The polar regions are what we do. From our expert expedition guides to our impeccable crew to our diversely skilled office staff, the OEX team is all about giving you the utmost experience of the Arctic, Antarctica, and the sub-Antarctic. Seasoned passengers of our own epic voyages, we bring to the table not only a love of the exotic polar world but also a combined wealth of expertise unrivaled by any other polar tour operator. Join us on one of our adventurous voyages, and let us share with you all there is to see, do, and explore in Earth’s most remote frontiers.
Our staff
Expedition staff
- Chris Long
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: New Zealander
Chris grew up as a part of New Zealand’s remotest family two long days hike from the nearest road at a place called Gorge River, on the South Islands West Coast, New Zealand.
His family lives as self-sufficiently as possible in a small cabin surrounded by the jungled rainforest, the rough rugged coastline, and an emerald green river. Most of their food came from a huge vegetable garden or was fished from the ocean. This wild untouched natural corner of New Zealand was Chris’s home for the first 17 years of his life, until, one day, he set out to explore what the rest of the world had to offer.
Since leaving Gorge River Chris has set out to see, explore and experience as much of the globe as possible. This constant search for adventure has seen him travel to over 60 countries on all seven continents. Along this journey, he spent two full summer seasons living and working as a field trainer at Scott Base, a New Zealand research station in Antarctica, as well as multiple voyages to the Ross Sea and East Antarctica.
Chris is also no stranger to the Arctic. He once sailed the notorious northwest passage across the top of Greenland, Canada, and Alaska and spent much of the covid pandemic living with 150 husky dogs in Tromsø, northern Norway, enduring two long cold dark Arctic winters training for long distance dog races.
Since recently returning to New Zealand, he has published an autobiography and is training for his commercial fixed-wing pilot’s license.
- Marcel Paul
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: Dutch
Marcel has been a passionate traveler since his teens and has led hiking groups in Austria, Switzerland, England, Wales, and Scotland.
- George Kennedy
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: Australian
George has been guiding in Antarctica and the Arctic since 2019, sharing stories of its incredible wildlife, landscapes and, of course, its unique politics!
- Adam Burke
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: British
- Eduardo Rubio
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: Guatemalan
- Florence Kuyper
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: Dutch
- Pippa Low
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: British
- Adam Turner
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: British
- Ali Liddle
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: British
- Sara Jenner
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: British
- Rinie van Meurs
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: Dutch
- Christian Engelke
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: German
- Philipp Schaudy
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: Austrian
- Claudio Ghiglione
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: Italian
- Jan Belgers
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: Dutch
- Hans Verdaat
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: Dutch
Activity staff
- Michael Green
- Function: Dive Team Leader and Advisor
- Nationality: British
Michael began diving in 1980, training with the Royal Navy in Portsmouth Harbour.
After leaving the Navy, he continued to dive mainly around the UK, diving wrecks and always looking for a new story.
He is qualified as a dive instructor with BSAC and PADI and is certified to operate Drager Dolphin and Buddy Inspiration rebreathers.
Michael has worked for Oceanwide Expeditions for five years and enjoys giving divers a safe and exploratory experience in the polar regions.
Michael’s biggest tip for polar divers is to slow down, look around, and enjoy the environment.
He looks forward to enjoying it with you.
- Henrik Enckell
- Function: Dive Team Leader & Advisor
- Nationality: Swedish
Henrik is an experienced dive leader, rebreather instructor trainer, and one of the first dive masters to bring tourists diving in Antarctica.
- Jonny Baird
- Function: Mountain Leader and Advisor
- Nationality: British
Since 2017, Jonny has worked regularly as a mountaineering guide and as Lead Mountain Guide on the Antarctic Peninsula.
Captains
- Arthur Yakovlev
- Function: Captain
- Nationality: Russian
Arthur Yakovlev was born in Petrozavodsk, the capital and largest city of the Republic of Karelia, in northwestern Russia.
At the age of 15, he started training at the Maritime College in Petrozavodsk, where he graduated in 1999. At 18 he began his career as a seaman on a dry cargo vessel.
