Our Team

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.

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!

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’ 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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Language: Portuguese (Native), English (Fluent), Spanish (Fluent), French (Limited)

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.

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.

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.

Read some of Nina's articles here:

• Are There Polar Bears in Antarctica? No - find out why.
• 10 Fun Facts About Antarctica
• How Cold is Antarctica?
• Is Antarctica a desert? YES. Find out why
• Do People Live in Antarctica?
• Why Are There No Penguins in The Arctic?
• How To Get To Antarctica?
• What Animals Live in Antarctica?
• Who Owns Antarctica?

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.

Languages: German (Native), English  (Fluent), French (Fluent)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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“.

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。

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."

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:

• 3^rd Prize - National Geographic Travel Photo Contest - Nature Category 2019
• Winner - 13^th 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.

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. 

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 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.   

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.  

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 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.

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.

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 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 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.

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’ 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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!

Languages: English (Native), Spanish (Fluent)

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.

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.

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.

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.

Michael is an experienced CEO with more than 25 years of experience successfully building and managing global international sports brands including Nike, Hurley, O’Neill and Surf Hardware International. His passion for the outdoors, the environment and surfing make for a great fit culturally with Aurora as well as his extensive global experience marketing to adventure focused consumers.

When Carolyn hit the backpacker trail straight out of high school it was the start of a 10-year adventure that saw her swim in the Dead Sea, sail down the Nile in a Felucca, and complete her Australian pilgrimage to Gallipoli in Turkey. The travel bug certainly bit hard: she's now traversed all seven continents, often with her UK husband and kids in tow.

Based on Sydney's northern beaches, Carolyn spent a decade overseeing the HR function at Surf Life Saving NSW before joining Aurora Expeditions. She's a true 'people person' who thrives on developing meaningful relationships and helping others succeed and grow. She's the person who ensures your expedition team is highly skilled, supremely qualified and dedicated to creating magical moments.

Born in Sydney Australia, Luke is a Certified Practicing Accountant & Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  Luke has led Finance & Operations team's across a variety of industries and businesses in both Australia and the UK. Travel has been a common factor in Luke's life featuring in his education, sporting endeavours, professional development and more recently his family. Luke is married with 2 young children and enjoys family holidays, keeping fit & active, competing in triathlons and fitness challenges, and coaching a junior rugby team.

Elena boasts over 15 years’ experience in establishing operational optimisation across diverse industries. She offers a depth of knowledge and experience within the cruise industry, having successfully led and integrated large-scale changes in sales strategies, procedures, technologies, and efficiency improvements across several cruise operators. With a passion for ocean adventure, she is proud to be part of a company that has curiosity, adventure and responsible travel at its core, and loves sharing with expeditioners the transformational experiences that Aurora Expeditions offers its passengers.

Born with a passion for nature and the outdoors, Justin set off exploring the world as soon as he could. Little did he know that this would be the start of a lifelong passion for travel, which has gone on to see him spending over a year in India, partaking in a drumming workshop in Guinea, travelling for several months throughout West Africa and hitchhiking around northern Thailand and Laos- to name just a few of his countless travel exploits. His travels found him in Peru where he settled in Cusco for a number of years, before returning home to Australia as the GM of a South America tour operator. Since then, he has gathered a wealth of knowledge and experience at several tour and cruise operators, before joining Aurora, where he has been able to infuse his passion with Aurora’s unique and incredible product offering.

At Aurora, Justin has merged is love of adventure, exploration and the planet with his work, hoping to share these values, and life-changing experiences with every expeditioner that joins Aurora.

David has always had a passion for travel and learning from experience. After graduating from the University of Montreal’s business school, he moved to China for a year to gain experience in Operations for Starwood Hotels & Resorts. After returning to Canada, he was introduced to expedition travel and spent the next 11 years working for a polar expedition operator promoting this unique type of travel to adventurous travellers and the trade community. In 2022, David completed his Master of Business Administration at Canada's Ivey Business School, and learnt the importance of implementing purpose into his career. Understanding the power of positive impact that tourism can promote, David is excited to be working for Aurora – a pioneer and global leader in sustainable expedition travel – as our Global Head of Sales.

Before embarking on her journey with Aurora Expeditions, Kris navigated the seas of travel with a trailblazing spirit. Having held executive-level positions in various sectors of the cruise industry, her career path encompassed various leadership roles as Vice President of Sales at luxury yacht/expedition companies and other prestigious cruise lines, where she forged valuable partnerships and spearheaded innovative strategic sales and marketing initiatives.

