Tell us about yourself and your role
My working life has been spent in the outdoors predominantly in the mountains as a Ski Patroller, Alpine Rescue Volunteer and Mountain Guide. I worked in the Ross Sea region in the 1990s and did my first expedition with Aurora in 2004 on the Polar Pioneer as a climbing guide.
My role now as the Alpine Activities Supervisor has me overseeing the Alpine Program which has grown from climbing and Shackleton crossings of South Georgia to include snowshoeing and ski touring and engages a team of over 15 guides.
As a team we continue to embody Greg and Margaret's early vision of Aurora Expeditions in providing challenging, inclusive and adventure focused activities in the Antarctic region.
What first drew you to Aurora?
I was hooked on Antarctica after my first experience in the Ross Sea Region where I worked for the NZ Antarctic Program in Field Support and as an instructor. I was lucky enough to be part of a geological survey of the Transantarctic Mountains which began in the Deep Freeze Range – three people remote camping for several weeks. It was an incredible experience which I shared with Sean Waters who also now works with Aurora as a guide and geologist.
Do you remember your very first voyage or moment with Aurora?
To this day, my first voyage with Aurora (December 2004) aboard the Polar Pioneer remains at the top of my list of Antarctic experiences. We were blessed with great weather and achieved a number of climbs in the twelve day voyage. The sea ice, the animal encounters, the camaraderie amongst the small Aurora and Russian teams was simply incredible.
Who or what has had the biggest impact on your Aurora journey?
I am involved with passengers months and sometimes years in advance of their voyage, so it is extremely rewarding to meet them on board and be a small part of delivering an experience that is almost always a significant goal and event in their life journey.
What is it about the people at Aurora that makes it special?
The entire team works hard to deliver exceptional experiences. I think we all appreciate how each and every person on or off ship plays a vital part in ensuring guests get the most incredible, deeply memorable and adventurous journey of a life time.
How have you seen Aurora evolve over the years?
Over 20 plus years I have seen Aurora grow from humble beginnings with the Polar Pioneer to what is now a much larger “small ship company”. The level of comfort and technology has changed incredibly over this time from one simple satellite phone and two work station computers to streaming wifi all over the ship. Despite the advances the one constant is that the best show is always out on deck. There is plenty of time to sleep to when you get home – make the most of every minute of your adventure.
What has remained constant at its core?
Teamwork – a diverse range of talented people working together to inspire, guide and mentor our guests.
