of images. Today, she still loves the role photography can play in creating awareness and inspiring social change. She asked for her first camera at age 9, started taking photography classes in high school and went on to study a degree in Audio-Visual Production and Photography. After graduating, Pia started her global education, travelling everywhere from Patagonia to Sri Lanka to the polar regions, working as a portrait and documentary photographer.
She has spent the last decade sharing the technical and creative photographic tips she has learned with travellers. For the past five years, she has tilted her practice to more collaborative and sustainable projects in areas of human rights issues, working for NGOs like UNICEF.
Grant Thomas
Photography Guide
Grant was inspired to start his photography career after a childhood spent watching David Attenborough documentaries and exploring the outdoors with my parents, which then evolved into an obsession with travel and photography. He loves to share his knowledge and experience of photography, as well as stories of travel and animals.
Jamie Lafferty
Photography Guide
With a passion for exploring the world and capturing its beauty through his lens, Jamie is a talented Writer and Photographer hailing from Scotland. He has visited all seven continents and over 50 countries, and earned the 2020 Consumer Travel Writer of the Year award. Jamie’s work has been featured in prestigious publications including the New York Times, Sunday Times, Guardian, National Geographic Traveller, Outside and Financial Times. He has journeyed to Antarctica eight times, spent a week in Svalbard while a horror film was being shot, and has stories to tell from just about everywhere in between. His favourite destination so far is South Georgia for its extraordinary history and unpredictable nature.
Always funny and invariably poignant, make time hear some of Jamie’s tales on your expedition, and learn a trick or two on capturing your best photos in his photography lectures.
Adrian Wlodarczyk
Photography Guide
Adrian is a world-renowned action and adventure photographer who specialises in photographing the wildlife and landscapes of the polar regions while being immersed in the planet’s most precious and provocative environments. His commercial work has been used by a host of travel, sport, lifestyle and expedition publications across the globe, and he has consistently worked with the athletes on the World Surf Tour and UCI World Cycling events.
Adrian is committed to assisting others develop the confidence to succeed at their passions through his high-performance strategy consulting company. He is currently working on a book that will explores the inner journey to fulfilling your full potential.
When not working, you can find Adrian watching a Liverpool Football Club match, sailing a yacht to an undisclosed destination, swimming laps or trying to discover which tequila accompanies the world’s best fish taco.
Dave Stark
IFMGA Mountain Guide
When Dave was fifteen he found Maurice Herzog's epic tale of the 1st ascent of Annapurna in Nepal. He was enthralled and all he could think about was becoming a mountaineer and going on expeditions to the greater ranges of the world. Dave loves seeing the joy on peoples faces as they explore some of the worlds scarcely visited places, and these shared moments are the greatest gift.
During his career Dave has been responsible for growing and running Canada's largest mountain school, Yamnuska Mountain Adventures, providing experiences for thousands of guests and mentoring hundreds of guides over the years. As an Aurora Expeditions guide, he loves being able to adventure with safety as our primary mindset.
Mike Roberts
IFMGA Mountain Guide
Mike is an IFMGA mountain guide who has led expeditions in the world?s great ranges for thirty five years. His experience includes thirteen expeditions to Mt Everest, guiding the seven summits and thirty seasons in remote Antarctica. With a deep love of being on adventures in wild natural environments, learning about the wildlife, history, ecology and sharing this with others, as well as a passion for mountains, solitude, polar regions, adventure, travel and culture, Mike is a fantastic resource on our expeditions.
Tarn Pilkington
IFMGA Mountain Guide & Alpine Program Specialist
Tarn works year round in the outdoors of NZ and is qualified as an IFMGA Mountain and Ski guide. Since visiting Antarctica for the first time in 1994 he has returned over 15 times and admits to being completely addicted.
