Please note: Staff and voyages reflect current schedule, substitutions may occur.
Chris Cutler, General Naturalist
Chris Cutler is a naturalist / ornithologist / field biologist whose research and travels have taken him to locales less disturbed and more far-flung than most. Since studying biology at the University of California, he has worked as a researcher, ecological consultant, and naturalist guide.
Chris Srigley, General Naturalist & Bear Guard
Chris has spent several seasons as a General Naturalist
in such remote and fascinating places as Svalbard, Greenland, Norway, Scotland,
the Canadian Arctic and Antarctica.
Christian Walter, Historian
Christian Walter’s expertise in anthropology, archaeology, art and history has enabled him to traverse the globe extensively. An Easter Island resident, Christian has researched Easter Island’s petroglyphs, comparing them with the island’s ancient writing system, Rongorongo, and has, since 1976, worked to improve the use of the Rapa Nui National Park.
Dr. Claire Allum, Anthropologist
Dr. Claire Allum earned her BA and doctorate from the University of Calgary and her MA in Anthropology from Trent University. She started out specializing in Northern Plains prehistory—able to identify every bone in a bison—but changed focus after spending three months excavating a 5,000-year-old site on the coast of Ecuador.
Dr. Claudia Holgate, Environmentalist
Claudia Holgate is dedicated to making our planet the best it can be. As an environmental management professional with a background in project management, Claudia runs a consultancy in her homeland South Africa, teaches a myriad of courses on the subject, and serves as an honorary research associate in geosciences at Monash University in Australia.
Dr. Colleen Batey, Historian
Dr Colleen Batey is Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Glasgow. In the arena of Viking and Late Norse Culture of the North Atlantic and Scotland, Colleen has both excavation and publication experience.
Dr. Franz Bairlein, Ornithologist
Dr Franz Bairlein studied biology, chemistry and physics at the University of Konstanz and is currently President of the German Ornithologists’
Society, President of the European Union for Bird Ringing, President of the
International Ornithologists’ Union, and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Ornithology.
Major JGH Corrigan MBE
Commissioned from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1962, Gordon Corrigan was an officer of the Royal Gurkha Rifles before retiring from the Army in 1998. He served mainly in the Far East, but also in Berlin, Cyprus, Belize and Northern Ireland. His last appointment was Commanding Officer of the Gurkha Centre in Hampshire. He is now a military historian.
Dr. Hans-Peter Reinthaler, Biologist
Hans-Peter holds a doctorate in Natural Science from Karl-Franzens University in Graz and is a published scientist. He has collaborated on projects, exhibitions and educational programmes for the Upper Austrian State Museum, Linz AG Service, and Schloßmuseum Linz.
Imogen Corrigan, Historian
Imogen graduated from the University of Kent with a 1st in Anglo-Saxon and Medieval History, and has lectured extensively on Anglo-Saxon and Medieval subjects in Britain and Europe. She conducts a variety of historical tours together with her husband, Gordon.
Luke Kenny, Fisheries Expert and Marine Biologist
As a Fisheries Biologist on South Georgia, as part of the British
Antarctic Survey base there, Luke's studies on fish biology (diet, growth, etc.)
contribute to the management of what is one of the best-run fisheries in the
world.
Luciano Bernacchi, Naturalist
Luciano “Luqui” Bernacchi is a native Argentinean with significant experience in adventure travel and eco-tourism as a mountain guide, ski guide, tour leader, naturalist guide, and birding guide. Currently, Luciano is based in Los Glaciers National Park, Patagonia, Argentina and works as Executive Director and board member of Glaciarium/Museo del Hielo Patagonico.
Dr. Maria Patricia Silva Rodriguez
Since 1991, Patricia has spent over thirty-six months working in the remote southern latitudes, including twelve Antarctic Research Expeditions. She has written more than fifty scientific papers and works for international conferences, with topics on the biology of several Antarctic seabird species.
Peter W. Damisch, Historian
For more than 35 years, Peter Damisch has been travelling the world, including logging 750,000 km at sea onboard vessels such as the replica of Captain Cook’s Endeavour, and as an Expedition Leader. His many awe-inspiring trips to Antarctica led to his authorship of a comprehensive Antarctic history, from the formation of the continent through the heroic age of Shackleton, Amundsen and Scott.
