Staff

Born in New York to an Italian mother and Danish father, Amanda grew up in the San Francisco bay area. She has experience working as an International Student Travel Guide throughout the South Pacific region as well as teaching marine biology in a variety of outdoor and interactive settings. 

While studying at Oregon State University to earn her degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Science specializing in Marine Science, Amanda spent a semester studying abroad at Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia where her desire to see the world began. Following this semester, she involved herself in a variety of international experiences.

Her passion for the ocean, wildlife, travel, and conservation is what led Amanda to become involved with Albatros Expeditions in 2018 as an Expedition Guide. She is excited to share with others the magic of our natural world and to guide guests through ‘once in a lifetime’ experiences in the Antarctic and the Arctic regions.  

Barbara was born in Austria and has always had a sincere passion for nature and mountaineering. Therefore, the biology study in Innsbruck fit perfectly to her interests. During her bachelor study program, she already worked for several scientific projects on cold ecosystems (Alpine region, Arctic) as well as the tropics (Central America). During this time, she developed a strong passion for the lives of animals, especially invertebrates.

She finished her Master of Science/Zoology with writing a thesis about a water bear species, a tiny resilient multicellular animal, living on the surface of glaciers. 

In 2012 the freshly graduated zoologist entered the world of tourism as a passionate nature guide and ever since joined many expedition cruises in cold regions (Arctic, Antarctica) and warmer climes (South America, Southeast Asia, Australasia, Oceania).

Christophe was born in France and has been passionate about birds since he was a child. After spending five years in Canada studying ecology, Christophe went to Alaska. He lived on the tiny Middleton Island as a research assistant to study the ecology of seabirds. He explores polar and tropical regions since 2007 and joined many cruises from Svalbard to the Russian Far East, from Antarctica to South Georgia, and from Amazonia to the West Indies.

Christophe also worked with birds as a biologist field worker in Morocco, United Arab Emirates and Kazakhstan. Christophe found another way to travel by inventorying collections of birds that have been collected worldwide during the 18 and 19th centuries.

For over twenty five years, David has been involved in the Arctic expedition and travel business.

Since moving from Scotland to the Arctic, he has led, organized or participated in more than three hundred Arctic and Antarctic expeditions, trips and projects. In that time he has travelled thousands of miles by dog sled, ski, snowmobile, boat, kayak, ship, foot and most recently became the first person to cross Baffin Island by fat tire bike. He has completed eighteen successful expeditions through the Northwest Passage and guided over seventy trips to Churchill, Manitoba.

He was recently honoured by Canada Goose by becoming a “Goose Person” (one of only 50 people chosen across Canada) and share in the 50th anniversary of this great Canadian company.

Emma (Emmarentia) Hansen was born and raised in the stunning Lowveld area of Mpumalanga, South Africa, adjacent to Kruger National Park.

Growing up on a farm, wildlife, animals and nature have always played an integral part in her life. After a chance cruise in 1998, she switched careers and literally ran away to sea. Moving to Durban, where she

completed her commercial skipper’s ticket, she joined the large cruise liners operating in the Indian Ocean, as a Zodiac driver. In 2007, her move to ‘Small Ship Cruising’ as an Assistant Expedition Leader greatly

enlarged her geographical knowledge base and she is now a veteran of the globe, including the polar regions. “No matter how many times you visit, the polar trips knock you out. The fabulous scale of the Norwegian

landscape and the 24-hour daylight are like another world. In the Antarctic you see this amazing contrast between the bumbling behaviour of seals and penguins on land, versus their sheer grace in the water. You are surrounded by a landscape made entirely of water in liquid and solid forms and you are amazed at how beautiful that can be.”

“People often ask, ‘What’s your favourite destination?’ and that’s difficult. My answer is that there are three “g’s” - and then a fourth. There’s the gang (of staff), the guests and the geography. It’s my job to create the chemistry so all three coalesce, and when that happens then wherever we are, is great.”

Gerard is a renowned author and artist, with an education in Botany and Zoology, and an MA in International Politics and Environmental Management. He is also a fully trained Michelin chef and speaks English (his native language), French and Spanish.

His impressive biography includes having authored 15 books, creating documentaries for the BBC, writing for The Times newspaper, and being a stamp designer and beekeeper on his spare time. Gerard has more than 20 years working in Antarctica, and has overwintered 4 times with the British Antarctic Survey filling roles in both science support and conservation projects. 

British born Jacqueline has spent the majority of her adult life in the USA and now makes California’s central coast home. An accomplished freelance wildlife photographer and certified California naturalist, her journey to a career in expedition travel began in Seattle, Washington where she was introduced to small-ship cruising, working behind the scenes in administrative and sales management roles.

