Speaker Bios
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EXPEDITION CRUISE LEADERS SPEAKERS
Tuesday 30th September | 10:00 - 10:40
Moderator: Lyn Hughes
Founding Editor, Wanderlust Travel Media
Multi-award-winning editor and writer Lyn co-founded Wanderlust magazine in 1993, having devised the business plan while cruising the Galapagos Islands, somewhere she has returned to several times. She has been an advocate for expedition cruising ever since with memorable trips to Antarctica and Svalbard under her belt, while she can’t think of many things better than sleeping on deck in warmer climes. Wanderlust is officially the UK’s top circulation travel magazine, and responsible, conscious and sustainable travel is at the heart of everything it does. As Founding Editor, Lyn is as hands-on as ever, seeking out and curating the most authentic and meaningful travel experiences to share with the Wanderlust audience.
Belinda Hindmarsh
Group Deputy CEO Global Business, PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP
Belinda is responsible for overseeing brand and product strategy, guest experience, sales, marketing, and communications activity at a global level. A passionate traveller, Belinda left her native New Zealand to study international business in Copenhagen, Denmark, before settling in Rome, Italy. With over 20 years’ experience in the travel tech space, Belinda has held various international roles in operations, marketing, supplier management and commercial functions at CWT, Expedia Group and Aer Lingus. Belinda held the position of Executive Vice-President and Chief Growth Officer at CWT (formerly known as Carlson Wagonlit Travel). She was member of Executive leadership team, where she led the commercial development of RoomIt, CWT’s global hotel distribution division, and CWT’s operations in China, as well as leading the Marketing and Communications divisions. Belinda joined PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP in June 2023.
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James Cole
Founder & CEO, Panache Cruises
James Cole is a seasoned veteran of the luxury cruise industry, having built cruise specialist retail brands Cruise118.com, SixStarCruises.co.uk and RiverVoyages.com into a £100m cruise business. In 2020, James founded Panache Cruises with the aim to become the world’s largest retailer of luxury cruises by 2030. Guided by one principle, 'nothing is too much trouble', he wanted to disrupt the industry and do things differently. Fast forward to the present day, with a team of more than 60 and a Florida-based team operating in the US market, and it's exactly that ethos that still drives Panache Cruises forward. James has been recognised on a number of occasions with industry awards including John Hays Entrepreneur of the Year 2021 and Peter Grant Contribution to the Cruise Industry Award at the Wave Awards 2023 as well as business accreditations such as Travel Trade Gazette (TTG) Luxury Cruise Agency of the Year 2025, TTG Luxury Workplace of the Year 2025 and more.
Frigg Jørgensen
Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO)
Frigg Jørgensen has more than 30 years of experience in Arctic tourism. She has held key positions in the development of the sector, including serving as Manager of Svalbard Tourism/Visit Svalbard and playing a central role in establishing the Svalbard Tourism Board. She also served as a tourism adviser at the Governor of Svalbard’s office before taking on the role of Executive Director at AECO – the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators. Throughout her career, Frigg has been a leading voice for sustainable and responsible tourism in the Arctic, with a particular focus on the expedition cruise industry. Her work encompasses strategic planning, international and governmental relations, and cross-sector collaboration. Key focus areas include environmental protection, maritime safety, emergency preparedness and search and rescue (SAR), community engagement, and knowledge-building.
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James A. Rodriguez
President and Chief Executive Officer, Atlas Ocean Voyages
With over 20 years of proven success in the cruise industry, James began his career with Crystal Cruises and joined Oceania Cruises in 2002 as a founding management team member. At Oceania, he served as Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing. He helped build the brand in omnichannel marketing, sales, revenue management, human resources, corporate communications, guest services, new product development, sustainability, and corporate philanthropy. At Atlas Ocean Voyages, James leads the company's brand development and growth, focusing on delivering transformative expedition experiences to guests.
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Nathaniel Sherborne
MD & VP, Europe and Global Sales Enablement, HX Expeditions
Nathaniel is a seasoned leader in the cruise industry, currently serving as SVP and Managing Director for Europe at HX Hurtigruten Expeditions, where he also heads Global Sales Enablement. Known for his strategic vision and commercial expertise, Nathaniel is dedicated to driving sustainable growth across all distribution channels. At HX, he champions a mission to change how people see the world, delivering sustainable operations to remote destinations, with science, education, and ESG excellence at the heart of the experience. Before joining HX, Nathaniel spent 14 years at Carnival UK, part of Carnival Corporation, contributing to brands such as P&O Cruises, Cunard, and Princess. His work spanned revenue management, port operations, and sales leadership, and he played a key role in launching major ships like Britannia, Iona, and Queen Elizabeth. He also led the transformation of travel agent partnerships, including the creation of the P&O Cruises Shine Rewards Club.