Kris is guided by "The Golden Rule" in her leadership approach: "treat others as you wish to be treated". Kris anchors her life in Dallas, TX, while her New Jersey roots infuse her with passion, resilience, and determination. A dedicated mother to daughters Bryn and Layne, she finds joy in her role as "Kiki" to grandson Grayson.

Together with her husband, Frank, Kris is fueled by a shared passion for adventure travel. Whether she's mountain biking through rugged landscapes, immersed in a captivating book, or indulging in well-deserved "Netflix and chill" days, Kris embraces life with boundless enthusiasm and a thirst for new experiences.

Andrew joins AE Expeditions with over 15 years of experience in sales-focused roles within the travel industry, including eight years with Intrepid Group. His deep passion for sustainability and responsible travel led him to join AE Expeditions, inspired by our recent B Corp accreditation and sustainability initiatives.

Outside of work, Andrew is a dedicated explorer, always eager to venture off the beaten track and immerse himself in new cultures. He can often be found in a Spanish city, savouring the food and wine culture. Andrew also loves to explore closer to home and enjoys wandering the picturesque landscapes of the English countryside, particularly in the Peak District and New Forest, accompanied by his loyal French bulldog, George.

With a career spanning more than 30 years in the global travel and cruise industry – including leading brands such as Cunard, Ponant, Lindblad Expeditions, Orion and Oceania Cruises – Steve brings a wealth of experience, expertise and passion to Aurora Expeditions.

Travel is Steve's absolute passion, especially expedition cruising and he cannot wait to work closely with Aurora Expeditions’ loyal trade partners on our new expedition itineraries and remote destinations.

After completing her undergraduate studies, Sasha embarked on a transformative journey to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, immersing herself in a six-month exploration of culture and community. Upon returning to Australia, Sasha pursued her passion for global development, earning a Masters in International Development.

In both her professional endeavors and personal life, she champions conversations on the intricacies of pressing global issues – from the climate crisis to biodiversity loss and pollution. Sasha believes in educating and creating positive change at every level, be it individual, business, or governmental.

Outside of work Sasha finds solace on the serene south coast, disconnecting from the hustle, gathering around a crackling fire with friends, indulging in the joy of swimming, and losing herself in the pages of a good book.

With years of leading groups and travelling up her sleeve, Liz is always happy to help make your voyage the best it can possibly be! Having grown up in three different countries (the Philippines, USA and Australia), Liz caught the travel bug at an early age. Since then she has travelled widely throughout Australia, New Zealand, India, Vietnam, Nepal, Mexico, Europe, and Africa.

After finishing her PhD in Microbiology, Liz found herself leading overland safaris throughout Eastern and Southern Africa; and later managing a lodge in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. On returning to Australia, Liz satisfied her interest in conservation education and animals working at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo as an education officer for their ‘Roar & Snore’ program. Liz has also had a parallel career in the areas of medical communications, management and human resources.

Liz has been working with Aurora Expeditions in Antarctica since 2009-2010, as well as completing several seasons in the European Arctic. Liz has also worked on ship-based expeditions in Papua New Guinea, Scotland, the North-West Passage, Alaska’s Inside Passage, Far East Russia and the Kuril Islands.

In her role as an expedition guide and leader, she is particularly thrilled to be able to combine her curiosity of the natural world and her passion for sharing it with others.

Liz also works at the Aurora Expeditions head office as Operations Manager where she is accountable and/or responsible for matters relating to vessel deployments and expedition operations.

Born in France on the shores of the Mediterranean and growing up in North Queensland, Sandrine has always had a deep love of the ocean and wild places. Studying Marine Biology & Zoology and Antarctic Sciences she has a deep respect for the environment and loves to share her passion for conservation.

After teaching in secondary schools for 15 years she discovered the world of expedition cruising in 2014 working as an Expedition Leader in remote areas such as Borneo, Indonesia, PNG, Melanesia and the Kimberley in the tropics to the Subantarctic Islands and Antarctica in the south. As Expedition Teams Recruitment Manager she is responsible for recruiting the most passionate, motivated and talented people for the Expedition teams on board the Aurora fleet. At home Sandrine enjoys stand-up paddleboarding, yoga and spending time with her children, dogs and horses.