He is based in Queenstown NZ, his home of 25 years. Tarn spends the winter months heli skiing and ski touring and during the long South Island Summers he guides and works on film and television productions as a safety officer. He is also contracted as the Crew Chief for the local Air Ambulance service and volunteers for the local Alpine Cliff Rescue Team.
In his spare time, Tarn gets out on his mountain bike or skis as much as possible to explore his home patch in the beautiful southern lakes of the South Island.
Dan Phillips
NZMGA Ski Guide
To Dan, the meeting of sea and snow is the greatest kind of adventure. He left the slopes of Australia 12 years ago for the mountains of New Zealand. Working as Mountain Guide, he has spent the last decade skiing and climbing all over the world.
Dan’s fascinated by the stories of isolation and survival in these historic and wild corners of the earth. To be onboard with Aurora Expeditions allows Dan to combine his passions of sailing and skiing, where he is keen to share his broad depth of experience in the technical aspects of mountain guiding with passengers.
Peter Wainwright
Ski & Kayak Guide
Peter's career has taken him down several unusual paths, from a stint in the military, to Civil Engineering, to working on TV survival shows, and to life in a Tanzanian National Park working for a well-known wildlife conservation trust. But he now spends his winters heli-skiing as one of the head guides for Bella Coola Helisports and at several backcountry ski-touring lodges. In the fall he spends much of his time guiding guests to view grizzly bears in the Bella Coola valley.
He also guides rock climbing and sea-kayaking trips. Born in Montreal, and having lived and guided for many years in Europe, the lure of endless white-capped mountains and the pristine Pacific Ocean enticed Peter to British Columbia where he can live his passions everyday and share his love of wild untouched places with others. He spends every possible moment exploring and adventuring in the backcountry on skis, in a kayak, trail running, climbing or surfing.
Peter is always up for a new adventure, the more remote, the better. His down to earth, relaxed demeanour and wealth of experience make him a great companion in the mountains or on the sea. Peter loves practicing his Spanish.
He is certified through the British Canoe Union as a 5-star sea kayak Leader and through the SKGABC as a Level 3 guide. He has guided trips all over Canada, Scotland, Norway and Iceland.
Eddie Hauzer
Snorkel Guide
Argentinian born, Eddie always dreamed of a career in tourism that would combine their passion for environmental conservation and desire to be in the great outdoors. In 2018, they went diving for the first time in Ushuaia and haven’t stopped since. Having never dived in warm waters, Eddie is a true cold-water diving expert working as a divemaster and snorkelling guide at Beagle Buceos. After exploring the west coast of Ireland with the Atlantic Dive Club Social, they set their sights on uncovering the underwater worlds of the polar regions. Eddie’s infectious youthful energy and eagerness to learn makes them a welcome addition to our team this season.
Rosie Leaney
Snorkel Guide
Rosie has managed to combine her passion for nature with a successful career in the health industry. A lifelong fascination with the ocean led her to study Biological Sciences with Honours in Marine Ecology. She then studied Physiotherapy and spent 15 years rehabilitating people from serious illnesses. During this time, she kept her passion for the ocean alive by working on weekends as a divemaster, organising diving trips and educating people about the marine environment. When Australia was ravaged by bushfires in 2020, she retrained as a wildlife carer, rehabilitating native animals.
In her spare time she enjoys diving and underwater photography – hobbies that have taken her all over the world. She considers her favourite destination to be Scotland, because of its puffins and seabird colonies, enchanting scenery, fascinating history and because it feels so remote despite still being in the UK.
Onboard, Rosie relishes helping expeditioners explore new places and connect with nature. Her caring nature shines through everything she does, making her a huge asset to your expedition. She encourages expeditioners to embrace the expertise onboard – go to lectures, get involved with citizen science. You’ll take home so much more knowledge, the more you involve yourself.
Pete Shaw
Dive & Snorkel Guide
Pete has enjoyed a very varied career traveling to some extraordinary places and meeting some inspirational individuals. His current role happened almost by accident - like so many of the best things - but was influenced by the exploits of Jacques Cousteau, Ron & Valerie Taylor, Hans and Lotte Hass and of course Sylvia Earle.
