With education and enrichment at the heart of the way we explore, it’s our pleasure to share our Special Guests Program that features experts in the fields of exploration, conservation, science, photography, art, culture and more to enrich your expedition with their unique perspectives, insights, and experiences.
We want to you to be inspired and connect more deeply to the places you visit, wildlife you encounter, and people on your expedition, so that you when you disembark, you are richer in your knowledge and understanding of our planet than you were when you stepped onboard. See who is joining us below.
Kat Bolstad
Marine Biologist & Giant Squid Researcher
Professor Kat Bolstad leads the ‘AUT Squid Squad,’ a deep-sea squid research group at Auckland University of Technology (Aotearoa New Zealand). A native of Minnesota, Kat grew up playing in lakes but made her way to salt water as soon as she could. She interned at the Smithsonian during high school and met her first octopus while working at the New England Aquarium, and she has been hooked on cephalopods and biodiversity ever since.
Her main research interest is deep-sea squids of all sizes, including the largest species; she has examined over 30 giant squid specimens and several colossal squid. Her current projects include development of the ESCA camera system being used on this voyage, the biodiversity and ecology of Southern Ocean cephalopods, and a large science communication website (CephRef) aiming to provide information and images for all living cephalopod species. She has also participated in documentaries and dived in submersibles to depths of 1000m in the Antarctic.
When she is not in or near the sea, she is probably attempting to enthuse her students, kids (9 & 13), and/or the public about marine biology, but she also enjoys hiking and camping, collecting observations on iNaturalist, music, games, and languages.
Kat Bolstad will be a special guest on our Epic Antarctica voyage departing 8 February 2026.
James Bunyan
Oceanites Researcher
James is the Director of Tracks Ecology Ltd., combining years of field experience with a passion for advancing ecological understanding. He holds a degree in Environmental Science from the University of Birmingham and a Master’s in Biodiversity and Conservation from the University of Leeds. He is also a full member of the UK Chartered Institute for Ecology and Environmental Management.
After several years in academia — carrying out research with the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at the University of Oxford and at the University of Bristol — James moved into industry, where he worked on ecological impact assessments for a wide range of renewable energy and infrastructure projects across the UK. In 2014, he founded Tracks Ecology Ltd., an independent consultancy that works with academic institutions, conservation organizations, charities, and private clients. The aim has always been simple: to provide bespoke, high-quality solutions across the fields of ecology, biodiversity, and conservation.
His career has focused on mammals, particularly bats and carnivores, and he has built extensive research and consultancy experience in the UK, alongside international projects in Iceland, Central America, and Africa. James has a particular interest in applying technology to conservation — from drones and thermal imaging to remote sensing — and continues to explore innovative approaches that can enhance both ecological research and practical conservation. In recent years, much of James’ work has focused around using drones to further our ecological understanding through mapping and inspection projects looking at a range of species and ecosystems, including seagrass distribution, seal populations, peatland restoration, invasive species monitoring and cliff nesting seabirds.
Outside of work, James values time with his family and remains curious about new frontiers in ecological research and technology, always aiming to combine scientific rigor with meaningful, real-world outcomes for conservation.
James Bunyan will be a special guest on our Across the Antarctic Circle voyage departing 29 January 2026 & Across the Antarctic Circle: Fly the Drake departing 8 February 2026.
Grant Humphries
Oceanites Researcher
Dr. Grant Humphries is a National Geographic Explorer, and Oceanites’ Director of Science in which role, among other things, he oversees Oceanites’s penguin data collection, manages Oceanites’s drone program, and serves as Head of Delegation at the meetings of the Scientific Committee of the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources.
Grant’s a native Newfoundlander and a seabird data scientist who’s tromped through more than his fair share of guano. He is the database and web manager for the Mapping Application for Penguin Populations and Projected Dynamics (MAPPPD) website. MAPPPD is the primary penguin population database that all stakeholders in the Antarctic Treaty system maintain.
Grant also directs Black Bawks Data Science, a data management and analytical company. He has more than 18 years of experience working with seabirds and multivariate statistics. He holds a PhD in Zoology from the University of Otago and is the vice-chair of the World Seabird Union.
Grant has published over 40 peer-reviewed papers in academic journals and many reports ranging from impacts of offshore renewables on marine life to the impacts of tourism on Antarctic penguin populations. He was also the lead editor of “Machine learning for sustainable natural resource management” published by Springer Nature in 2018.
He is a guitarist and mandolin player and lives in the Scottish highlands with his two daughters, Dylan and River.
Dr Grant Humphries will be a special guest on our Across the Antarctic Circle voyage departing 29 January 2026 & Across the Antarctic Circle: Fly the Drake departing 8 February 2026.
Bertrand Charry
Oceanites Researcher
Bertrand is a seasoned field biologist with extensive experience studying whales from boats, shore, and aircraft at both individual and population levels. He is co-founder of Whale Seeker, a for-profit company that leverages artificial intelligence to deliver faster, simpler, and more reliable marine megafauna detection data. He is also co-founder of the Whale Research Collective, a Canadian non-profit dedicated to whale research and conservation through science-based, collaborative approaches.
In his research, Bertrand combines multidisciplinary methods to study baleen whales at the individual and population level. At Whale Seeker, he leads the development, training, and implementation of AI solutions, ensuring tools are populated with high-quality data and optimized for real-world applications.
In 2024, Bertrand joined Oceanites to support counting penguin colonies. His role includes both fieldwork and advancing AI methods to detect nests from aerial photography, contributing to more efficient and penguin colony monitoring.
Through his combined non-profit and for-profit work, Bertrand bridges conservation science and technology innovation to study, monitor and protect marine wildlife.
Bertrand Charry will be a special guest on our South Georgia, Falkland & Antarctic Odyssey voyage departing 10 January 2026.