Andrew grew up in the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand and it was his Father who instilled him in a love for the ocean. He has held a lifelong passion for marine wildlife and marine conservation. Andrew has extensive expedition cruising experience in Greenland, Alaska, Antarctica, the Sub Antarctic Islands of New Zealand and Australia, Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia, Indonesia, South-east Asia and Australia's Kimberley region. Andrew has also skippered whale watching and dolphin swimming vessels in New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii and British Columbia and has worked as a dive guide in the Red Sea. His qualifications range from a bachelor’s degree in Zoology, a postgraduate diploma in Tourism Management and Marine Science, a postgraduate diploma in Natural History Filmmaking and Communication and a STCW Master 500GT NC Certification. Andrew is an internationally recognised filmmaker with his film “Plunge of the Penguins” having featured at several film festivals including the Green Film Festival in South Korea, Ecovision in Italy, and the Tokyo Environmental Film Festival in Japan. Andrew present role is as the Education and Enrichment Manager for Aurora Expeditions.

Tomas was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. After earning his Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Ecology he underwent a winter in Antarctica at the Polish Research Base of Henry Arctowski, as part of his PhD. Scholarship.

Since 1993 he has been involved in the Expedition Cruising industry, leading expeditions, on board various vessels, bound to Antarctica, the Arctic, Amazon River, as well as Iceland and Greenland. His broad experience in these areas has seen him lead the field in operations, itineraries and logistics for premium expedition cruise companies around the world.

During his career, Tomas has also supported as well as managed logistics for several Antarctic Research Bases as well as provided assistance to the Antarctic Heritage Trust, and the South Georgia Heritage Trust, in between others.

In his free time he enjoys sailing his yacht in the River Plate, rowing, playing tennis and cooking for friends.

Andy’s passion for exploration and travel was ignited in his teenage years during school trips to China and Washington D.C. Experiencing new and different cultures left him eager to explore more of the world.

Since leaving school Andy has worked in a variety of roles in Hospitality and Tourism, from managing restaurants across the world to spending over a decade in luxury travel agencies and tour operators in the UK.

One of Andy's core values is sustainability, which attracted him to Aurora Expeditions. In addition to helping Aurora become the global leader in sustainable expedition travel, he continues to work within the wider travel industry to share and develop ways to improve sustainability across the industry.

Outside of work, Andy loves getting out of London to go hiking and enjoying a meal with friends in the bustling city's ever-changing restaurant scene.

Katie has firsthand experience of remote nature travel, having worked onboard cruise ships sailing around the Arctic to destinations like Greenland and Iceland. This sparked an appreciation for experiencing the natural world at its most pristine. Her passion for sustainability, and doing what we can to protect these natural destinations aligns with Aurora's values of respectful exploration and discovery.

Katie brings a keen drive to grow Aurora’s market share within the UK and an understanding extensive lead generation skills from her varied travel industry experience, including work with tour operators, a small ship startup and onboard cruise ships.

Amelya has over 20 years' experience in the cruise industry. Growing up New Zealand she finished her Advanced Diploma in Travel Management before embarking on her journey in the travel industry. Working for a small cruise wholesaler, she was fortunate to start with her very first cruise aboard the legendary QE2 but later realised her passion to explore the world by sea can only be via an expedition.

Having worked for a number of cruise and expedition travel companies within the Sales teams, she shares her many stories of kayaking amongst the ice of Alaska, climbing to the top of King George Falls in Australia’s Kimberley or being mesmerised by comical penguins of the south. Amelya loves meeting new people and immersing herself into local cultures and even though worlds apart experiences, she fell in love
with the gorgeous kids of Papua New Guinea but also the big bright lights of New York City.

When she is not at work she loves to be outdoors – enjoying Waka Ama (outrigger canoeing), catching up with friends and family and cheering on the mighty All Blacks even though she has been living in Australia for nearly 20 years - she will always be a "Kiwi girl".

With over 35 years’ experience in the travel industry, Helen has a passion for exploring new destinations. Helen’s expertise spans across various facets of the travel industry including wholesale, retail and mobile based travel advisors.

When she’s not planning the next great adventure, Helen enjoys swimming, walking, seeing live bands and spending time with family and friends. She believes that travel is not just about seeing new places but about creating lasting memories.

Julia brings a diverse background and over 5 years of experience in the travel industry along with a unique perspective. As a dual citizen of France and the United States, Julia has a multicultural background, having lived in France, Belgium, Spain, New York, and San Diego. Fluent in French and Spanish, Julia excels in international environments and is adept at connecting with clients from various cultural backgrounds. In her most recent role at Ponant she was responsible for growing the number of groups in North America and expanding the Latin American market. Her background in finance adds a unique perspective to her sales approach, ensuring a well-rounded and strategic approach to business development. Julia will apply her sales acumen to uncovering new opportunities in the West region.

