Antarctic, Arctic and Beyond Expeditions

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.

Dr. Ulyana Horodyskyj is a glaciologist, geologist, astronomy enthusiast and visiting professor of environmental science at Colorado College in the United States.

Ulyana has always been drawn to adventure and science. Her PhD in geological sciences took her deep into the Nepali Himalaya, where she was the lead researcher for the Black Ice Project. She investigated contributions to ice mass loss on debris-covered glaciers, particularly in the Khumbu valley (Everest region). Ulyana went on to complete a post-doc at the National Snow and Ice Data Center, where she looked at how black carbon impacted snow and ice melt on Baffin Island in the Arctic.

Ulyana is especially passionate about science education and outreach. After completing her PhD, she launched an adventure and citizen science initiative called Science in the Wild, aimed at getting people outdoors, thinking like scientists and helping to collect scientific data while on expedition with her in the field. She has also worked with Girls on Ice, a program that takes teenage girls into the wilderness to do small scientific projects. Many of the participants have never set foot on a  mountain. Ulyana is also a member of a citizen science program called Project PoSSUM (polar suborbital science in the upper mesosphere), aimed at educating the public about the upper atmosphere, at the edge of space.

In 2016, Ulyana was chosen as mission commander for an on-the-ground deep space mission with NASA, and was chosen as one of 120 semifinalists (from a pool of 18,354 applicants) for NASA’s 2017 astronaut class.

Ulyana is a keen mountaineer and has climbed Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), Mont Blanc in the French Alps, Aconcagua (Argentina), Ojos del Salado (Chile), Lobuche East (Nepal) and peaks around Colorado. She also has experience working on an icebreaker in Antarctica and ice caving and climbing in Svalbard. Ulyana is excited to join the team and share the beauty of the geological and glacial landscapes we travel to!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.