Alastair Wilson
Oceanites Researcher
Alastair is a full-time photographer based in beautiful Cornwall, UK, with a deep passion for wildlife and in particular, underwater photography. This interest led him to collaborate with a local freediving company and work alongside major brands, creating content for renowned names like Tudor and Farer watches. His work has appeared in numerous print publications, including a tiger shark cover shot for Dive Magazine and a feature article about kelp forest restoration with the Moken people in Norway. Alastair is currently collaborating with Ocean Generation on an upcoming feature-length documentary. He was the second cameraman for their dolphin shoot in Mozambique and captured footage from underwater, topside and drone.
In addition to his underwater projects, Alastair has a growing business in school and wedding photography. Even so he spends much of his free time on the sea, either surfing or exploring the coastline with his family on their RIB, "Rosie." He’s always ready to capture the area’s diverse wildlife, from cetaceans and sharks to coastal birds, whether from the boat, in the sky, or underwater.
He's also a fan of good coffee and a chocolate biscuit or 2!
Alastair Wilson will be a special guest on our South Georgia, Falkland & Antarctic Odyssey voyage departing 10 January 2026.
Melissa Rider
Oceanites Researcher
Melissa is a 31-year veteran of the Antarctic, having begun her polar career in 1994 in one of the most glamorous positions available - Waste Management Technician at the United States Antarctic Program’s (USAP) McMurdo Station. Melissa ultimately capped her USAP career as Manager of Science Support Planning overseeing over 200 Antarctic field science projects from the South Pole to the Antarctic Peninsula.
Melissa has been affiliated with Oceanites since 2004, when she managed the National Science Foundation-supported field camp operations and penguin monitoring Oceanites conducted for 5 years at Petermann Island. Melissa has continued her association with the Antarctic Site Inventory, Oceanites, and Oceanites’ collaborator the Lynch Lab at Stony Brook University, joining multiple subsequent expeditions and serving as the medical officer as well as biologist on the Dalio Expedition in 2015, which documented “supercolonies” of Adelie penguins and numerous previously unknown new colonies of penguins in the northeast reaches of the Weddell Sea.
Melissa’s Antarctic work has taken her to all three USAP Stations - McMurdo, South Pole, and Palmer Stations, and she has sailed in support of science on USAP research vessels, the RVIB Laurence M. Gould and the RV Nathaniel B. Palmer. Her work for USAP earned her the Polar Medal in 2008. Melissa resides in Truckee, California, where she practices as a Physician Assistant with the Tahoe Forest Hospital District. Her pastimes include hiking and climbing in wilderness areas around the world when not thawing out on warm beaches.
Melissa Rider will be a special guest on our Spirit of Antarctica voyage departing 10 December 2025 & Antarctica Complete voyage departing 20 December 2025.
Steve Forrest
Oceanites Researcher
Steve Forrest is a research biologist, conservationist, and attorney from Truckee, CA by way of Montana.
This will be Steve’s 31st field season in Antarctica, working as Associate Director and Senior Advisor to the Antarctic Site Inventory. The ASI has become the largest repository of penguin population data and trends for the Antarctic Peninsula for the past three decades, the majority of which has come from data collected by ship-based ASI researchers and collaborators. Steve has coauthored numerous peer-reviewed articles on penguin species abundance and population trends along the Antarctic Peninsula. In 2015, Steve coordinated a joint expedition of the Lynch Lab and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution that led to the first documentation of a “supercolony” of hundreds of thousands of Adelie penguins in the Weddell Sea, now designated as one of the “hotspots” for marine bird conservation in the Antarctic Peninsula. He is former advisor to the Expert Panel of the Association of Responsible Krill Fishers and participates as a member of the Oceanites delegation to the Commission on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), an Antarctic treaty organization.
When not in Antarctica Steve works in research and science-based advocacy for some of North America’s most endangered grassland species. Steve holds a B.S. from Oregon State University, an M.S. in Forest Science from the Yale University School of Forestry, and a J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law.
Steve Forrest will be a special guest on our Spirit of Antarctica voyage departing 10 December 2025 & Antarctica Complete voyage departing 20 December 2025.
Phillip Trathan
Oceanites Researcher
Phillip Trathan retired from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) in 2022, where he built an extensive publication record on the biology, ecology, and management of marine ecosystems in the Southern Ocean. He is currently a Visiting Professor at the University of Southampton and an Honorary Fellow at Bangor University. In 2018, he was honored by Queen Elizabeth II for his contributions to Antarctic science and conservation.
During his time at BAS, Phillip served as the senior ecological adviser for the United Kingdom at the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). In this role, he advised on the designation of the South Orkney Islands southern shelf Marine Protected Area—the first MPA in the world to be established entirely outside national jurisdiction.
Phillip has also provided scientific advice to the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, contributing to the creation of one of the world’s largest sustainably managed MPAs. Additionally, he has advised the Association of Responsible Krill Harvesting Companies on the establishment of voluntary buffer zones to minimize competition between krill fisheries and krill-dependent penguin species.
Having participated in 23 Antarctic field trips and over 25 years of predator studies, Phillip is particularly interested in how seabirds use their habitats amid expanding fisheries and ongoing climate change. He now works with Oceanites, a U.S.-based non-profit organization that has been counting penguins for over 30 years and champions science-based conservation and global awareness of climate adaptation in the Antarctic.
Phillip Trathan will be a special guest on our Antarctic Explorer Express voyage departing 17 January 2026 & Across the Antarctic Circle: Fly the Drake departing 23 January 2026.