EXPEDITION CRUISE INNOVATORS SPEAKERS
Tuesday 30th September 2025 | 10:55 - 11:30
Moderator: April Hutchinson
Editor & Publisher, TTG Luxury
April is the editor and publisher of TTG Luxury, which acts as both a mirror and a voice for the UK’s luxury travel community. Since launching the magazine 18 years ago, she has grown the portfolio with a weekly online newsletter, awards programmes, travel agent training initiatives and annual thought-leadership conference. TTG Luxury is part of TTG Media, a multi-award-winning media brand that is home to TTG, the world’s first travel industry newspaper, dating back to 1953. April has travelled to more than 70 countries in her 30-year career as a journalist, and is an expert in luxury travel trends.
Captain Dan Blanchard
Founder and CEO, UnCruise
Dan embodies the spirit of maritime adventure and visionary leadership. Born and raised in Washington State, his passion for boats ignited early as he restored his family’s wooden tug and navigated the Pacific Northwest waterways. Rising from Sea Scout and earning his Ship Master’s License at just 18, he built an impressive career—owning Blanchard Marine, captaining vessels in Alaska, and serving as Vice President of Operations at Cruise West. In 1996, he joined American Safari Cruises, eventually rebranding the company as UnCruise Adventures in 2012. A natural storyteller with a deep love for nature, he was adopted into an Alaskan Tlingit tribe in 2013. Under his guidance, the company has redefined small-ship expeditions, earning accolades such as U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Small-Ship Expedition Line.” Calling both Juneau and Seattle home, Captain Blanchard continues to steadily steer the company toward new horizons.
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Francesco Galli Zugaro
Owner, Aqua Expeditions
Francesco founded Aqua Expeditions in 2007 with Peru’s first luxury river vessel on the Amazon River. The company then expanded its operations globally in 2014 with the launch of the Aqua Mekong on the historic Mekong River, and in 2019 with the ocean-faring Aqua Blu, which navigates the forgotten islands of the East Indonesian Archipelago. In 2021, Aqua Expeditions expanded its fleet from three to five vessels with the introduction of its second ship in the Peruvian Amazon, the Aqua Nera, and its latest superyacht, the Aqua Mare, sailing the volcanic Galapagos Islands since June 2022. As CEO, Galli Zugaro has personally supervised every vessel launch, completely changing the landscape of boutique expeditions. A distinguished speaker, Galli Zugaro is regularly asked to share his travel industry insights on innovation, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and market trends at a diverse range of leadership gatherings. His focus also lies in driving sustainable development through travel, prioritizing the social and environmental impacts and solutions of operating in culturally significant and unspoiled natural destinations.
Sopgie Galvagnon
Entrepreneur & CEO / Captain / Expedition Leader / Ice Pilot
Sophie Galvagnon, a French-Swedish captain, has spent a significant period in Arctic regions, exploring the polar world aboard a wide range of vessels, from research icebreakers to cruise ships. At just 26 years old, she became the youngest woman to command polar expedition ships, earning maritime honours for her remarkable contributions to sea expeditions. With a blend of passion and dedication, navigating through the ice and mapping uncharted areas have become her distinctive expertise, which she continues to nurture during her own expeditions or special missions. Since 2017, she has expanded her influence in the field of polar adventure to entrepreneurship, founding maritime companies and developing ships tailored to these unique extreme environments.
Dr Verena Medaldi
Chief Scientist, HX Expeditions
Verena is a Swiss/Mexican biologist, born in Mexico City. She began her scientific career studying biology at the National University (UNAM) – the largest university in Latin America before moving to the University of Lausanne to complete her Ph.D. in Immunology in 2002. After completing her studies, she started work at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. In 2007 she started working for HX Hurtigruten Expeditions as a lecturer and later an explorer consultant. Not long after she started with HX Hurtigruten Expeditions, Verena made her first trip to Antarctica in 2007. It was during this visit that she realised how this unique and fragile part of the world has the potential to change public behaviours and attitudes toward protecting our planet. Since this initial sailing to Antarctica, Verena has been one of the driving forces behind HX Hurtigruten Expeditions' extensive Science & Education programme and became the cruise industry’s first Chief Scientist in May 2018.
INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKER
Tuesday 30th September 2025 | 13:10 - 14:00
Richard Vevers
Director of Room 71, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Richard is a leading voice in ocean science communication and Director of Room 71 at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), where he partners with global brands to reshape public perception of the ocean and drive science-based solutions to global challenges. With a creative background in advertising, art, and underwater photography, Richard brings a unique, action-driven approach to storytelling. His work has been featured in over 10,000 media stories and documentaries, including a lead role in the Emmy Award-winning Chasing Coral on Netflix. Through initiatives like 50 Reefs, he has helped secure over $200 million for ocean science and coral conservation. A Fellow of The Explorer’s Club and seasoned expedition leader, Richard has led efforts like Google Street View underwater and the first global coral reef survey. He shares his passion for the ocean—and time underwater—with his wife and creative partner, Stephanie.
WANDERLUST SURVEY RESULSTS
Wednesday 1st October 2025 | 09:40 - 10:00
George Kipouros
Editor in Chief, Wanderlust
George is a passionate traveller, entrepreneur, and media innovator who has explored over 100 countries across seven continents. With a career spanning the travel, media, and technology sectors, he has built and led businesses on a global scale. He co-founded AI Business, transforming it into the world’s leading AI media, exhibitions, and research platform before its acquisition by a multinational. In 2020, George brought his entrepreneurial vision to Wanderlust, Europe’s oldest independent travel magazine, uniting his business expertise with his lifelong passion for travel. Under his leadership, Wanderlust has undergone a bold transformation, drastically expanding its global reach, embracing digital innovation, and launching pioneering initiatives such as Wanderlust MetaTravel, a world first in travel media. At Wanderlust, George is redefining what travel media can be; his aim is to inspire people to see the world through fresh eyes, travel with curiosity and respect, and connect deeply with the places and communities they encounter.
TRAVEL TRADE PANEL SPEAKERS
Wednesday 1st October 2025 | 10:00 - 10:35
Moderator - Jack Carter
Group Editor, World of Cruising
An award-winning travel and lifestyle journalist, Jack has spent the last 12 years covering all corners of the industry for the likes of easyJet Traveller, The Evening Standard and National Geographic Traveller (UK). After a series of editorships at Haymarket Media Group, Ink Global and APL Media, Jack joined Real Response Media to lead Cruise Trade News’ content division, publishing industry trends and analysis across the title’s print, online and audio platforms. In May 2025 Jack was promoted to Group Editor, Cruise, where he oversees content strategy and delivery for Cruise Trade News and sister title World of Cruising.
Heather Thorkelson
Founder and CEO of Polar Tracks
Heather brings a decade and a half of expertise to the polar expedition industry. She fell in love with the polar regions upon her first expedition to Svalbard in 2007 as a guest. Soon, she was venturing south on an expedition ship to Antarctica, where she has since returned over 40 times. In 2015 she founded Polar Tracks Expeditions, an award-winning polar cruise agency owned and staffed exclusively by polar guides, and in 2024 launched Minimal Impact Cruises, a subsidiary that charters the groundbreaking low-emission vessel Captain Arctic, set to redefine sustainable luxury travel in the Arctic. She has further served as CEO of Polar Pioneer Management from 2021–2024, and been on the Board of Directors of the Polar Tourism Guides Association since 2018 as part of her commitment to professional standards in polar guiding. Originally from Canada, Heather now calls Sweden home.
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Jarrod Kyte
Product and Impact Director, Steppes Travel
Jarrod is an uncompromising advocate for a fairer travel industry, where the benefits to traveller, host, and environment are all in harmony. In his role as Product and Impact Director at Steppes Travel, he has worked with NGOs, conservation bodies, and local travel providers to create inspirational holidays that act as a tool for conservation and community development. He believes passionately in the need for the industry to find a collective voice, to create a model that is measured and conscionable, and to call out travel that is doing more harm than good.
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Alex Mudd
Commercial Director, Swoop
Alex has been at the heart of Swoop's polar travel expertise for over a decade. First travelling to Antarctica in 2004, Alex was instantly captivated by the continent’s wild beauty and became, in his own words, “obsessed with icebergs.” Since then, he has spent more than 20 years immersed in the world of expedition cruising, advocating for its transformative power and helping thousands of travellers discover the polar regions. He joined Swoop Antarctica in 2014 as its sixth team member and played a key role in scaling the business to over 100 staff. This October, Alex begins a new chapter, turning his passion and experience toward developing Swoop’s growing Arctic programme.
