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

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

David Brotherson

Growing up near Sydney, Australia, David’s fascination for world history and archaeology was born in the civilization's, history and mythology of the ancient Mediterranean. These interests were nurtured at the University of Sydney as an archaeology major. As his undergraduate studies neared completion, David started travelling the world, which would culminate in a life-changing trip to Southeast Asia. There, in Cambodia, he stood amongst the enigmatic temples of Angkor Wat, and a new life path began to unfurl. The opportunity then arose to work with the university’s Greater Angkor Project, an international, multi-disciplinary research program into the city’s development, daily life and decline. David’s research investigates Angkorian urbanism and decline, using remote sensing, field survey and GIS to analyse its urban history, demise and transformation. He received his PhD in Archaeology from the University of Sydney in 2020. David is a long-term resident of Siem Reap, Cambodia, where he has lectured and led tour groups for over a decade. He regularly travels with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions throughout Asia and Europe. His archaeological research in Cambodia is ongoing, as is his passion for world history, educational tourism, the great outdoors, playing guitar and tennis.

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

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

Michael Jackson

An experienced traveler, Michael has lived on several continents, including a year spent working as a naturalist and zoologist in Galápagos and three months in Kenya conducting a study of birds of prey. He is the author o f Galápagos: A Natural History , a comprehensive guidebook which details the natural history of the plants and animals found on the islands. He has a passion for science and nature and enjoys sharing his interests with others. For 33 years he worked at St Michaels University School (SMUS) in British Columbia, teaching a range of disciplines including physics, geology, biology, earth science, environmental science and marine science. Michael uses his naturalist experience to lead outdoor education trips and finds great pleasure in seeing others get excited about the things he's interested in. He loves to show how science helps explain much of what we see in the natural world – from tides to rocks and rainbows. He combines his love of nature and his world-renowned expertise on the Galapagos to lead frequent trips to this unique ecosystem. In his spare time, Michael relaxes by kayaking, taking pictures, tinkering with different technologies, traveling and exploring natural history.

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

Shawn Lucas

Shawn began his journey with Lindblad Expeditions in 2009 and since inception has found himself in various aspects of ship and expedition operations. What led him to Lindblad Expeditions? When you grow up in upstate New York, it’s nearly impossible to resist the urge to explore—especially as a kid. Shawn’s love of the outdoors began at an early age when he would play “fugitive”, a variation of the game tag, with his neighborhood friends in the forest behind his home in Wappingers Falls, NY. As long as he can remember, the forest had always beckoned and sparked a strong sense of exploration and wanderlust. When he was just twenty-one, he completed a six month, 2,167 mile thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail, a journey that would shape his adult life. He was hooked. Shawn went on to tackle other thru hikes of note including the Pacific Crest, High Sierra, and John Muir Trails. He also led a six person expedition up three 6,000 meter peaks in the Peruvian Andes. Having discovered his passion he sought out an undergraduate school that would stimulate him intellectually as well as being mere steps from adventure. He ended up at Paul Smiths College situated in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State. Shawn earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation, Adventure Travel & Eco-tourism with a minor in Forestry. Whether in the forest or on the water, his passion for the outdoors is always the key factor for planning his future or the next adventure.

Expedition Leader

Hiro Kawashima

Born and raised in Ensenada, Baja California, México, Hiro´s heritage can be traced around the world, from Japanese immigrants to adventurous Finnish sailors, French entrepreneurs, and Spanish roots going back to the first settlers of the Peninsula. His love for nature came at a very young age, spending most of his summers in the waters of the Gulf of California, where his family had fished for generations. He learned to surf and free dive in his childhood and developed a deep connection with the ocean and the land, always amazed by the creatures that inhabited the surreal landscape. In 1996 he started guiding day tours in Ensenada, and in 1998 he enrolled in a Biology degree at the State University of Baja California. His first expedition as a naturalist was in 2001 and has continued ever since. His passion for learning and sharing has led him to be interested in practically everything, always trying to understand how things work and how they are interconnected. Currently, he lives in San Ignacio, the largest oasis in the Peninsula of Baja California, and when he's not working as a Naturalist, he spends his time designing and building a permaculture farm, photographing wildlife, spearfishing, surfing, building a house, and most importantly, enjoying life with his loved ones.

