Expedition Leader

Leader

Our expedition leaders are seasoned explorers who embody the pioneering spirit of National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions. They are attuned not only to the conditions around them, but also to the needs of the guests on board. Beyond their role as expedition leaders, they are also trained naturalists, marine biologists, or historians with years of experience in the field, and they are deeply knowledgeable about the geographies where they sail.

An expedition depends on flexibility and the ability to take advantage of unexpected opportunities. Our expedition leaders are constantly tapped into their surroundings, often revising the day’s route and activities to make the most of wildlife sightings and serendipitous moments.

They are undeterred when weather or ice conditions preclude a certain landing: they know the lay of the land, and simply collaborate with the captain to reach a more protected spot so that guests can go ashore to explore. When a pod of humpbacks or an emperor penguin appears or the northern lights illuminate the sky, they won’t hesitate to turn the ship around for a better view and make an announcement even if it means interrupting dinner.

Sometimes they’ll veer off course entirely for a once-in-a-lifetime experience: a quick-thinking expedition leader in the Galápagos made the call to redirect the ship when Wolf Volcano erupted, and our guests were some of the only eyewitnesses to its lava spilling into the sea. We give our expedition leaders our full confidence, empowering them to make decisions that deliver the most extraordinary experience possible.

Expedition Leader

Tom O'Brien

Tom O’Brien has been leading and designing expeditions for Lindblad Expeditions since 1985. With a background in physical geography and conservation, a Bavarian heart and a Celtic soul, Tom has been one of the most passionate advocates of the expedition experience around the world for nearly three decades. Many of the local people and communities that we work with today are the result of friendships that Tom and his expedition mates developed many years ago. Tom’s career with Lindblad Expeditions has encompassed many roles including development of new itineraries, training local guides and expedition leaders, instilling the Lindblad expedition philosophy to newly acquired ships, and for twenty years the architect of Lindblad’s pioneering environmental programs. With an international upbringing and family-base in Western Europe, Tom continues to lead Lindblad’s multifaceted voyages in Brazil, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and Vietnam.

Expedition Leader

Lucho Verdesoto

Born and raised in the tropical country of Ecuador, Lucho is a passionate naturalist that has been working for Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic since 1998. With a marine biology background, he started as a naturalist in the Galápagos Islands in 1994. Since then, he has filled numerous roles with Lindblad-National Geographic, such as naturalist, undersea specialist and expedition leader in the Galápagos Islands, Costa Rica and Panama, and Baja California. Currently, Lucho spends much of the year traveling the world aboard the National Geographic Explorer. Working for Lindblad-National Geographic has given him the opportunity to explore remote locations from the Arctic to Antarctica and everything in between, while the opportunity to lead and explore the Amazon has only increased his passion for evolutionary biology and the understanding of how biological communities interact in such a complex ecosystem. During his time off, Lucho enjoys traveling and spending time getting to know the vast National Park system in Ecuador. Holding a dive master's license, he tries not to let a place pass without exploring the underwater ecosystem - he considers Antarctica to be the wildest place he has ever been able to dive! He also enjoys writing nature articles for a major newspaper in Ecuador, as he strongly believes that nature can only be protected when it is fully understood and appreciated by its inhabitants.

Expedition Leader

Emma Ridley

Born of a Scottish father and English mother, Emma enjoyed an international upbringing because of her father’s job as a foreign correspondent. Although her family eventually settled in Rome, Emma's schooling was conducted in French, having started her studies in Brussels, Belgium and finishing at the Lycée Français de Rome in 1988. While at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Emma combined her fascination with biology with her love of the seas, receiving a degree in applied marine biology. She is a keen diver, and while at school worked part-time as a diver in an aquarium. Two months after graduation, having seen the job advertised at her university, Emma moved to Ecuador and began her fascinating job as a naturalist and dive guide in the Galápagos archipelago. Emma has worked as a naturalist and expedition leader with Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic in Galápagos since 1997. She has also worked as expedition leader, undersea specialist, and dive master for in regions as diverse as the Columbia River, Central America, Europe, and the South Pacific. She was granted permanent residency in the Galapagos and has now called the islands home for over half her life! She built her home on the island of Santa Cruz, where she raises her two daughters, Amelia and Rebecca. Since 2008, she works from home for Lindblad Expeditions as Galápagos Field Staff Manager. She also gets involved in local conservation projects and volunteers as a diver in ecological monitoring programs with the Charles Darwin Research Station. Nonetheless, she tries to get back out into the field with Lindblad Expeditions as much as possible, since she loves being out at sea and sharing her passion for the natural world with others.