Preston has come onboard with over fifteen years of experience in the travel industry and considers travel his passion. He was formerly a Sales Director with PONANT Explorations and Australis Expeditions. He has lived in China and South Korea and is fluent in Spanish. He has also worked in a guest experience role at Seabourn and Holland America Cruise Lines. Preston will leverage his expedition experience to drive sales in the Midwest, targeting agencies that specialise in expeditions, key accounts, and host agencies. He will focus on key markets such as Dallas, Houston, and Chicago, as well as other secondary markets where Aurora is growing its presence.

Scott's love for travel was sparked during his childhood adventures in the back of a station wagon. Every vacation, his parents would pack up the car and drive him and his sister across the U.S., allowing him to explore 36 states by the time he turned 13.

In college, Scott knew he wanted to work in the travel industry, so he pursued a management degree in hospitality. After various roles in the airline industry, he found his true passion in expedition sales. Scott's first experience in expedition sales involved managing business development for multiple expedition travel brands. He fell in love with selling (and visiting) off-the-beaten-path destinations like the Amazon, Svalbard, Antarctica, Cuba, and the Galapagos. Later, his passion and knowledge grew in another expedition company, where he learned how to bring expeditions to life by sharing photographs and telling descriptive stories to travel advisors and future guests.

Scott's love and passion for expedition travel remain strong today. He aims to grow the expedition market by teaching guests how sustainability will not only save our planet but also enhance the beauty of these incredible destinations. He is committed to continuing his growth by learning about and visiting extraordinary places.

When not working, Scott loves spending time with his wife and soon-to-be adult children. His daughter will graduate from college by the end of this year, and his son is a sophomore in college. The family enjoys traveling, playing games, and attending concerts. Scott has a passion for kayaking and loves exploring new destinations by kayak. His favorite kayaking memory is paddling in the middle of an ice field near Svalbard.

Carmen’s interest in travel was sparked at a very young age by her father who would take her to the airport on weekends to watch planes take off and land. She spent hours dreaming of all the places those planes could take her. This passion for plane spotting continued until her early twenties, when she finally embarked on her own journeys.

A true adventurer at heart, Carmen has explored over 40 countries spanning all seven continents! A few of her favourite destinations include Antarctica, the Galápagos Islands, Patagonia, Australia, and New Zealand. She’s worked in the travel industry for over two decades, spending the last several years in the exciting world of expedition travel.

When she’s not travelling (or planning her next trip) – she loves staying active by running, swimming, and walking. She’s climbed all 1776 steps (144 flights) of Toronto’s CN Tower in support of wildlife charities. She loves to bake and spend time with her family.

Bonnie grew up living in seven different countries and was bitten by the travel bug at an early age.  After graduating from Pepperdine University she went to work for a travel agency and has worked in the travel industry ever since.  Her vast experience includes working for British Airways, Virtuoso, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, SeaDream Yacht Club, and Brendan Vacations.  She thrives on cultural learning, experiential travel and discovering remote corners of the world.

After her first trip to Antarctica eight years ago she fell in love with expedition travel.  Some of her favorite destinations in addition to Antarctica include India, Borneo, Kenya, and Peru.  She is passionate about environmental sustainability and the Aurora Expeditions experience and commitment to responsible, respectful travel is aligned perfectly with her core values and goals.

When not traveling to exotic places she enjoys spending time outdoors and taking care of her rescue dogs.

Danna started her career in Polar Expeditions 10 years ago. She has been all over the polar regions by ship and on foot. She loves Antarctica and all its glory. She can talk endlessly about her experiences there, and her friends live vicariously through her expeditions. But Danna has a deep seeded passion and respect for the Arctic.

Growing up in the mountains of British Columbia Canada, and being close to the Arctic, she felt it was an easy reach. She spent her young adult years listening to Canadian folk singer Stan Rogers, who sang passionately about Canadian history, the Northwest Passage, and the Bluenose Ship. She says his baritone voice, and traditional songs, lead her to where she is today. She still gets goose bumps when she talks about the History of Franklin and how she feels when she stands on Beachy Island in the Canadian Arctic.

Danna has an arctic library that she uses for inspiration and exploration daily. She worked with a team of Explorers in 2014 to assist with the great find of the HMS Erebus. Her knowledge both past and present in the Canadian arctic is extensive.

Danna believes that sustainability, education, and passion are the most important part of travel. You must see it to believe it, and you must believe it to care. And to Care is to protect. Danna wants to explore and travel to many more remote places in the world. And she believes that traveling by ship is one of the best ways to do that.

During the last 25 years she has raised two children, hiking them around the mountains in BC, and living close to her large family. When they travel, she tells them “Check in with me, explore passionately, and don’t come home until you’re done” and she says they almost always listen to her.