An onboard assignment escorting a professional photographer in Alaska opened her eyes to new and exciting possibilities beyond the confines of the office. After moving to California in 2000, she began her formal education in photography, while working in executive administration in the high-tech world of Silicon Valley. After visiting Antarctica for the first time in 2013, she was so enthralled by the experience, she left the corporate world to pursue her dream of becoming a professional wildlife photographer and has never looked back.

In 2016 she was hired as a photographer in residence in the polar regions and has been returning annually ever since.

When not traveling, Jacqueline can be found at home with her husband and cat, cycling, hiking, photographing along the California coast, or out in her kayak in the early morning hours.

Jeff was born in Connecticut, not far from New York City. He grew up sailing and spending his summers on Long Island Sound, until snowier sites beckoned. After obtaining a communications degree from the University of Denver, Jeff moved to As-pen, Colorado and began his life as a guide. He spent the next twenty years guiding guests among the snowy peaks of the Rocky Mountains, down the frothy rivers of the American West and further afield.

Since 2013, Jeff has worked as a polar guide, becoming a firearms master and expert in safe operations in polar bear country. Jeff loves to be out in the rugged elements of the polar regions, spotting wildlife and sharing his love for the wild with his guests.

Jesper is an outdoor enthusiast. He loves spending time in nature and to share his enthusiasm with people.

He used to be a coast life guard and rescue diver before relocating to Svalbard to drive dogsled. Here he realised that he has a real talent for thriving in thewilderness. Born in earlier times he probably could have become a wonderful trapper and explorer of the Greenlandic north east coast.

Besides guiding for Albatros he works with logistics and safety for research institutions in the Arctic region. Jesper has a background in the Danish military in Greenland and a degree in philosophy and economy from Copenhagen where he also lives.

Juan was raised in Buenos Aires suburbs, where he developed a keen interest for nature and wilderness. As soon as he turned 18, he started guiding at the local natural reserve long starting his university studies. Juan also coordinated educational camping trips with schools.

He couldn´t be anywhere but the wild. He started working as a guide in Antarctica in 2016, and passion for the job grew instantly. Juan participated in two whole seasons, and is looking forward to more. He is almost a self-made interpretative guide, and enjoys each natural topic about polar regions, while he has also recently obtained his WFR accreditation.

In his free time, he enjoys painting watercolors as much as going back to the woods

Lisa has over 20 years’ experience in the polar regions through work adventures ranging from fishing, mining to tourism: commercial fishing King Salmon in the Bering Sea; navigating thru remote tundra across Canada’s Arctic gold prospecting; assisting mountaineering expeditions to summit Denali; working at a basecamp facilitating tourism and research below the Ellsworth Mountains in Antarctica.

In her personal time, she finds herself hiking though the Arctic mountain ranges, travelling to northern Siberia to learn the culture of the Evans Peoples, on surf expeditions on the coast of British Columbia and backcountry ski touring from her home in the Selkirk Mountains. She just completed a master’s degree in Polar Law, having studied in Iceland, Greenland and Norway. Topics included; Antarctic Law and Policy, Law of the Sea, Societies and Cultures in the Arctic, Maritime Industries and Resources Law, Arctic Development Economics.

Luis Turi is originally from Patagonia. Born in Neuquén city, in the north of Patagonia, he is now living in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego the last 25 years.
Luis loves the outdoors and nature, and really enjoy the work traveling in the wilderness, guiding interesting people in that amazing places. 
Luis has guided and traveled to many places, like Antarctica, Ladak in north India, Greenland, South America (Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Brazil, Argentina), and, of course, in the wonderful Patagonia. 
When he is not sailing or guiding, Luis is writing, developing inventions with scrap or planting trees in remote impated areas of Tierra del Fuego Island. 

Marc has over 4 years of experience working at sea. After finishing his master’s degree in International Business & Foreign Cultures he spend a year in China studying this fascinating ancient culture while traveling all around China & Asia. 

Marc fell in love with the sea when he did a research expedition on a small wooden boat sailing through the Amazon river helping researchers observe the “pink river dolphin”. Soon after that he started his adventure managing the hotel part on-board floating luxury liners sailing the seven seas.

When not on board ships Marc divides his work as a wildlife guide & outdoor educator in Antarctica, Iceland, Alaska and Canada. 
 