Expedition Leader

Taylor Butz

Born and raised on Vashon Island in Washington State, Taylor grew up exploring the forests behind his house and attending the island’s Pirate Camp during the summers. He considers himself lucky to have grown up in a place that allowed him to experience the mountains and waterways of the Pacific Northwest. For college Taylor escaped the rain and migrated south to San Diego where he attended San Diego State University. It was here he studied film and fell in love with surfing. During his summer breaks he began working as a cabin steward and deckhand for Lindblad Expeditions in Alaska. While spending his summers with the close knit crew onboard and witnessing the wildlife and epic scenery of Southeast Alaska, Taylor knew that he had found a career path that would fulfill his need for travel. Shortly after college Taylor began working full time as a Video Chronicler for Lindblad Expeditions. He got to experience expeditions from Antarctica to Borneo and many, many places in between, all while being able to film and document amazing moments throughout the voyages. When off the ship you will find Taylor out at the remote beaches of Washington state with a surfboard in hand and a backpack on his back. Taylor is passionate about spending as much time in the water as possible and finds peace in those serene moments sitting in the ocean waiting for the next wave.

Expedition Leader

Peter Wilson

Peter comes from the town of Cobh, County Cork, on the south coast of Ireland. He is both a working archaeologist and a naturalist. Growing up and living next to the sea, he developed a fascination with whales and dolphins, along with birds and the broader natural world. Ever varied in his interests, he studied English at University College Cork and went on to complete a master’s degree in Old English. A desire for more hands-on, outdoor work led him to a slight change of course, into the study of archaeology. After combining his twin loves of the humanities and nature, Peter's main areas of research at present are archaeozoology and maritime archaeology. He has a particular interest in the archaeology of marine mammal exploitation and the archaeology of extreme environments. Along with his research, Peter also works for the commercial sector as a field archaeologist throughout the south of England. While he very much considers himself to be an outdoor person, Peter still has a great love of the fruits of human culture. He has a deep interest in everything from art history and visual culture, to the history of food and drink. He brews beer and wine when he has the time, and also considers himself to be quite a serious musician.

Expedition Leader

Doug Gould

Travel and adventure were an integral part of Doug’s upbringing in a small town on the south shore of Long Island, New York. Growing up on the Great South Bay, his family claims Doug learned to sail before he learned to walk. Whether it was camping, sailing, birding, traveling across country or spending most of fifth grade living in Europe, Doug’s formative years left him with a love of wildlife, the outdoors, and a desire to keep moving. After receiving a B.A. in dramatic arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara, Doug mixed a short career in the film and TV industry with two summers working for the Catalina Island Harbor Patrol, which led to his owning the third largest private marine rescue company in California. Doug sat on the Board of Directors of the Vessel Assist Association of America for three years and has lectured extensively to the marine assistance industry about safety and risk management. In 2003, he volunteered to work for Oceanites as a member of their Antarctic Site Inventory wildlife census team (aka: a penguin counter). This opportunity included numerous trips to the Antarctic Peninsula over the span of three seasons. The Antarctic Site Inventory focused on gathering data about the impact of tourism on Antarctic wildlife, and helped to develop some of the Antarctic Treaty recommendations that govern tourism today. Since 2011, Doug has worked full time as a naturalist, photographer and expedition leader, working primarily in the polar regions. In 2015 he joined Lindblad Expeditions, and continues to share his enthusiasm for travel and adventure as an expedition leader and certified photo instructor.

Expedition Leader

John Mitchell

Raised in the mountains of Crested Butte, Colorado, John has always been a “child of nature,” where the natural world around him was life’s classroom. After graduating from Colorado State University with degrees in Speech Communication and Biology, John joined Lindblad Expeditions. Over the years with Lindblad he tried to learn every aspect of vessel operations while spending his “free time” learning all that he could from the naturalists on board. His time off the boats was spent traveling throughout North, South, and Central America learning more about the areas. John left “for a spell” to pursue a post-graduate degree in marine ecology in Hawaii, fell in love with island life and now calls Maui home. Most recently working as a Coastal Management Specialist for NOAA Pacific Region, he has also been the Program Director for an educational non-profit whose mission was to excite youth about science and all things natural. John has also served as a naturalist, junior high and high school marine science field teacher. He also worked on the Marine Turtle Research Project, and spent five years as the Fish and Habitat Monitoring Coordinator for the State of Hawaii. John is passionate about the need to re-connect our youth to the environment in order to sustain meaningful education.

Expedition Leader

Alex Searle

Born in Chile and raised in Argentina, Alex spent his childhood living in different parts of these countries and getting to know the local cultures. Alex studied Journalism at the University of Chile and did post graduate studies at UBC in Vancouver, Canada. Working as a Chilean TV producer for years, Alex worked in the news department doing research, and produced a successful late night show as well as a wildlife show that did stories all over America. Since he was a kid his life’s dream was to visit Easter Island, or Rapa Nui in the local language. He visited during his university years, together with his wife, Terangi, who was born on this unique Pacific island. Alex has worked for years with Lindblad Expeditions in Easter Island, and also works as a guide all along Chile. An avid diver and photographer, he has contributed his photos to books about Easter Island. His love for the cultural past and present of Rapa Nui, Polynesia, and other areas of South America, as well as his passion for wildlife and nature, make him a passionate guide. He is excited to share his understanding and knowledge with fellow travelers.