Laura Bogaard
Oceanites Researcher
Laura Bogaard is a marine ecologist from Seattle, WA, USA. She received her bachelor’s degree in Marine Conservation Biology from Quest University Canada and her MSc in Statistical Ecology from the University of St Andrews. This year marks her fourth season working in Antarctica as a guide, and her third with Oceanites.
Laura’s research interests include animal behavior, polar ecology, and conservation biology. She has spent the last decade studying marine wildlife and trying to improve our understanding of how human impacts affect their health and behavior. Some of her favorite projects over the years have been working with Pacific white-sided dolphins in British Columbia, southern resident killer whales in the Pacific Northwest, cliff-nesting seabirds in Northern Scotland, and of course, brush tailed penguins in Antarctica.
When she is not at her desk writing code or on the water doing fieldwork, she spends her time horseback riding, back-country skiing with her dog, Zorro, and cooking delicious plant-based meals for her friends and family. She is delighted to be onboard with Aurora Expeditions as a penguin counter and drone pilot with Oceanites for their 32nd field season!
Laura Bogaard will be a special guest on our Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctic Peninsula voyage departing 27 December 2025.
Alex Borowicz
Oceanites Researcher
Dr. Alex Borowicz is an ecologist and has been working in the Antarctic since 2013. Originally an expedition guide, he fell in love with the Southern Ocean and returned as a researcher. His work focuses on the penguins and seals of the Antarctic Peninsula, and how we can make data collection and decision-making more efficient in challenging environments. That work has taken him on research expeditions to the Danger Islands, Elephant Island, Weddell Sea, and other inhospitable parts of the region.
Away from Antarctica, Alex has studied whales and seals in the Gulf of Maine, Gulf of St. Lawrence, and the Salish Sea. During the rest of the year, he’s the Director of Conservation Data Science at Defenders of Wildlife and lives in Washington, DC where he spends his time sewing and taking in the local music scene. He holds a PhD in Ecology & Evolution from Stony Brook University and is a Fellow of the Explorers Club.
Dr. Alex Borowicz will be a special guest on our Across the Antarctic Circle voyage departing 16 December 2025.
Dr John Turnbull
Marine and Coastal Ecologist
John is a marine and coastal ecologist with a background that bridges science, engineering, business, and social research. He is currently based at the University of Sydney, where he is investigating what drives Antarctic marine ecosystems and how vulnerable they are to climate change. His work is helping to uncover the complex links between environmental processes, biodiversity, and human activity in one of the world’s most rapidly changing regions.
John’s research spans both ecological and social dimensions of marine conservation. He has published widely on the effectiveness of marine protected areas, the role of citizen science, and the importance of local stewardship in sustaining healthy marine systems. He contributed to Australia’s 2021 State of the Environment Report and is committed to finding practical solutions that link science, policy, and community action.
Outside academia, John is well known for his public outreach and science communication. He is the founder of Marine Explorer, a popular online platform featuring thousands of open-access underwater photographs and articles. He is also a co-author of Underwater Sydney, President of the NSW branch of the Australian Marine Sciences Association, and a lead trainer for Reef Life Survey.
Earlier in his career, John worked as an engineer and consultant, helping businesses and universities improve how they engage with people and ideas. His varied background helps him communicate science in a clear, inclusive way — something he brings to every voyage.
Dr John Turnbull will be a special guest on our Mawson’s Antarctica voyage departing 11 December 2025.
Shona Riddell
Writer & Harriet Cripps Great-Great-Granddaughter
Shona Riddell is a writer, journalist, and the great-great granddaughter of Harriet Cripps, who was born in 1851 on the subantarctic Auckland Islands at Hardwicke, a tiny whaling and agricultural settlement that existed from 1849 to 1852.
As a child Shona heard fragments about her ancestors who survived on a cold, remote island where it rained every day, and in 2016 she received a spontaneous offer to sail south and visit her great-great grandmother’s remote birthplace. It proved to be a life-changing voyage for Shona, who was captivated by the islands’ wild beauty and subsequently wrote Trial of Strength: Adventures and Misadventures on the Wild and Remote Subantarctic Islands (Exisle Publishing, 2018), a retelling of New Zealand and Australia’s subantarctic islands’ tumultuous history (including explorers, shipwrecks, and settlers) for a 21st-century audience, filled with photos and with more space for women’s stories. She has given numerous presentations about the islands to history groups, libraries, maritime museums, and at writers’ festivals.
Shona is also the author of Guiding Lights (Exisle, 2020) with tales of female lighthouse keepers, keeping with the theme of people living in dramatic, isolated locations. But she doesn’t just write about the sea; she also swims in it year-round, in her hometown of Wellington, New Zealand, and hosts a podcast called Swim Chats.
Australia’s ABC Conversations once interviewed Shona for an episode called ‘Lighthouses, daring rescues, and an ANZAC tortoise’. If you see her on an expedition, ask her about her family’s war tortoise!
Dr Nina Schaefer
Marine Ecologist and Biosecurity Specialist
Nina is a marine ecologist and biosecurity specialist whose work focuses on managing the spread of marine invasive species. She currently works at Biosecurity Australia, where she advises on strategies to reduce the risk of biofouling — the accumulation of marine organisms on ships and infrastructure — which is one of the primary pathways for introducing non-native species to sensitive environments, such as Antarctica.
Nina earned her PhD in Biological Sciences from UNSW Sydney in 2019, following undergraduate and master’s degrees in Biology from Ruhr University Bochum in Germany. She has worked across research and government sectors, including a role as Research Associate at the Sydney Institute of Marine Science from 2019 to 2023. Her research focused on urban marine ecology, eco-engineering, and the impact of coastal infrastructure design on biodiversity and invasion risk.
She has published extensively on topics such as substrate design, light pollution, and the impact of small-scale habitat features on both native and non-native species. Nina also has experience with applied ecological solutions, including the use of novel materials and 3D printing for creating more sustainable marine environments.