Rich Pagen, Conservation Biologist
Rich first became enthralled by the wonders of the natural world around the tide pools and forests of his native New York years ago. Since then, Rich has embarked on a career in conservation biology that has ranged from teaching science and environmental awareness to teenagers from Los Angeles, to traveling the coast and river deltas of Alaska’s North Slope by zodiac to reach remote wetlands where he monitored loon nests.
Richard Sidey, Photographer
Richard Sidey is a professional digital media designer and photographer from the South Island of New Zealand. Based in Australia, Canada and Ireland, he has been working as the
onboard photographer for expedition ships since 2003, and continues to
explore his affinity with the polar regions.
Robin L. Aiello, Marine Biologist & Ecotourism Specialist
Robin Aiello graduated Harvard University with highest honours in evolutionary biology (palaeontology) and geological sciences. Always the adventurer, she has camped in a tent alongside thousands of penguins while diving and studying jellyfish under the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica.
Sandra Walser, Polar Historian and Photographer
Sandra Walser was born, raised and educated in Switzerland. She is specialised in the history of exploration and whaling, and is a published photographer.
Stefan Kredel, Geologist
Never the idle tourist, Stefan Kredel has cycled throughout Europe, traversed Nepal’s Annapurna Circle, hiked the Inca trail to Machu Picchu, and explored copper, gold and diamond mines in Austria, Italy, South Africa, and his native Germany. He has travelled extensively throughout Iceland, Greenland, and the North Pole regions.
Sue Flood, Wildlife Filmmaker
Sue Flood is a photographer and wildlife filmmaker, whose speciality is polar and marine environments. After graduating from Durham University with a degree in Zoology, Sue spent 11 years working for the BBCs world-renowned Natural History Unit.
Uli Kunz, Oceanographer and Zodiac Driver
Uli has done more than 1,000 dives all over the world, mostly in cold
waters, and, after completing a special education to become a certified Scientific Diver, participated in a number of diverse underwater research
projects.
Steve Egan, General Naturalist
Growing up near World
Heritage listed Cradle Mountain in Tasmania, well fostered Steve’s innate passion for pure untouched wilderness. His particular interest is in the earths more extreme environments & the wildlife & people that carve out their existence in these places.
Marco Favero, Marine Biologist and Fisheries Expert
Marco is Head of Seabird Ecology and Conservation Group at the
University of Mar del Plata, and Senior Researcher at the National
Research Council in Argentina.
Karolina Karas, Bear Guard & Naturalist
Karolina was born in Poland. At the age 21 her friends persuaded her to join them over-wintering in Svalbard and, to cut a long story short, this one winter turned into eight magical years.
Maria Gomez-Berning, Marine Biologist
Maria Gomez-Berning is a biologist with expertise in aquatic ecosystems. In the past 15 years she has focused on studying aquatic biodiversity as a tool for investigating the effects of water pollution as well as for exploring evolutionary patterns and processes.
Marieke Egan, General Naturalist
Born in Europe, Marieke grew up among the foothills of the Swiss Alps, learning to cross glaciers before she could tie her own shoe laces. Developing her adventurous spirit she took up speed skating, winning medals in the Dutch National Championships.
David Jimenez, Video Photographer
David Jiménez is an Ecuadorian native who has worked filming wildlife and community based projects since 1998. His field work is vast in all the natural corners of Ecuador. He has filmed in the Ecuadorian rainforest, the Andes, the Pacific Coast and the Galapagos Islands.
Sandie Salazar, Biologist
Sandie has developed a great attachment to nature since she was a child; she used to run out of the city any chance that she had. As a graduation gift her father gave her a trip to the “Enchanted Islands”. She only visited a few islands, but it was enough for her to fall in love with this site and decided her career: Biology.
Giancarlo Totti, Naturalist and Dive Master
Giancarlo was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, where he attended both elementary and high school at the American School of Guayaquil.
Silvia Panchana, Naturalist Guide
Silvia Panchana was born in Switzerland and arrived in the Galapagos Islands in 1984 after traveling in South America for 8 months; she fell in love with the unique islands and was amazed by the pristine environment.
Daniel Arteaga, Naturalist Guide
Daniel´s involvement and endearment with the Galapagos National Park started when he was very young. Daniel´s parents have been part of the tourism industry of the islands since the late 1970s. He grew in Playa de Oro, San Cristobal and him and his family spent a great part of their lives on board ships and visitor sites.
Mayumi Kanamura
Mayumi was born and educated in Hokkaido, Japan’s northern island. She studied Japanese Literature at college, but is also interested in film and contemporary culture.