One year later, he was promoted as third officer on the same type of vessel, and later as second officer, working on various cargo vessels until 2007.
That same year, Arthur began work as a second officer on the passenger vessel Marina Cvetaeva, now Ortelius. As of 2008 he has worked for Oceanwide Expeditions, and in 2019 became a captain on Plancius.
Arthur never dreamed that most of his career would be spent in the polar waters, but he considers this his destiny and would not have it any other way.
He is married and has a son, and during vacation he enjoys spending most of his time with his family, while also traveling and enjoying nature.
- Remmert Koster
- Function: Captain
- Nationality: Dutch
Remmert Koster was born in the Netherlands, and from a young age he was convinced he would become a captain.
- Ernesto Barria
- Function: Captain
- Nationality: Chilean
Ernesto Barria was born in Santiago, Chile, into a family with strong bonds to the sea: His father, grandfather, and several uncles all share a love of the ocean.
- Joachim Schiel
- Function: Captain
- Nationality: German
Office
- Ko de Korte
- Function: Consultant
- Nationality: Dutch
- Rémi Bouysset
- Function: CEO
- Nationality: French
- Marina Joglar
- Function: Reservations, North-America
- Nationality: American
- Karin Toornstra
- Function: Reservations
- Nationality: Dutch
- Florian J. Piper
- Function: Director Sales | Arctic program
- Nationality: German
- Gabi Merten
- Function: Reservations for the German speaking market
- Nationality: German
- Adam Turner
- Function: CXO - Head of Expedition Operations
- Nationality: British
- Jornt de Meurichy
- Function: E-commerce officer
- Nationality: Dutch
- Loraine van Huizen
- Function: Online Marketeer
- Nationality: Dutch
- Helen de Jong
- Function: Sales Account Manager
- Nationality: Dutch
- Teun van ‘t Verlaat
- Function: Technical Manager
- Nationality: Dutch
- Maria del Pilar Fernandez
- Function: International Sales Manager
- Nationality: Chilean
- Kees Matthes
- Function: Nautical Superintendent
- Nationality: Dutch
- Majanda Fens
- Function: Reservations Manager
- Nationality: Dutch
- Nyrée Siereveld-Verstraete
- Function: Account Assistant
- Nationality: Dutch
- Danique van Burken
- Function: Senior Marketing Manager
- Nationality: Dutch
- Stefan Pruimboom
- Function: Staffing and Operations Advisor
- Nationality: Dutch
- Elza Back
- Function: Account Assistant
- Nationality: Dutch
- Dorine van Boekhout
- Function: Reservations
- Nationality: Dutch
- Alexandra den Dikken
- Function: Senior Graphic Designer
- Nationality: Dutch
- Piet Vink
- Function: Managing Director
- Nationality: Dutch
- John Yeh
- Function: Sales Representative China & South Asia & Oceania
- Nationality: Chinese
- Sebastiaan Schijf
- Function: CFO
- Nationality: Dutch
- Femke Wolfert
- Function: Staffing Manager
- Nationality: Dutch
- Bas Jumelet
- Function: Assistant Hotel Operations Manager
- Nationality: Dutch
- Marissa Medrano
- Function: Accounting
- Nationality: American
- Andreas Diesing
- Function: Key Account Manager for the German speaking countries
- Nationality: German
- George Janes
- Function: Senior Copywriter
- Nationality: British
- Sytze Posthumus
- Function: Financial Controller
- Nationality: Dutch
- Grace Vidal
- Function: Reservations, North-America
- Nationality: American
- Toto Vermue
- Function: USA and Canada Sales Manager
- Nationality: Dutch
- Sasha Rachkova
- Function: Online Marketeer
- Nationality: Russian
- Franklin Braeckman
- Function: Antarctic Program Manager
- Nationality: Belgian
- Marie Rose Porreca
- Function: Reservations, North-America
- Nationality: American
- Michael Frauendorfer
- Function: Hotel Operations Manager
- Nationality: Austrian
- Michel van Gessel
- Function: Director
- Nationality: Dutch