Expedition Leaders

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Expedition Leaders

We have the most professional and passionate team of Expedition Leaders in the world, who bring a wide range of experience to every adventure. Some have degrees in marine biology, political science, others have trained as medics, biologists, park rangers, outdoor educators and lawyers. They’re adventure guides, wildlife experts, environmentalists, polar history experts, glaciologists and conservationists.

Our Expedition Leaders have worked extensively in Greenland, Canada, Alaska, Norway, Argentina, Antarctica and the Arctic.

MEET SOME OF OUR EXPEDITION TEAM

David Burton

David first experienced the Polar Regions as a student at the University Center in Svalbard in 2010 and went on to graduate with a master’s degree from the University of Cambridge’s Scott Polar Research Institute in 2013. Since then he has returned many times to the Polar Regions. While trained in glaciology and glacial marine geomorphology, David has a keen interest in polar history and researching those who have gone before us. Christian Geissler Christian has spent most of his life working on the ocean as a biologist, skipper, environmental consultant and adventure guide. He’s worked with Quark Expeditions biology. He has completed over 130 trips to the Antarctic, the Falkland Islands, the Canadian Arctic, the North Pole, South Georgia, Svalbard, Greenland and Iceland.

Shane Evoy

Born and raised on Georgian Bay, Ontario, Shane was destined to work on the water. He has been exploring Antarctica since the 1990s, semi-circumnavigating it numerous times, leading trips that have taken guests to some of the most remote areas of the continent. He truly wears his passion for

since 2004 as a guide and lecturer of marine the environment on his sleeve.

Solan Jensen

Born and raised in coastal Alaska, Solan has worked as a wilderness ranger, expedition leader, kayak guide, boat builder and marine mammal emergency responder. His passion for wild places took root during university, where he received a degree in philosophy. Solan has 108 Antarctic voyages under his belt, in addition to expeditions to the Arctic, including Greenland, Canada, Alaska, Norway and Russia.

Alison Kirk-Lauritsen

A trip around the world at age 12 shaped Ali’s perspective of the importance of family and the privilege of traveling. Born in Australia, she has experience in travel leadership, management, communications and logistics. A Mandarin speaker, avid skier, scuba diver, cyclist and runner, she is always happy to share her passion for conservation. Abbey hails from Canada, where she developed a love of the outdoors. She pursued her passion by completing an adventure guide diploma and a Bachelor of Tourism Management, both at Thompson Rivers University. She has been an adventure guide in various ocean environments since her passion for kayaking in beautiful places.

Alice Wang

Alice (Erqing is her Mandarin name) is passionate about wildlife, travel and creating transformational experiences for people. She hopes to inspire others to discover more about the planet as well as themselves, through unique experiences in the Polar Regions. Alice grew up in Beijing, China and has lived in the UK and US. Alice has traveled on over 50 Expeditions in the Polar Regions and is looking forward to many more. This Australian has a strong passion for the landscapes, ice, wildlife and history of the polar regions, and delights in sharing it with Quark Expeditions guests. Woody’s love of the ocean and the wild places at the extremes of the planet have resulted in his living at sea, either in the north or the south, for the past 17 years.

Laurie di Vincenzo

Laurie has spent part of her career in marine logistics and operations management. She’s also worked for a tall ship sail-training organization in her home base of Toronto. Laurie has guided 70 trips to the Polar Regions and feels most at home on a Zodiac, searching

Abbey Weisbrot

2009. When not in Antarctica, she follows

David (Woody) Wood

for wildlife, or on a hike over the tundra.

Experience Matters!

We have the most experienced team in the polar regions: Shane Evoy has 19 years of experience, and David (Woody) Wood has 17 years handson experience in the polar regions. Christian Geissler has been on over 100 expeditions, while Solan Jensen has led 24 Arctic expeditions and 108 Antarctic expeditions.