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Karl Kannstadter
VP Content Strategy - Exploration, Signature Travel Network
With almost four decades of experience in the travel industry on both land and at sea, Karl has witnessed the evolution of adventure and expedition travel. He has been responsible for developing itineraries and introducing them into the marketplace, and he’s led trips all over the world. He’s managed a dive lodge in Fiji and spent three months in Papua New Guinea. His extensive travel industry career has taken him to over 90 countries, and his Expeditions have taken him to the North Pole, Antarctica, the Galapagos, Yemen, Uzbekistan, and the Faroe Islands.
PIONEERING PLACES: PERSONAL HIGHLIGHTS FROM EXPEDITION LEADERS
Wednesday 1st October 2025 | 10:50 - 11:50
John McKeon
Founder and CEO, Polar Latitudes
John has been devoted to the Adventure Travel business for nearly 35 years, and for the last two decades has been solely dedicated to Polar travel, specifically to Antarctica. He is the co-founder and still owner-operator of Polar Latitudes, a boutique US-based company that has, throughout its history, been uniquely focused on creating teams and operations with a dual mission of providing a once-in-a-lifetime passenger experience, while going above and beyond the traditional “leave no trace” mandate for this fragile yet critical part of the world. John believes it is his responsibility to leave the Antarctic environment better, and his passengers more enlightened, for having made the journey. Polar Latitudes was the first company to make Citizen Science a part of every voyage, and this year, will be adding a marine studies lab onboard, just two examples of John’s commitment to better understanding and caring for the continent he calls his second home. John represents Polar Latitudes in the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) and serves as Executive Committee Chair.
Mark Fifield
CEO, Coral Expeditions
Mark is a seasoned marine tourism professional with over 35 years of experience across Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific. He has served as Chief Executive Officer of Coral Expeditions since 2003, leading the company’s transformation from Coral Princess Cruises into Australia’s pioneering expedition cruise operator. Mark’s previous leadership roles include General Manager of South Sea Cruises and Awesome Adventures (Fiji), General Manager at Fullers Group (NZ), and Marina Manager at ORAMS Marine (NZ). Originally from Durban, South Africa, Mark participated in the 1982 Cape to Rio yacht race and spent three years on a partial global sailing voyage before settling in New Zealand. He holds an MBA from the University of the South Pacific and is an active member of SKAL Cairns, the Cairns Chamber of Commerce, and other industry groups. He has also contributed voluntary service with Surf Lifesaving Queensland as a trainer, assessor, and coach. Mark is also an honorary life member of Cairns Surf Lifesaving Club.
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Niek van Eck
Product Manager, HX Expeditions
After spending his early career in museums, tourism, and yes, Vikings, Niek joined the exciting world of expedition cruises with HX. First as a historian and guide on board, and from there he has grown into Product Manager for Svalbard, Norway, Europe, and the British Isles. His narrative and experience-driven approach to travel aims to elevate the ordinary into the extraordinary, offering a sustainable platform to explore some of Earth’s most impressive, and most vulnerable, places. He is looking forward to telling you all about it!
INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKERS
Wednesday 1st October 2025 | 13:10 - 14:00
Avivah Wittenberg-Cox
CEO, writer, speaker, coach, consultant & change agent
Avivah Wittenberg-Cox is a CEO, writer, speaker, coach, and global expert on 21st-century leadership, gender and generational balance, and the future of work. She’s the author of Thriving to 100 – Through Life’s 4 Quarters, host of the 4-Quarter Lives podcast, and publishes the elderberries Substack. A Visiting Lecturer at Oxford Saïd Business School and Adjunct Professor at DePaul University, she also leads executive programmes at INSEAD and Catolica Lisbon. Avivah is a LinkedIn Learning instructor and author of bestsellers WHY Women Mean Business and HOW Women Mean Business. She is an Ambassador for the Stanford Center on Longevity and the Global Peter Drucker Forum, and serves on several boards including NICA and the Chartered Management Institute. A tri-national based in London, Avivah was inducted into the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame in 2023.
Buyer Registration
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A pre-arranged meeting schedule with expedition cruise operators
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Access to conference sessions featuring panel discussions and inspiring speakers
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Hospitality at Glaziers Hall, including coffee breaks, lunch, and an evening networking reception
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An invitation to the ECN Expedition Cruise Awards ceremony on Tuesday 30th September.
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Over 25 Confirmed Exhibitors!
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