Nina brings a practical, policy-focused perspective to her work, bridging the gap between science and regulation. On board, she will share insights into how invasive species spread, why Antarctica is particularly vulnerable, and how both research and strong biosecurity measures are helping to protect marine ecosystems in a rapidly changing world.
Dr Nina Schaefer will be a special guest on our Mawson’s Antarctica voyage departing 11 December 2025.
Dr Graeme Clark
Marine Ecologist & Antarctic Explorer
Graeme is a marine ecologist who has spent over two decades studying the impacts of environmental change on coastal and polar ecosystems. He leads the Marine Ecological Futures Lab at the University of Sydney, where his research focuses on benthic communities, sea-ice ecology, and climate-driven shifts in marine biodiversity. Much of his work takes place in remote and extreme environments, including the Antarctic continent and the Great Barrier Reef.
Graeme has a long-standing interest in Antarctic science. He is a Chief Investigator in the Australian Research Council’s Special Research Initiative for Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future, and has contributed to multiple field campaigns in East Antarctica. His work combines ecological surveys with cutting-edge tools such as remotely operated vehicles, photogrammetry, and environmental DNA to reveal hidden patterns in under-ice biodiversity. He also contributes to international policy efforts to protect vulnerable ecosystems and guide climate adaptation.
Graeme is passionate about sharing science with broader audiences. He has appeared on radio, written for The Conversation, and regularly gives public talks. He enjoys working alongside artists, photographers, and storytellers to bring Antarctic science to life. On board, he’ll be sharing insights from past and present research expeditions, and offering a window into the remarkable but little-known ecosystems that lie beneath the ice.
Dr Graeme Clark will be a special guest on our Mawson’s Antarctica voyage departing 11 December 2025.
Dr Stephanie Gardner
Marine Microbial Ecologist & Ocean Advocate
Steph is a marine microbial ecologist and ocean advocate, born and raised in Sydney with a lifelong connection to the sea. Her research examines how microbial communities, particularly bacteria, impact the health and functioning of marine ecosystems across various environments, ranging from Antarctic sea ice to tropical coral reefs. She holds a PhD in Marine Biology, where she focused on coral physiology and biochemistry, investigating how corals protect themselves from climate stress.
Her work spans polar, temperate, and tropical systems, covering a range of organisms, including corals, algae, fish, and marine sediments. The common thread is understanding how microbial processes respond to a changing climate, and what that means for the resilience of reef ecosystems. Her day-to-day work includes designing experiments, conducting field and lab research, analysing data, publishing scientific papers, and sharing her findings with the broader public.
Steph is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Sydney, working within the ARC-funded Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF) initiative. Her role focuses on understanding and describing benthic microbial communities in Antarctic ecosystems, contributing to efforts to forecast and manage environmental change on the continent.
Beyond the lab and field, Steph is a committed science communicator and mentor, with a strong passion for raising awareness about the challenges facing marine ecosystems. Her ultimate goal — both personal and professional — is to help safeguard vulnerable reef environments so future generations can experience and appreciate them as we do today.
Dr Stephanie Gardner will be a special guest on our Mawson’s Antarctica voyage departing 11 December 2025.
Sarika Cullis-Suzuki
Marine Biologist & Science Communicator
Sarika is co-host of The Nature of Things on CBC. Her life and work are devoted to science, conservation, and communication. For nearly 20 years, she has worked in environmentally themed media in print, film, and audio platforms, hosting and writing shows for CBC, Parks Canada, The National Film Board, Ocean Networks Canada, and Audible, amongst others.
Sarika speaks publicly and often on ocean issues and conservation: trained as a Marine Biologist (PhD, MSc), her research has taken her around the globe, from the intertidal zones of her home, British Columbia, to remote tropical archipelagos, to the high seas, the results of which led to addresses to NGOs, learning institutions, industry, governments, and the United Nations. Sarika has been a Visiting Scientist at Ocean Networks Canada, and has served on various boards and committees, including those of the David Suzuki Foundation, WWF Canada, and the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea. She has received multiple honors for her work in ocean conservation and communication, including the King Charles III Coronation Medal, and for her work at The Nature of Things, including for best host, best documentary, and best writing.
Sarika Cullis-Suzuki will be a special guest on our Antarctic Explorer voyage departing 17 March 2026.
Dr Russell Arnott
Oceanographer & Researcher
Dr Russell Arnott holds a combined master’s degree in oceanography from the University of Southampton, UK, and a PhD in marine biology from the University of Bath, UK. He has worked as a commercial oceanographer and his research has taken him all over the world, from the Southern Ocean with the British Antarctic Survey up to the Gulf of Bothnia in northern Sweden.
With a passion for public engagement, Russell is a director of charity Incredible Oceans, speaking at science events around the world. He has also made many marine-focused TV and radio appearances, including for BBC Radio 4’s Natural Histories.
Russell joined the University of Bath in September 2016 to study phytoplankton morphology and its influence on turbulent interactions. Having worked as a science consultant on a number of books, Russell recently co-wrote his first book, Ocean Endangered, with researcher Celine Van Weelden. It combines up-to-date marine science with a balanced look at the state of our oceans, empowering the reader to take action for a better planet.
Alison George
Scientist & Writer
Alison started out as a biologist working as a post-doc at the British Antarctic Survey including over-wintering in Antarctica. She is now an award-winning science writer and editor for New Scientist focusing on life sciences, health, the environment and archaeology. She was a finalist for the ABSW British Science Journalist of the Year award in 2023 and is a former winner of the PTC New Journalist of the Year award.
Over the years she has written about cold water swimming, the road of the South Pole, penguins and reindeer, and authored the New Scientist book The Brain: A User’s Guide. If there is an opportunity for a polar plunge, Alison will be first in line to jump into the Antarctic Sea.
