Our staff

Oceanwide staff

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.

Expedition staff

  • Florence Kuyper
  • Function: Expedition leader
  • Nationality: Dutch

Florence is a world traveler with a passion for the polar regions, remote nature, deserts, history, and nomadic peoples.

After receiving her Master’s Degree in Educational and Organizational Psychology in the Netherlands, she worked as a consultant-manager in social affairs.

In 2004 Florence went to the big white desert of Antarctica for the first time, and her passion for this continent has drawn her back ever since.

But she also enjoys the heat, having crossed 1,200 km (745 miles) of harsh Mongolian desert on foot with an expedition team and one Bactrian camel.

Florence has lived at the historical British base of Port Lockroy on the Antarctic Peninsula, where she served as a base leader, and also works on sailing yachts in the Arctic and Antarctica.

She has been an expedition guide and leader in both polar regions since 2012, and she looks forward to sharing her knowledge and unlimited passion for the polar regions with you.

  • Sara Jenner
  • Function: Expedition leader
  • Nationality: British

For as long as Sara can remember, she has had a passion for travel and for finding the wildest and most remote places on Earth.

Read an interview here >
  • Pippa Low
  • Function: Expedition leader
  • Nationality: British

Pippa has worked as a marine guide and skipper for 10 years, primarily in Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, and the polar regions.

  • Eduardo Rubio
  • Function: Expedition leader
  • Nationality: Guatemalan
  • Ali Liddle
  • Function: Expedition leader
  • Nationality: British
Read more >
  • Chris Long
  • Function: Expedition leader
  • Nationality: New Zealander
  • Hans Verdaat
  • Function: Expedition leader
  • Nationality: Dutch
  • Rinie van Meurs
  • Function: Expedition leader
  • Nationality: Dutch
  • Claudio Ghiglione
  • Function: Expedition leader
  • Nationality: Italian
  • Christian Engelke
  • Function: Expedition leader
  • Nationality: German
  • Marcel Paul
  • Function: Expedition leader
  • Nationality: Dutch
  • George Kennedy
  • Function: Expedition leader
  • Nationality: Australian
  • Adam Turner
  • Function: Expedition leader
  • Nationality: British
Read more >
  • Adam Burke
  • Function: Expedition leader
  • Nationality: British
  • Jan Belgers
  • Function: Expedition leader
  • Nationality: Dutch
  • Philipp Schaudy
  • Function: Expedition leader
  • Nationality: Austrian
Read more >

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

  • 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.

A beach guard by the age of 16, Ernesto’s favorite sport when he was young was swimming. When he finished high school, he moved to Puerto Montt, one of the most important ports in Chile. There he started his studies to become a merchant marine officer.

By his graduation in 1991, he’d already begun to sail on different vessels around Puerto Montt.

Ernesto became first officer of Antarctic Dream in 2005, beginning by navigating in Antarctica and later the Arctic. In 2011 he obtained the rank of captain, and in 2015 he was chosen as the best officer of the Chilean merchant navy.

Ernesto became a captain for Oceanwide Expeditions on Ortelius in 2013.

When he’s not working, Ernesto loves to travel around Chile with his family. He enjoys scuba diving, swimming, cycling, and photography, which has become his favorite hobby.

Read an interview here >
  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Joachim Schiel
  • Function: Captain
  • Nationality: German

Office

Head Office:
Fax: +31 (0)118 410 417
USA & Canada reservations:
Fax: +1 (0)281 749 8220
  • Maria del Pilar Fernandez
  • Function: International Sales Manager
  • Nationality: Chilean
Read more >
  • Adam Turner
  • Function: CXO - Head of Expedition Operations
  • Nationality: British
Read more >
  • Jornt de Meurichy
  • Function: E-commerce officer
  • Nationality: Dutch
  • Bas Jumelet
  • Function: Assistant Hotel Operations Manager
  • Nationality: Dutch
  • George Janes
  • Function: Senior Copywriter
  • Nationality: British
  • Femke Wolfert
  • Function: Staffing Manager
  • Nationality: Dutch
  • Karin Toornstra
  • Function: Reservations
  • Nationality: Dutch
  • Michael Frauendorfer
  • Function: Hotel Operations Manager
  • Nationality: Austrian
  • Michel van Gessel
  • Function: Director
  • Nationality: Dutch
  • Grace Vidal
  • Function: Reservations, North-America
  • Nationality: American
  • Florian J. Piper
  • Function: Director Sales | Arctic program
  • Nationality: German
  • Piet Vink
  • Function: Managing Director
  • Nationality: Dutch
  • Sasha Rachkova
  • Function: Online Marketeer
  • Nationality: Russian
  • Dorine van Boekhout
  • Function: Reservations
  • Nationality: Dutch
  • Nyrée Siereveld-Verstraete
  • Function: Account Assistant
  • Nationality: Dutch
  • Alexandra den Dikken
  • Function: Senior Graphic Designer
  • Nationality: Dutch
  • Stefan Pruimboom
  • Function: Staffing and Operations Advisor
  • Nationality: Dutch
  • Marissa Medrano
  • Function: Accounting
  • Nationality: American
  • Danique van Burken
  • Function: Senior Marketing Manager
  • Nationality: Dutch
  • Gabi Merten
  • Function: Reservations for the German speaking market
  • Nationality: German
  • Sebastiaan Schijf
  • Function: CFO
  • Nationality: Dutch
  • Teun van ‘t Verlaat
  • Function: Technical Manager
  • Nationality: Dutch
  • Loraine van Huizen
  • Function: Online Marketeer
  • Nationality: Dutch
  • Toto Vermue
  • Function: USA and Canada Sales Manager
  • Nationality: Dutch
Read more >
  • Franklin Braeckman
  • Function: Antarctic Program Manager
  • Nationality: Belgian
  • Rémi Bouysset
  • Function: CEO
  • Nationality: French
  • Andreas Diesing
  • Function: Key Account Manager for the German speaking countries
  • Nationality: German
  • Marie Rose Porreca
  • Function: Reservations, North-America
  • Nationality: American
  • Helen de Jong
  • Function: Sales Account Manager
  • Nationality: Dutch
  • Sytze Posthumus
  • Function: Financial Controller
  • Nationality: Dutch
  • Kees Matthes
  • Function: Nautical Superintendent
  • Nationality: Dutch
  • Elza Back
  • Function: Account Assistant
  • Nationality: Dutch
  • John Yeh
  • Function: Sales Representative China & South Asia & Oceania
  • Nationality: Chinese
  • Ko de Korte
  • Function: Consultant
  • Nationality: Dutch
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  • Marina Joglar
  • Function: Reservations, North-America
  • Nationality: American
  • Majanda Fens
  • Function: Reservations Manager
  • Nationality: Dutch
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