With a passion for sharing the diversity of our world. Conservation, environmental impact management & citizen science, Pete has a natural curiosity & the desire to explore. A Calmness & adaptability in the face of rapid change and loves creating connections & building strong relationships.
Darren Clarke
Dive & Snorkel Guide
Growing up in South Devon, Darren has been a keen underwater adventurer from a young age. He has dived professionally for 30 years, building Arctic and cold-water experience as a member of the commando diving team in the military.
He’s travelled the world diving commercially and recreationally, but is most proud of a South African expedition with his son, where they became the first people to run across Africa following elephant migration routes – covering 3,000kms in nearly 3 months! During the summer, Darren currently teaches scientific divers at the University of Plymouth. He never tires of the beauty, peace and tranquillity of the marine environment and enjoys facilitating others to do the same.
Thomas Gov
Dive & Snorkel Guide
Thomas’ constructive background in diving, knowledge of marine wildlife and specialisation in the Arctic make him a huge asset to the Expedition Team. A certified Arctic Nature Guide, Thomas has been working as a dive instructor and guide for over 12 years. For half of this time, he based himself in Iceland, where he expanded his expertise to include glacier guiding.
During Thomas’ extensive time in the northernmost latitudes, he has developed a deep passion for the Arctic, with its unique and diverse landscapes, conditions and wildlife. Thomas prides himself on always seeking to immerse himself in local cultures, speaking the native language where possible to connect with locals on a deeper level and be seen as part of the community. He is looking forward to joining expeditioners in the Arctic this season, sharing his broad Arctic knowledge and helping to facilitate unforgettable wildlife encounters.
Catherine Buckland
Dive & Snorkel Guide
In the profession of Scuba Diving, no two days are the same. For over 15 years Catherine has thrived off this challenging environment working in a variety of marine based qualifications. Her most memorable moments are always to do with wildlife, like witnessing breaching humpback whales from the Zodiac or watching adorable Gentoo chicks develop over the season. Even though the water is icy cold, she is excited to show expeditioners the amazing aspects of underwater Antarctica.
Edwin Sargeant
Dive & Snorkel Guide
Edwin is an avid outdoor enthusiast with a passion for all activities based on, in and under water.
He’s an Australian currently living in Arizona, USA.
Edwin is an experienced polar ice diver, he holds many diving certifications with several agencies, including: Divemaster, Master Scuba Diver, deep diver and extended range river, rescue diver, gas blender, Trimix, DPV, and emergency oxygen provider. Edwin has been a certified diver since 1986 and has dived in the polar regions with Aurora Expeditions aboard the Polar Pioneer, where his love affair with the polar regions started.
Outside his passion for water activities, Edwin is also a helicopter pilot and an entrepreneur. He has successfully started and managed several start-up companies from inception to multinational status. Edwin has a Master’s degree in Management from Macquarie University in Sydney and has worked in the commercial lighting industry for over 30 years.
Liz MacNeil
Kayak Guide
Liz has been an explorer since before she can remember. Whether in the mountains, on the water, in the city or just her backyard her curiosity constantly led her off the beaten path and into great adventures. Coming from a long line of seafarers and pirates she has always been naturally drawn to the ocean. She has explored the world’s most remote corners and coastlines by sea kayak.
A professional guide since 2003, Liz works in expedition development, instruction and programs for expedition ships, schools and organisations. She can’t wait to get out amongst the polar waters with our expeditioners in 2022.
Eamon Larkin
Kayak Guide
Growing up on the South Coast of NSW, the coastline and its beaches were always a second home to Eamon. He would explore the coastline either kayaking, snorkelling, or surfing during ocean swim events. Eamon bought his first kayak with a friend at the age of 13 years old and has had more than one type or another ever since.
