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
- Hans Verdaat
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: Dutch
Hans his fascination for nature and traveling has been present all of his life. From a young age on he has been a birder and fascination with the polar regions caught him during one of his birding travels to the North of Norway.
After his study Coastal Zone Management he started working on the Dutch island Texel as a field researcher for the marine research institute of Wageningen University. In his research he specialises in seabirds and marine mammals.
Since 2004 he has participated in scientific research projects in the Antarctica, Caribbean, West-Africa, Spitsbergen and European waters. He has always been fascinated with the polar regions and has participated in several scientific expeditions both to the Arctic and Antarctic.
In 1999 he started working as a (birding) guide. The last years he has combined his research job with guiding & expedition leading for Oceanwide Expeditions.
In his free time Hans is a keen nature photographer and an active member of the team supporting the international development of the citizens science platform Observation.org
- 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.
- 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.
- Rinie van Meurs
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: Dutch
- Pippa Low
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: British
- Ali Liddle
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: British
- Eduardo Rubio
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: Guatemalan
- George Kennedy
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: Australian
- Florence Kuyper
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: Dutch
- Christian Engelke
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: German
- Jan Belgers
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: Dutch
- Adam Turner
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: British
- Philipp Schaudy
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: Austrian
- Adam Burke
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: British
- Marcel Paul
- Function: Expedition leader
- Nationality: Dutch
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Captains
- Per Andersson
- Function: Captain
- Nationality: Swedish
Per Andersson first embarked on his maritime odyssey in 1985 as a deckhand aboard the St Karso, navigating the Baltic Sea. This experience laid the groundwork for a lifelong commitment to the maritime world.
Transitioning to oil tankers navigating the formidable waters of the UK, Per attained an Officers license by 1988, underscoring a burgeoning dedication to maritime proficiency. Ascending to the role of Chief Officer, he commanded diverse commercial vessels across the Baltic and North Sea, each voyage contributing to the refinement of his navigational expertise.
In 1995, the realization of a captaincy position aboard a cargo vessel marked a zenith in Per’s career, but an enduring affinity for unexplored regions of the world led him to an expedition ship bound for the high Arctic.
The historic passage through the White Sea Canal in 2009, as the lone western passenger ship to achieve such a feat, epitomized the intersection of Per’s navigational acumen and adventurous spirit.
Assuming the role of Captain with Oceanwide Expeditions in 2021, captain Per orchestrates expeditions through the Arctic and Antarctic aboard M/V Ortelius, perpetuating a legacy marked by exploration, leadership, and environmental stewardship.
- 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
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.
- Remmert Koster
- Function: Captain
- Nationality: Dutch
- Arthur Yakovlev
- Function: Captain
- Nationality: Russian
Office
- Danique van Burken
- Function: Senior Marketing Manager
- Nationality: Dutch
- Grace Vidal
- Function: Reservations, North-America
- Nationality: American
- Jornt de Meurichy
- Function: E-commerce officer
- Nationality: Dutch
- Toto Vermue
- Function: USA and Canada Sales Manager
- Nationality: Dutch
- Rémi Bouysset
- Function: CEO
- Nationality: French
- Marie Rose Porreca
- Function: Reservations, North-America
- Nationality: American
- Marissa Medrano
- Function: Accounting
- Nationality: American
- Michel van Gessel
- Function: Director
- Nationality: Dutch
- George Janes
- Function: Senior Copywriter
- Nationality: British
- Teun van ‘t Verlaat
- Function: Technical Manager
- Nationality: Dutch
- Karin Schutte
- Function: Reservations
- Nationality: Dutch
- Bas Jumelet
- Function: Assistant Hotel Operations Manager
- Nationality: Dutch
- Alexandra den Dikken
- Function: Senior Graphic Designer
- Nationality: Dutch
- Helen de Jong
- Function: Sales Account Manager
- Nationality: Dutch
- Dorine van Boekhout
- Function: Reservations
- Nationality: Dutch
- Gabi Merten
- Function: Reservations for the German speaking market
- Nationality: German
- Tom Hamelink
- Function: Technical Superintendent
- Nationality: Dutch
- Sebastiaan Schijf
- Function: CFO
- Nationality: Dutch
- Marina Joglar
- Function: Reservations, North-America
- Nationality: American
- Loraine van Huizen
- Function: Online Marketeer
- Nationality: Dutch
- Nyrée Siereveld-Verstraete
- Function: Account Assistant
- Nationality: Dutch
- Arjan Gunnink
- Function: Senior Polar Diving Advisor
- Nationality: Dutch
- Sytze Posthumus
- Function: Financial Controller
- Nationality: Dutch
- Kees Matthes
- Function: Nautical Superintendent
- Nationality: Dutch
- Florian J. Piper
- Function: Director Sales | Arctic program
- Nationality: German
- Franklin Braeckman
- Function: Antarctic Program Manager
- Nationality: Belgian
- John Yeh
- Function: Sales Representative China & South Asia & Oceania
- Nationality: Chinese
- Ko de Korte
- Function: Consultant
- Nationality: Dutch
- Elza Back
- Function: Account Assistant
- Nationality: Dutch
- Yiyuan Fang
- Function: China Sales & Marketing Coordinator
- Nationality: Chinese
- Majanda Fens
- Function: Reservations Manager
- Nationality: Dutch
- Michael Frauendorfer
- Function: Hotel Operations Manager
- Nationality: Austrian
- Piet Vink
- Function: Managing Director
- Nationality: Dutch
- Adam Turner
- Function: CXO - Head of Expedition Operations
- Nationality: British
- Stefan Pruimboom
- Function: Staffing and Operations Advisor
- Nationality: Dutch
- Sasha Rachkova
- Function: Online Marketeer
- Nationality: Russian
- Maria del Pilar Fernandez
- Function: International Sales Manager
- Nationality: Chilean
- Femke Wolfert
- Function: Staffing Manager
- Nationality: Dutch