Rowan Hooper
Biologist & Editor
Rowan is the podcast editor at New Scientist and host of the New Scientist Weekly podcast. He has a PhD in evolutionary biology and worked as a biologist in Japan for five years, before joining The Japan Times in Tokyo as science editor. He has been at New Scientist for over 15 years, covering all aspects of science. Two collections of his long-running column for the paper have been published in Japan, and his work has also appeared in The Economist, The Guardian, Wired and The Washington Post.
His first book, Superhuman: Life at the extremes of mental and physical ability, was named in 2018 as a Sunday Times Book Of The Year. He has recently published his second book, How to Spend a Trillion Dollars.
Richard I'Anson
Photographer
Richard is a freelance travel photographer & Canon Master who has captured incredible images of people and places around the world for more than 35 years. His work has been published worldwide in books, magazines, newspapers, brochures, calendars, posters, cards and websites; from the size of a stamp right up to a tarpaulin covering a 53-foot truck trailer!
He has also published 12 books including five editions of Lonely Planet’s Guide to Travel Photography, was featured in the television documentary Tales By Light (available on Netflix) and is a Travel Photography Scholarship Mentor for World Nomads. Richard has won numerous awards over the course of his career but is most proud of gaining a Master of Photography and one gold bar from the Australian Institute of Professional Photography.
Richard I'Anson will be a Special Guest on our In Shackleton’s Footsteps voyage, departing 1 November 2025 & our Spirit of Antarctica voyage, departing 19 November 2025 & our Subantarctic Discovery voyage, departing 2 January 2026 & our In Shackleton's Footsteps voyage, departing 8 November 2026.
Emma McEwin
Writer & Douglas Mawson’s Great-Granddaughter
Emma McEwin is a writer and a great-granddaughter of Douglas Mawson. She has a BA and Honours degree in English literature and a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Adelaide.
Emma is the author of An Antarctic Affair (East Street Publications, 2008), which explores the reasons why Douglas Mawson survived a sledging journey in the Antarctic in 1912-13, and the role that her great-grandmother, Paquita, played in his survival. Her second book, The Many Lives of Douglas Mawson, (Australian Scholarly Publishing, 2018) explores the ways in which Mawson has been represented and remembered as a public figure while also reflecting on his private legacy, as a husband, father, scientist and academic.
Other publications include ‘Nancy Atkinson: Bacteriologist, Winemaker and Writer (1910-1999)’, published in The Australian Journal of Biography and History (2018), ‘Capturing the Subject: Virginia Woolf’s Battle with Biographical Boundaries’, (Fear of Theory, Brill Academic Publishers, 2021), ‘Atkinson, Nancy (1910-1999)’, published in the Australian Dictionary of Biography (online), 2022, and, most recently, ‘The Fêting of Douglas Mawson: Farewells, Homecomings and Other Notable Occasions’ (Bibliophile, 2024).
Emma McEwin will be a special guest on our Mawson’s Antarctica voyage departing 11 December 2025.
Daisy Gilardini
Photographer
Daisy Gilardini is a conservation photographer who specialises in the polar regions, with a particular emphasis on Antarctic wildlife and North American bears. She is originally from Switzerland, and is now based in Vancouver, Canada. She fell in love with Antarctica during her first trip there in 1997. She has since devoted most of her time to photographing the polar regions.
In 25 years of polar exploration, she has joined more than 90 expeditions to Antarctica and the Arctic. Among her accomplishments, she has skied the final degree to the North Pole. She is a member of the International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP) and the SeaLegacy Collective, a fellow of the New York-based Explorers Club, and member of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. She represents a number of prominent, industry-leading brands in the photography field. She is an ambassador for Nikon, Gitzo, Lowepro, Eizo, SanDisk and WesternDigital. Daisy’s images have been published internationally in leading magazines such as National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, Canadian Geographic, Nature’s Best and Outdoor Photography. Her images have also been used by high-profile NGOs such as Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund, among others.
Since 2018, she has been a photographer in residence with Canadian Geographic and she has been nominated Greenpeace Antarctic Ambassador. Her work has been recognized by some of the world’s most prestigious photography awards, including BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Travel Photography of the Year and the Nature’s Best Windland Smith Rice International Awards. Her childhood passion for the natural world has evolved into a lifelong commitment to spreading the message of conservation and the need to preserve what’s left of the world’s remaining wild places.
Daisy Gilardini will be a Special Guest on our Antarctica Complete voyage, departing 20 December 2025.
David McEown
Artist in Residence
Canadian artist David McEown has dedicated the past three decades to harnessing the captivating medium of watercolour in his exploration and expression of the Earth’s pristine wilderness. His paintings, spanning from the icy landscapes of Antarctica to the remote reaches of the North Pole, grace collections worldwide. A graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design, David is an elected member of the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour, where he was twice honoured with the prestigious A.J. Casson Medal in 2005 and 2018.
Additionally, David is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and an active member of the esteemed Explorers Club. His expertise as a sought-after teacher is exemplified by his extensive experience conducting workshops and multimedia presentations for numerous art societies, museums, and expedition voyages. Through these endeavours, he passionately shares his deep reverence for nature and his commitment to the creative artistry of painting.
Explore David’s work and learn more about his artistic journey.
David McEown will be a Special Guest on our Antarctica Complete voyage, departing 20 December 2025.
Philippa Ross
Human Ecologist & Sir James Clark Ross’s Great-Great-Great-Granddaughter
Philippa Ross is the great-great-great-granddaughter of Sir James Clark Ross, the renowned polar explorer who discovered the North Magnetic Pole in 1831 and the Ross Sea region in Antarctica in 1841. Inheriting his pioneering spirit, Philippa is driven by an insatiable curiosity to explore the interconnected forces that shape the wellbeing of people and the planet.