Expedition Leader

Stefano Pozzi

Stefano is originally from Italy and nature has always been the greatest of his passions. Spending time outdoors is his daily priority with a special devotion rock climbing during summer, accompanied by ski and snowboarding during winter. Stefano has a mathematical background and graduated with honors at the University of Milan after 4 years of combined studies in Italy, India, Norway and Sweden. This represented for him the final fulfillment of his student duties and he celebrated by taking off to a 3-month solo bike-trip from Milan to Lisbon and back, following the pilgrimage route "Camino di Santiago" and covering a distance of 8000km. The taste of freedom gained through his bike tour and his travels led Stefano to move to the wildernesses of Norway in 2011, working as ski instructor and tour guide. In search of new challenges, in 2014 Stefano moved to the very high arctic of Svalbard and here he took the university education of Arctic Nature Guide and increased his skills on flora and fauna of the arctic. Today Stefano is a full-time outdoor professional and has working experience from Arctic, Antarctic, Italy, Norway, Australia and Nepal. His expertise is long ski and hike expeditions and he logs more than 100 field days and tent nights in the Norwegian Arctic. His everyday mission as naturalist is to share his knowledge and bring his guests even closer to nature, be able to provide them with the means to "live" in the wilderness rather than merely survive. In return he loves to learn something new every day from his guests.

Expedition Leader

Russell Evans

Russ Evans is a sixth-generation Falkland Islander now living in Orkney, Scotland. In 1997, he was drawn away from his work on the family farm by the lure of the sea. Since then, he has made his living at sea. As a licensed captain, Russ has been part of a variety of marine endeavors, including commercial tugs, dive boat support, scientific research, sightseeing tours, cruise ships, and since 2003, an expedition leader on expedition ships worldwide but specializing in the polar regions. Russ is committed to the environmental impact of tourism and its future in the Antarctic through his advocacy with the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), and shares their commitment to responsible tourism. Although his chosen place on the globe is the Antarctic and its surrounding waters and islands, he is as at home in the far north as he is in the far south. Also having led expeditions in lower latitudes and warmer climates, his passion for the oceans is coupled with keen expertise on the natural history of these places of extremes. His intimate knowledge of, and love for, remote islands and hard-to-reach corners of the world, (especially if they can only be reached by sea), makes him a natural for sharing his passion with others. His adventuresome spirit, along with his thirst to deliver the most extraordinary experiences to the guests of each expedition, provides a compelling and insight-filled backdrop for exploring.

Expedition Leader

Andy Wolff

A Midwestern kid with an insatiable curiosity about places far and foreign, Andy has converted a lucky break after college into a career at sea. From swabbing the decks to advocating for artisans and zooming in Zodiacs, he knows the operation from every department on board. What keeps him fresh after nearly two decades working at sea is waking up somewhere new every morning, the day ahead a blank slate with no way of knowing what marvels nature and serendipity may bring his way. Andy looks forward to sharing this sense of wonder and possibility with guests as they venture together into new realms with Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic. Having traveled everywhere from Madagascar to Moscow, Andy’s happy place is amongst icebergs and whales on a sunny Antarctic summer day. When not aboard ship, he often winters near tropical seas, typically hunting below the water’s surface for nudibranchs. A happy Pacific Northwest transplant, Andy now calls the evergreen forests of Olympia, Washington home. There he enjoys crafting homemade soap, trail running, and consuming copious quantities of coffee. If you end up sharing a table in the dining room one evening, be sure to ask about his international gold medal in barbershop. Andy was thrilled to join the Lindblad Expeditions team in 2010. Among so much photographic talent, he is a firm believer that the best camera is the one you always have with you. For a look at life through his lens, investigate instagram.com/travelingandy.

Expedition Leader

John Frick

Although he didn’t set out for a life of travel, John has combined his passions for education and exploring the world and turned them into a successful career leading trips around the globe. After completing an undergraduate degree in engineering at the University of Notre Dame, John moved to Alaska in search of a more adventurous future. From there he continued on to Tansen, Nepal, where he served for two years in the Peace Corps. He then moved to New York City to teach as part of the Peace Corps Fellows Program while pursuing a master’s in science education from Teachers College, Columbia University. John began leading family programs to Mediterranean sites of antiquity during his summers, and this quickly expanded to other regions: Africa, India, Antarctica, the Transatlantic, Greenland, the Canadian Arctic, Alaska and the South Pacific. As comfortable exploring archaeological and cultural destinations as he is leading expeditions to the world’s most remote areas, John looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm for the best in travel with guests of Lindblad-National Geographic. When possible, he especially enjoys sharing his knowledge of astronomy and expertise in stargazing from the deck of a ship.

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