The canyons and cliffs of the Blue Mountains soon called to him and a long love of climbing and bushwalking followed. The amazing people he met in the mountains would shape what he wanted to do and become in life.
Eamon transferred from electronics tech industry to outdoor guiding in 1994, and he has been involved in outdoor education, guiding, training, instructing and assessing people in a variety of adventurous pursuits and first aid courses ever since.
He is truly rewarded seeing people enjoy new activities, experience different cultures, and be affected by beautiful natural environments. For years Eamon has lead student teams to Peru, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, NZ, Fiji and Nepal. These expeditions encourage the students to grow in independence, resilience and awareness.
For the last 10 years, he has also been working as a sea kayaking guide in Fiji and beyond. Back at home he continues to guide, teach and share his love of the outdoors with adult and student groups.
His passion for languages, travel and adventure has made for a wealth of great memories and stories.
Alex Chavanne
Kayak Guide
Alex was born and raised in Northern California, an area wilder and closer to nature (and colder!) than most imagine. Since he could hold his head up, he was seated in a kayak, eventually beginning to lead tours off the rough and rocky Santa Cruz coastline after graduating from the University of California.
Spending his entire youth climbing and skiing the Sierra’s, surfing, kayaking and boating off the coast, and travelling the world with his parents led him comfortably into a life of guiding. His education in earth sciences at the university inspired an environmentalist attitude, as well as a research-based approach to science and learning. Working among scientists and leading experts has allowed him to make friends with and learn from some of the brightest and enthusiastic members of the industry since the start, and inspired a passion for the birdlife and lichen ecology of the polar regions.
After beginning work with a world-class surf kayaker in Santa Cruz, Alex has travelled the world, continuously challenging himself in and out of a kayak. Guiding month long kayak trips in the Patagonian Fiords, paddling the deceivingly tricky and frigid waters of the Pacific Northwest, and providing hands-on logistical support for whole-season scientific field trips in the High Arctic, among others have provided lessons and experience in leadership and wilderness conduct.
Although these skills are useful for guiding work in polar regions, they also transfer well to Alex’s personal life. When not guiding, he can be found climbing, paddling, skiing and fishing around the Lofoten Islands which he calls home.
Tracy Garner
Kayak Guide
Tracy fell in love with kayaking whilst travelling through New Zealand after university, and now has over 20 years’ experience as a sea kayak instructor and outdoor recreation guide. She has guided extensively around Australia and in overseas destinations like the Arctic, the Pacific Islands and Europe.
In 2013, Tracy won the World Championship in Women’s High Performance Surf Kayaking and was awarded Paddle Instructor of the Year in 2019, 2020 and 2021. For Tracy, kayaking provides a true sense of being present and changes the way you see the world and engage with destinations, people, wildlife and yourself.
Ivan Klochkov
Kayak Guide
Growing up in Moscow with adventure-loving parents, Ivan was kayaking and hiking by age six! He accompanied his parents on all kinds of outdoor adventures, from kayaking through the wild Kamchatka peninsula to hiking in Nepal and Turkey. After studying hospitality management for several years, he finally decided to follow his true passion and has been working as a Kayak Guide for the last five years in some of the most wild and remote places on earth.
Ivan's extensive experience kayaking, along with his contagious energy and enthusiasm, combine to make him a huge asset to our Expedition Team who relishes helping expeditioners develop their skills while having unforgettable experiences in the beautiful destinations we visit. He believes that the polar regions attract special people, and relishes helping expeditioners test their limits!
Gabby Bruce
Kayak Guide
Gabby Bruce describes her experience of first sitting in a sea kayak in 2015 while studying adventure tourism in New Zealand. She loved participating in this course which set her up with adventure guide training across a wide variety of disciplines including river/sea kayaking, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, bushcraft and snow sports, setting me on my course of adventure guiding and travel. Her passion for Kayaking is truly infectious, and she inspires all those who paddle with her.