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

  • 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.

When she was only 10, she sold her favorite pink bicycle to start her travel fund. 

Every birthday and Christmas, she added more to the kitty until finally, at age 18, she realized her dream of diving the Great Barrier Reef! At that moment, the travel addict was born.

Ever since, Sara has been traveling the globe in search of wild and remote places.

She has also spent many months volunteering on wildlife conservation projects to help some of our most iconic and endangered species.

Sara’s love of wildlife and the outdoors has taken her to all seven continents.

She has traveled extensively in the polar regions, including the Antarctic Peninsula, the Falklands, South Georgia, Spitsbergen, Greenland, Iceland, Baffin Island, and the Canadian High Arctic.

Back home in the UK, Sara used her knowledge to work as a polar specialist for several years, but in 2016 she joined Oceanwide Expeditions, trading life on land for a life at sea.

Sara is a keen wildlife photographer, and when she is not in the polar regions, she enjoys working as a photographic guide in Botswana, specifically the beautiful Chobe River and Okavango Delta.

Read an interview here >
  • Philipp Schaudy
  • Function: Expedition leader
  • Nationality: Austrian

Philipp Schaudy holds a Master’s Degree in Physical Geography and has studied in Austria, Iceland, and Svalbard. A restless traveler, adventurer, and alpinist, he’s always loved the outdoors.

Read an interview here >
  • 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.

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

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.

  • 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.

Read an interview here >
  • 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.

  • Arthur Yakovlev
  • Function: Captain
  • Nationality: Russian

Office

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