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
- Claudio Ghiglione
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: Italian
Claudio was born in Italy in 1983. He is a nature photographer, expedition guide, and marine ecologist specializing in the polar regions.
Interested in science and nature since he was young, Claudio has a bachelor’s degree in marine environmental science, a master’s degree in marine science, and a PhD in earth, environmental, and polar sciences.
For several years he worked as a polar researcher, focusing mainly on the South Pole. His objective was to analyze and evaluate information used for ecological modeling and possible scenarios related to global warming. During the academic career, he actively takes part in scientific expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctica.
In 2017 he started working as a full-time Oceanwide guide. Claudio uses his photos to tell stories and draw attention to animals and the environment. In 2019 he published a book entitled Polar Lights.
- 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.
- 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.
- Philipp Schaudy
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: Austrian
- Jan Belgers
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: Dutch
- George Kennedy
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: Australian
- Ali Liddle
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: British
- Adam Burke
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: British
- Christian Engelke
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: German
- Eduardo Rubio
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: Guatemalan
- Adam Turner
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: British
- Hans Verdaat
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: Dutch
- Rinie van Meurs
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: Dutch
- Marcel Paul
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: Dutch
- Pippa Low
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: British
- Chris Long
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: New Zealander
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
- 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.
After completing nautical college, he sailed general cargo ships for several years before switching to heavy-lift ships, transporting such loads as offshore platforms, Dutch Royal Navy vessels, submarines, parts for petrochemical plants, dredgers, cranes, and other such items.
Since 2016 he has captained passenger vessels, starting with two mega-yachts and later becoming a captain with Oceanwide Expeditions on its Polar Class 6 vessel, Hondius.
Remmert is married and lives with his wife and her daughter in an old farmhouse in north Holland. When he’s not busy renovating the house, he likes to cook, travel, and spend time with his family and friends.
- 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
Born near the German city of Cologne, Joachim Schiel grew up some distance from the coast. His first contact with vessels came from the yearly sailing trips he made with a youth group on the Baltic.
- Ernesto Barria
- Function: Captain
- Nationality: Chilean
Office
- Sebastiaan Schijf
- Function: CFO
- Nationality: Dutch
- George Janes
- Function: Senior Copywriter
- Nationality: British
- Bas Jumelet
- Function: Assistant Hotel Operations Manager
- Nationality: Dutch
- Michael Frauendorfer
- Function: Hotel Operations Manager
- Nationality: Austrian
- Helen de Jong
- Function: Sales Account Manager
- Nationality: Dutch
- Ko de Korte
- Function: Consultant
- Nationality: Dutch
- Sytze Posthumus
- Function: Financial Controller
- Nationality: Dutch
- Femke Wolfert
- Function: Staffing Manager
- Nationality: Dutch
- Danique van Burken
- Function: Senior Marketing Manager
- Nationality: Dutch
- Kees Matthes
- Function: Nautical Superintendent
- Nationality: Dutch
- Karin Toornstra
- Function: Reservations
- Nationality: Dutch
- Nyrée Siereveld-Verstraete
- Function: Account Assistant
- Nationality: Dutch
- Marissa Medrano
- Function: Accounting
- Nationality: American
- Adam Turner
- Function: CXO - Head of Expedition Operations
- Nationality: British
- Dorine van Boekhout
- Function: Reservations
- Nationality: Dutch
- Stefan Pruimboom
- Function: Staffing and Operations Advisor
- Nationality: Dutch
- Maria del Pilar Fernandez
- Function: International Sales Manager
- Nationality: Chilean
- Elza Back
- Function: Account Assistant
- Nationality: Dutch
- Alexandra den Dikken
- Function: Senior Graphic Designer
- Nationality: Dutch
- Michel van Gessel
- Function: Director
- Nationality: Dutch
- Teun van ‘t Verlaat
- Function: Technical Manager
- Nationality: Dutch
- Loraine van Huizen
- Function: Online Marketeer
- Nationality: Dutch
- Gabi Merten
- Function: Reservations for the German speaking market
- Nationality: German
- Rémi Bouysset
- Function: CEO
- Nationality: French
- Piet Vink
- Function: Managing Director
- Nationality: Dutch
- Florian J. Piper
- Function: Director Sales | Arctic program
- Nationality: German
- Marie Rose Porreca
- Function: Reservations, North-America
- Nationality: American
- Franklin Braeckman
- Function: Antarctic Program Manager
- Nationality: Belgian
- Sasha Rachkova
- Function: Online Marketeer
- Nationality: Russian
- Majanda Fens
- Function: Reservations Manager
- Nationality: Dutch
- John Yeh
- Function: Sales Representative China & South Asia & Oceania
- Nationality: Chinese
- Toto Vermue
- Function: USA and Canada Sales Manager
- Nationality: Dutch
- Grace Vidal
- Function: Reservations, North-America
- Nationality: American
- Arjan Gunnink
- Function: Senior Polar Diving Advisor
- Nationality: Dutch
- Marina Joglar
- Function: Reservations, North-America
- Nationality: American
- Jornt de Meurichy
- Function: E-commerce officer
- Nationality: Dutch