Our People
When you choose Quark Expeditions, you’ll be taken care of by the best travel advisers, hospitality and expedition teams in the world, period. From your first email or phone call to your last goodbye, we are delighted to share everything we know and love about these unique and beautiful regions.
Management Team
Thomas Lennartz
I am a Canadian, born in Toronto, and a graduate of the Honors Business Administration program at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo. I continued my life education by traveling the world, and became hooked on the Polar Regions.
Malcolm Ellis
Almost a true Manxman, having been brought up on the Isle of Man, a small island in the Irish Sea, I have spent much of my time in, on and around the sea.
Expedition Leaders
Laurie Di Vincenzo
Laurie has spent part of her career in marine logistics and operations management. She has also worked for a tall ship sail-training organization in her home base of Toronto. Laurie has guided 70 trips in the polar regions and feels most at home on a Zodiac, searching for wildlife, or hiking on the tundra. Laurie works with the ship’s captain to read the weather and ice, determining distances to be traveled and, ultimately, to ensure guests have the trip of a lifetime.
Shane Evoy
Born and raised on Georgian Bay, Ontario, Shane was destined to work on the water. He has been exploring Antarctica since the 1990s, semi-circumnavigating it numerous times, leading trips that have taken guests to some of the most remote areas of the continent. He truly wears his passion for the environment on his sleeve.
Solan Jensen
Born and raised in coastal Alaska, Solan has worked as a wilderness ranger, expedition leader, kayak guide, boat builder and marine mammal emergency responder. A passionate expedition guide, Solan has explored the polar regions since 2002, leading trips throughout the Arctic, including Greenland, Canada, Alaska, Norway and Russia. Solan is committed to facilitating expeditions that help people “experience something extraordinary.”
Alison Gordon
Ali, who has traveled widely since childhood, has developed her skills in leadership, management, communications and logistics. She studied international relations at the postgraduate level and speaks Mandarin. Ali has multiple seasons of polar experience in both the Arctic and Antarctic. Ali revels in the opportunity to share her passion for conservation and sustainability with Quark Expeditions’ guests.
David "Woody" Wood
Woody, who hails from Australia, has an unquenchable passion for sharing the marvels of the polar regions. He holds degrees in political science and law, and previously worked in a pediatrics hospital before joining Quark Expeditions. Woody has spent a decade at sea, in the Arctic and Antarctica. He spends as much time as possible on board ships heading into the ice. His passion for landscapes, ice, wildlife and polar history.
Christian Geissler
Christian’s ocean-focused career has included positions as a biologist, skipper, environmental consultant and adventure guide. He has a degree in marine biology and a diploma in environmental technology. Christian has worked with Quark Expeditions since 2004. He has completed about 130 expeditions (as guide and lecturer of marine biology) in the Canadian Arctic, the North Pole, Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland, Antarctic, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. Christian believes in seizing every polar opportunity. His credo: “Explore, welcome the unknown and discover.”
Niki Trudeau
Niki’s love and passion for the outdoors was born from adventures in Canadian lakes and forests as a child. Fresh from university, she took on a role with the Canadian non-profit organization Students on Ice, coordinating and guiding educational expeditions for youth in the Arctic and Antarctica. She also organized and presented youth forums and a workshop on polar education for educators. Students and Elders from the Arctic inspired in her an interest in and deep respect for Inuit culture and traditional knowledge. As a result, Niki has also worked with Nunavut Sivuniksavut, a special college program for Inuit students from Nunavut.
Sales
Meg Murgatroyd
I was born and raised in Toronto and completed my Bachelor of Arts degree at McMaster University. I started traveling at a young age, and decided to turn my passion for travel into a full-time career.
Aimee Tian
Aimee Tian graduated from Dalian University of Foreign Languages and joined Quark Expeditiions shortly thereafter, embarking on what will most definitely be a lifelong career in polar adventure.
Expedition Team Members
RedRocks Chen
Nathaniel Goldstein
Alexander Golikov
Alexander, better known as Sasha, was born in Vladivostok, Russia where the Trans-Siberian Railway meets the Pacific Ocean. He received his degree in Mandarin Chinese and East Asian History from the Far Eastern University.
Amalia (Amy) Goodall
Sylvia Hsueh
Ben Hutchinson
Born and raised on the west coast of Canada, Ben has spent his whole life surrounded by water and nature.