With a background in Psychology and extensive experience as a mentor, Philippa empowers individuals to chart their course in life by tuning into their internal compass, or what she calls the “Greater Personal Self” (GPS). Her mission is to inspire others to steer their lives True North, making sovereign and sustainable choices that positively impact both humanity and the environment.
As an Ambassador for Antarctica, Philippa played a part in the successful campaign to protect the Ross Sea, the last intact marine ecosystem on Earth. She is also the creator of the “Waste Not, Want Not” podcast, where she interviews global changemakers who are maximizing human potential while minimizing environmental waste.
Adopting her “less is more” philosophy, Philippa has downsized into a tiny home she built herself, continuing to lead by example as a speaker, writer, and energy healer dedicated to creating meaningful change.
Philippa Ross will be a Special Guest on our Ross Sea Odyssey voyage, departing 16 January 2026.
Matty Jordan
Environmental Speaker & Antarctic Program Expert
Matty Jordan is an international speaker, social media content creator, and Antarctican who has spent 450 days in Antarctica across nine expeditions. As a former project manager for New Zealand’s Antarctic Programme, he led complex and logistically challenging construction projects supporting world-leading climate science. In 2023, with just sixteen others, he wintered over at Scott Base, enduring 118 days without sunlight.
With over 1 billion video views and 2.3+ million social media followers, Matty is the world’s most-followed Antarctican. Matty regularly appears on TV, radio and podcasts and has been featured in The Guardian, The Daily Mail, The Sun, Newsweek, MIT Technology Review, LADBible, 9NEWS, ABC and more.
He is a Board Director for the Antarctican Society, an ambassador for the UK-based charity 2041 School, and the previous chair of the New Zealand Antarctic Society’s Canterbury Branch. Originally from Perth, Australia, and now based in Christchurch, New Zealand, Matty engages global audiences on climate change, science, and what it’s like to live and work in Antarctica. He leverages his platform to inspire awareness and action on Antarctic conservation and environmental protection.
Matty Jordan will be a Special Guest on our Ross Sea Odyssey voyage, departing 16 January 2026.
Angela Smith
Conservationist & Founder of Shark Team One
Angela is an award-winning conservationist, photographer, filmmaker and researcher specializing in endangered species. She is also the founder of the environmental nonprofit Shark Team One. Shark Team One’s programs help save endangered species globally through field research, community action, citizen science and marine protected area projects.
Angela has also been a writer and photographer for National Geographic, a contributing science editor and photojournalist for The Sylvia Earle Alliance and was recently inducted into the Ocean Artists Society for her conservation photography. As a filmmaker Angela’s wildlife documentaries have won awards at global venues such as Jackson Wild and Blue Ocean Film Festival. Her natural history broadcast portfolio includes work with Discovery Channel, BBC, PBS and National Geographic. She is also an Indianapolis Prize for lifetime achievement in conservation nominee for 2020 and has recently led Shark Team One to be a Disney Conservation Fund grantee.
Leading expeditions to Arctic regions since 2018, Angela fell in love with Antarctica on her first trip there with Aurora Expeditions in 2024. Her current polar work includes study of narwhal migration through ice floes in the Canadian Arctic, documenting the “carousel feeding” behavior of orcas in the Norwegian Arctic, marine mammal and ecosystem studies in Antarctica with a focus on the Weddell Sea.
Angela grew up on the coast of Maine learning about and working on the water at a young age and she’s been exploring the world’s oceans ever since. She can’t wait to meet you onboard to share her expertise in marine ecology and endangered species conservation.
Angela Smith will be a special guest on our Across the Antarctic Circle: Fly the Drake voyage departing 8 February 2026.
Peter Eastway
Photographer
Peter Eastway is a contemporary Australian photographer who is known internationally for his landscape and travel work. A practicing professional photographer, he shoots editorially and works selectively in advertising and family portraiture, two diverse ends of the professional sphere.
Peter has been involved in photographic magazine publishing for over 30 years, establishing his own title, Australia’s Better Photography Magazine, in 1995. It is now one of Australia’s leading photography magazines.
Peter’s work has been published and exhibited internationally (USA, UK, Japan, Germany, Greece, India, New Zealand and Australia).
Peter Eastway will be a Special Guest on our South Georgia & Antarctic Odyssey ft. the South Sandwich Islands voyage, departing 4 March 2026.
Lola Akinmade Åkerström
visual storyteller, author & travel entrepreneur
Lola Akinmade Åkerström is an award-winning visual storyteller, international bestselling author, and travel entrepreneur. She has dispatched from over 80+ countries and her work has been featured in National Geographic, New York Times, The Sunday Times, The Guardian, BBC, CNN, Travel Channel, Travel + Leisure, Lonely Planet, Forbes, and many more. She has collaborated with commercial brands such as Dove, Getty Images, Mercedes Benz, Intrepid Travel, Electrolux, ASUS, and National Geographic Channel, to name a few.
As a storyteller, Lola was featured on Condé Nast Traveler's Women Who Travel Power List. She was named one of the Most Influential Women in Travel by Travel Pulse, a Hasselblad Heroine and Bill Muster Travel Photographer of the Year. She was also honoured with a MIPAD 100 (Most Influential People of African Descent) Award within media and culture and a Newsweek Future of Travel Storytelling Award.