Born in Europe, Marieke spent much of her time among the foothills of the Swiss Alps, learning to cross glaciers before she could tie her own shoelaces. Developing her adventurous spirit, she took up speed skating, winning medals in the Dutch National Championships. 
In 2006 Marieke moved to Tasmania where she found her true calling in the Guide/Naturalist role, developing her knowledge and love for pure wilderness and sharing this with international guests from around the globe. 
Marieke’s appetite for new experiences and wilder places have drawn her to explore the incredible beauty of Polar environments only accessible through Expedition Cruising.
Today, she enjoys sharing nature’s best from the bottom to the top of the world, from icy Antarctica, to wildlife havens on Sub-Antarctic Islands, to New Zealand & Australia, to tropical Seychelles, Indonesian & Pacific Islands, to high Arctic’s Greenland, Iceland, Svalbard & Russian Far East.

Originally from Korpo, in the southwestern Archipelago of Finland, Mikaela inherited her love and respect of nature and sea, from a long line of seafarers in her family. She started her career graduating as Radio Officer from Mariehamn Maritime Institute, working on merchant ships,  followed by ship´s purser on passenger ships . Slowly she gained seamiles and experience to follow her real dream:To become a professional yachtswoman on sailing yachts!
These yachts have taken her around the world several times, participating in races like the Volvo Ocean Race, Jacques Vabre and Jules Verne. Having spent so many miles and years on fast, extreme yachts, both in the Northern and Southern Hempishere, she now enjoyes being part of similar expeditions , although on somewhat slower ships.
Since 2009 she has been working as a tour guide, mainly in Europe and Africa, as well as zodiac driver in Svalbard and Greenland. When not enjoying her two favourite areas, the North and the South Pole, Mikaela enjoyes being at home on her small farm in Portugal, riding her horse or hiking in the Alentejo countryside.

Neill began his journey to becoming an Antarctica Expedition Guide in 2015 when he sailed as a passenger on a last minute whim. He immediately felt a connection with Antarctica and knew it couldn’t be a “once in a lifetime” trip. Maybe it has to do with his last name being Drake, and his commute to work is the Drake passage...but it most likely has to deal with his passion for creating content that will help breed a new generation of Antarctica Ambassadors that will be the voice of conservation of preservation in a time more voices need to be heard.

Drake, once exclusively a Photography guide has become a knowledgeable general naturalist.

Renè Olsen grew up on the west coast of Norway, with the north sea, deep fjords and big mountains all around him, making him experience all the toughest nature has to offer allready from young age. He early on knew he wanted to be a guide outdoors and allready at age 16 did he's first guideschool.

He's later spent time guiding in the mountains as well on the sea in Norway and North America.

With he's time from the Norwegian army, experience from guiding on 3 continents, and also handling boat's on the Norwegian coast as a skipper, in Svalbard and on the mainland, he'll be sure to keep you safe and also entertain you, while out adventuring together.

Sergey has been working for 6 years for the largest Russian National Park “Russian Arctic” on the remote islands of Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya. He worked as a guide and bear guard on board various expedition ships and nuclear icebreaker. After, he moved to work and to live in a small russian settlement on Svalbard - Barentsburg.

Aside his main job he is voluntarily serving as the vice-chair of the World Commission of Protected Areas in the North Eurasia region. 

Sergey’s main background is in history, with master degree in tourist studies from the Arctic University of Norway from 2015 and ecotourism training program from the US Department of State from 2013.

Originally from Sergiev-Posad, in Russia, Slava studied in the Moscow University of Sports as a teacher of physical education, swimming teacher, rehabilitation, management of sports. Many of Slava’s shoes have been worn out in paths in Russia, Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Australia, the Arctic and Antarctica, with 15 years of experience traveling the World as a photographer, writer, guide and translator. However, it was 2013 that defined his starting point in the cruise industry, when Slava had the opportunity to visit Antarctica on a sailboat. He then worked as an expedition guide in the Arctic and Antarctic Waters, peaking his interest for Polar History.

Known as photographer, travel writer, guide and translator in Russia, Slava often give lectures: How to travel the World, Under sails to Antarctic, Tierra del Fuego: journey on foot with a backpack, Wild life in Patagonia, How to survive in wild, Backpacker's life around the World, among other subjects.

Wan began his career as an Outdoor Planner in Taiwan, arranging hiking, cycling and diving tours. He has gone to Everest Base Camp twice and luckily survived the severe earthquake in 2015. Wan is skilled in activity preparation, trekking, diving, canoeing, and has previous experience as a Super Capacity R&D Assistant Engineer, English Speaking Tour Guide and Outdoor Development Independent Contractor.

Now, he focuses on outdoor education programs such as LNT and sea kayak in Taiwan and is ready to share the beauty of Antarctica with young explorers in Pacific Asia. He currently works as an Expedition Guide and Language Interpreter for Albatros Expeditions on both Arctic and Antarctic expedition voyages. In addition, he brings small groups to China, Nepal, Alaska and Canada for various outdoor programs.