Expedition Leader

Oren Frey

Oren grew up exploring the wilds of New England and began leading others on adventures in the outdoors while a student at Middlebury College in Vermont. He has spent the better part of the past two decades pursuing opportunities to explore the world and to share its wonders with others. Oren has worked as a naturalist and kayak guide in the Channel Islands, Monterey Bay, and the San Juan Islands, has led many river trips, and has worked as an instructor on wilderness travel and cultural exchange trips for youth in locations from Alaska to Ecuador. Years working as an environmental educator on Catalina Island sparked a deep love of the ocean environment and inspired him to complete a master’s degree in International Environmental Policy with a focus on marine issues. He went on to work for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and co-founded a community supported fishery. Oren later spent five years managing a non-profit program that aims to make outdoor adventure inclusive and accessible to all people. An avid adventure cyclist, he has cycled over the Pamir Highway, around Iceland, and across the Sahara. Oren is thrilled to have the opportunity to share the joy of exploration with Lindblad Guests.

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

Carlos Romero

Carlos was born in Quito, Ecuador, and grew up in Venezuela, where he lived his childhood and teenage years near the ocean and the tropical rainforest. He returned to Quito to study Biology and specialized in the fauna of Ecuador. His main field of study was Zoology with an emphasis on vertebrates and taxonomy. He has a Doctorate in Biology and is a Specialist in a Master’s program in Ecotourism and natural protected areas management. Carlos also took part, as a research assistant, in various scientific projects with the Biological Sciences Department of Quito’s Polytechnic University. As a result, he published a scientific paper about the bats of the Galapagos Islands and one about the vampire bats of mainland Ecuador. Carlos hobbies include drawing; he illustrated the “Park Warden Manual” used in the Ecuadorean National Parks since 1991. He loves languages and is fluent in Spanish, English, and German. It was his interest in conservation Biology that inspired him, in 1992, to become a naturalist; he started working with Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic in 1997. As an avid conservationist and animal and nature lover, he has been successfully guiding, leading, educating, and teaching travelers for more than 30 years. He is a certified “Trainer of Trainers” in Environmental Thematic Interpretation as well. As a trained and veteran interpreter, Carlos has been facilitating and encouraging thousands of guests to understand the natural world by proactively learning with fun, humor, passion and by communicating science interestingly and engagingly. He received his Photo Instructor certification in a multi-day training workshop. Developed and taught by National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions photographers, the workshop helped him to develop additional insight and skills necessary to help you better understand your camera and the basics of composition – to better capture the moments at the heart of your expedition.

Expedition Leader

Paula Tagle

Paula studied Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Guayaquil, specializing in Geology, while exploring the Americas and Europe. Her fascination with volcanoes led her to the Galapagos Islands in 1992, where she became a Naturalist for the Galapagos National Park. Paula authored Galapagos Bedtime Stories in 2004, sharing her love for the islands through storytelling. Her adventurous spirit extends beyond land and sea. She holds certifications in sailing (Annapolis sailing school), professional chocolate-making (Canada Ecole Chocolat) and in wine education, having completed Level 2 certification with the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET). As a journalist, she has written a column for Ecuador’s El Universo since 2004. A dedicated educator, Paula became the first certified National Geographic Educator worldwide in 2017 and a National Geographic Photo Instructor in 2019. She also serves on the General Assembly of the Charles Darwin Foundation since 2011, raising funds for conservation projects and writing about their achievements. Paula believes in inspiring curiosity and wonder by engaging the “child within us all.” Whether leading expeditions, writing an article, or exploring the nuances of wine, Paula’s enthusiasm for discovery and learning brings the world closer to everyone she meets.

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