Her book, Due North, received the Lowell Thomas Gold Award for Best Travel Book, and she is also the author of international bestselling "LAGOM: The Swedish Secret of Living Well" available in over 15 foreign language editions. Her internationally-acclaimed novel, "In Every Mirror She's Black", was a Good Morning America (GMA) Buzz Pick, Apple Editors' Pick, Amazon Editors’ Pick, and Independent UK "Best Thought-provoking Story". Her latest novel, EVERYTHING IS NOT ENOUGH, is an NAACP Image Award Nominee for Outstanding Literature, Jennette McCurdy Book Club Pick, a Washington Post, Sunday Times, and Amazon Editors’ Pick, amongst others. Her upcoming novel BITTER HONEY will be published in 2025.
As an entrepreneur, she runs Stockholm-based creative storytelling agency Geotraveler Media and online academy, Geotraveler Media Academy, which runs photography experiences around the world and is dedicated to visual storytelling and helping the next generation of travel storytellers put the heart back into the craft.
Lola Akinmade Åkerström will be a special guest on our Antarctic Women’s Expedition: Fly the Drake, departing 23 February 2027.
Dr. Sandra Magnus
Engineer & Former NASA Astronaut
Dr. Sandra H. “Sandy” Magnus most recently served as the Chief Engineer for the Traffic Coordination System for Space in the Office of Space Commerce in the Department of Commerce working to establish a civil space traffic coordination system. She is also affiliated with the Georgia Institute of Technology as part time of Professor of the Practice. Dr. Magnus retired from federal service as the Deputy Director of Engineering in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for the Undersecretary of Research and Engineering.
Prior to joining the DoD, she served as the Executive Director of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the world’s largest technical society dedicated to the global aerospace profession. Selected to the NASA Astronaut Corps in April 1996, Dr. Magnus flew in space on the STS-112 shuttle mission in 2002, and on the final shuttle flight, STS-135, in 2011. In addition, she flew to the International Space Station on STS-126 in November 2008, served as flight engineer and science officer on Expedition 18, and returned home on STS-119 after four and a half months on board. She has extensive experience working with the global space community.
Dr Sandra Magnus will be a Special Guest on our Jewels of the Arctic: Greenland Solar Eclipse voyage, departing 2 August 2026 & on our Antarctic Women’s Expedition: Fly the Drake, departing 23 February 2027.
Dr. Lindsay Porter OBE
Marine Mammal Specialist
Dr. Lindsay Porter OBE is a marine mammal specialist who has focused much of her career investigating the role whales, dolphins and porpoise play in promoting healthy marine ecosystems. Originally from Scotland, where she still collaborates on projects monitoring the impacts of climate change on small cetaceans, Lindsay has been based in Asia for the last two decades where she has conducted primary research and has contributed to regional marine management action plans. As the current Chair of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission, Lindsay bridges science and policy, playing a critical role in translating research findings into effective marine governance.
During the last three decades, Lindsay has worked primarily within eastern hemisphere waters, leading and collaborating on projects in Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Australia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia and East Timor, in addition to projects based in the Atlantic Ocean. Many of the whale species encountered in her studies have travelled from the Antarctic as part of their annual migration cycle from the food rich icy waters of the southern oceans to the warm waters of the tropics, where they give birth. Lindsay’s journey into marine science began in Scotland, where she completed her first degree. She then went on to study the seals and cetacean so the North Sea before starting a PhD in Hing Kong, at a time when the marine science community was just beginning to expand in Asia. Her initial studies focused the smaller dolphins and porpoise of Asia’s coastal waters, however, as her collaborations grew with regional institutes, she also began to work on the larger whale species as they travelled into the tropic to breed. Lindsay has collaborated on projects in Australia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Timor L’Este and China and, more recently, has revisited her Scottish roots and now contributes to several projects located in the Western Isles of Scotland. As a long term member of the International Whaling Commission’s Scientific Committee, which she currently chairs, Lindsay was appointed as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2023, for her contribution to marine mammal conservation.
Lindsay Porter will be a Special Guest on our Spirit of Antarctica: Whale Migration voyage, departing 13 March 2027.
Nigel Danson
Photographer
Nigel Danson is a YouTube creator and landscape photographer. Being dyslexic, photography had a profound impact on Nigel’s early life, when he uncovered the joys of developing images in a makeshift darkroom. He discovered his love of light and how it could create infinite possibilities of what was otherwise a static landscape. Nigel’s philosophy is to seize the moment, to capture the essence of his experiences. He runs workshops all over the world to share his knowledge and passion for landscape photography.
Nigel Danson will be a special guest photographer on our Antarctica: Through the Lens voyage, departing 1 February 2026.
Rachel Bigsby
Photographer
Considered to be a leading wildlife photographer amongst her contemporaries, Rachel Bigsby specialises in seabirds natural artistry.
She is a winner in five of the world’s most prestigious competitions as the winner of ‘Natural Artistry’ in Wildlife Photographer of the Year and the portfolio winner in Bird Photographer of the Year. She is also a Nikon creator, a published photographer by National Geographic, and a photographer for the RSPB and the National Trust.
Rachel Bigsby will be a special guest photographer on our Antarctica: Through the Lens voyage, departing 1 February 2026.
James Popsys
Photographer
James Popsys is a British Outdoor Photographer and YouTuber who lives in Wales. Before YouTube he worked as a commercial conceptual photographer but being a firm believer that all the best stuff in life happens outdoors, he prefers to send his time in the field rather than in Photoshop these days. James is drawn to documenting nature but also the human impact on it, for better and for worse.
James Popsys will be a special guest photographer on our Antarctica: Through the Lens voyage, departing 1 February 2026.
Mads Peter Iversen
Photographer
Mads Peter Iversen, is a photographer living in Denmark. An educated schoolteacher with a master degree in educational philosophy, after trying out other photography genres, such as headshot photography and commercial videography with great success, he settled on fine art landscape pictures. Mads started out as a photographer in 2011 and his experience with video editing goes back to 2002. Mads finds inspiration all over the world but he’s especially drawn to the nordic, cold and harsh yet stunningly beautiful nature.
Mads Peter Iversen will be a special guest photographer on our Antarctica: Through the Lens voyage, departing 1 February 2026.
Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove
Photographer
Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove is a full-time Belgian Icelandic nature photographer working out of Reykjavík, Iceland. Being inspired by extremes, he has largely dedicated his photography to documenting the Arctic, with a special focus on volcanic eruptions & the Icelandic Highlands. Most recently, he received international attention for his dedication to documenting the Fagradalsfjall & Svartsengi volcanic eruptions in Iceland. With his work surrounding volcanoes, he focuses on showing the exceptional beauty within the chaos, whilst highlighting the creation within the destruction. Jeroen is also a self-published author and teaches photography through workshops & ebooks.
Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove will be a special guest photographer on our Antarctica: Through the Lens voyage, departing 1 February 2026.
Jack Lodge
Photographer
Jack Lodge is a professional landscape and nature photographer from Wimborne, Dorset in the South West of England, UK. Through his photography, Jack strives to capture the change of each season, documenting the ever changing landscape and nature around us. His photography varies from enchanting ancient woodlands in the heart of the Dorset countryside, to dramatic seascapes and snow-capped mountains in Italy and Norway.
Jack Lodge will be a special guest photographer on our Antarctica: Through the Lens voyage, departing 1 February 2026.
Roman Fox
Photographer
Roman is a photographer from London with a focus on travel and light. He doesn’t have a specific niche or subject but likes to shoot anything that catches his eye. He also runs a travel photography blog and YouTube channel.
Roman Fox will be a special guest photographer on our Antarctica: Through the Lens voyage, departing 1 February 2026.
Peter Eastway
Photographer
Peter Eastway is a contemporary Australian photographer who is known internationally for his landscape and travel work. A practicing professional photographer, he shoots editorially and works selectively in advertising and family portraiture, two diverse ends of the professional sphere.
Peter has been involved in photographic magazine publishing for over 30 years, establishing his own title, Australia’s Better Photography Magazine, in 1995. It is now one of Australia’s leading photography magazines.
Peter’s work has been published and exhibited internationally (USA, UK, Japan, Germany, Greece, India, New Zealand and Australia).
Peter Eastway will be a Special Guest on our Northwest Passage expedition, departing 7 September 2025 & on our Jewels of the Arctic voyage, departing 10 July 2026 & on our Svalbard Odyssey voyage, departing 23 July 2026.
Dr Sandra Magnus
Engineer & Former NASA Astronaut
Dr. Sandra H. “Sandy” Magnus most recently served as the Chief Engineer for the Traffic Coordination System for Space in the Office of Space Commerce in the Department of Commerce working to establish a civil space traffic coordination system. She is also affiliated with the Georgia Institute of Technology as part time of Professor of the Practice. Dr. Magnus retired from federal service as the Deputy Director of Engineering in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for the Undersecretary of Research and Engineering.
Prior to joining the DoD, she served as the Executive Director of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the world’s largest technical society dedicated to the global aerospace profession. Selected to the NASA Astronaut Corps in April 1996, Dr. Magnus flew in space on the STS-112 shuttle mission in 2002, and on the final shuttle flight, STS-135, in 2011. In addition, she flew to the International Space Station on STS-126 in November 2008, served as flight engineer and science officer on Expedition 18, and returned home on STS-119 after four and a half months on board. She has extensive experience working with the global space community.
Dr Sandra Magnus will be a Special Guest on our Jewels of the Arctic: Greenland Solar Eclipse voyage, departing 2 August 2026 & on our Antarctic Women’s Expedition: Fly the Drake, departing 23 February 2027.
Alison Mackay
Artist in Residence
Alison Mackay is an Australian artist whose work has been shown in numerous solo, group and prize exhibitions over the last 2 decades. Her approach to art is broad-ranging and adventurous, from large botanical oil paintings to tiny drawings of rainforests and reefs made on recycled packaging, Alison’s work covers the genres of still life, landscape and portraiture. It has been included in many prestigious art prizes including The Archibald and Portia Geach (for portraiture), The NSW Parliament’s Plein Air Painting Prize (for landscape) and the Dobell Prize for Drawing.
Balancing Alison’s studio time, her adventurous spirit has taken her to remote and unusual places around the world. Her base in Jervis Bay on the NSW south coast allows her to enjoy activities from kiteboarding and freediving to kayaking and bushwalking. Adventure, both artistic and physical, is at the heart of all her activities.
Alison Mackay will be a Special Guest on our In the Wake of Wallace voyage, departing 24 October 2026.
Richard Morecroft
Broadcaster, Author and Artist
Richard is one of the Australia’s best known media figures, having been the ABC’s nightly TV newsreader for 20 years, the host of many documentary and educational programmes as well as the popular SBS quiz show “Letters and Numbers”.
He has a long-standing commitment to wildlife and the environment. For some years, he hosted his own wildlife show “Richard Morecroft Goes Wild” on ABC-TV, as well as writing and presenting documentaries for the ABC’s Natural History Unit.
He has authored or co-authored several books on wildlife and has been a Trustee of WWF (The World-Wide Fund for Nature).
Richard has also conducted on-stage interviews with a wide range of outstanding individuals, from comedian John Cleese to Australian of the Year Ita Buttrose and even the late Gough Whitlam. He also works with the National Library in Canberra interviewing prominent Australians for its oral history programme – and his YouTube channel “Exhibition – with Richard Morecroft” is dedicated to interviewing visual artists.
His own artworks are in several public collections, including Parliament House, Canberra.
Richard Morecroft will be a Special Guest on our In the Wake of Wallace voyage, departing 24 October 2026.