Heritage Expeditions

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Heritage Expeditions Staff

Office/Sales Staff:

	Rodney Russ Rodney is the founder of Heritage Expeditions. He worked for 12 years as a biologist for New Zealand Wildlife Service on the management of rare and endangered bird species. It was during this work that he came to appreciate the importance of advocacy as a conservation tool. As they say the rest is history - he chartered his own vessel, a Polar Research vessel from the Russian Far East, and advertised expeditions to the Subantarctic Islands and Antarctica. His company has continued to grow and is now a leader in worldwide expedition travel. Rodney can still be regularly found doing what he likes doing best, leading expeditions on the 'Spirit of Enderby'.
	Shirley Russ From inception to present day Shirley has been involved with Heritage Expeditions. She was mainly involved in the administration and reservations departments but now that both the boys are traveling (that is different from leaving home) she is looking forward to being out of the office. She enjoys the sea and the wildlife of the many places Heritage Expeditions visits.
	Chris Ellis After leaving school Chris completed a diploma in Travel and Business Technology in Christchurch, New Zealand. He gained practical experience working four years in New Zealand before traveling overseas working firstly in Australia, then Ireland. He traveled around Europe, before coming back to Christchurch to work for Heritage Travel Group.
	Gill Scott-Douglas Gill joins us with 8 years project management experience from the UK. She has always had a passion for travel, shown by her worldwide travel experiences. More recently she made her way to New Zealand via South America including the Galapagos Islands - a highlight for her. She has also travelled throughout New Zealand, experiencing first hand what makes our Nature Self Drives so special.
	Warren Scott-Douglas After university Warren lived and travelled through Australia and Canada, among other countries before returning to the UK to restudy and gain design experience in the outdoor leisure industry. This experience, and his own travel and pursuits interests, have combined to bring new approaches to design and marketing solutions for the Heritage Travel Group.
	Debbie Waldron Initially starting work in an accountants office, Debbie has spent most of her working time dealing with figures. Returning to the workforce after being an at-home-Mum for a few years, Debbie worked in accounts for a local school and then a freighting firm before joining Heritage Travel Group.

Irina Babich Irina is originally from Khabarovsk in Russia, moving to New Zealand to study (‘Bachelor of Business Innovation & Enterprise’ specialising in Tourism and a ‘Diploma in Tourism Business Management’ at Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology) and worked part-time through her studies at Heritage Travel Group helping with office administration and Russian translations. She now works front of house and is involved with inbound product development.

Anne Lamb Anne has a wide variety of skills and interests.  Her training and work experience is mainly secretarial but she has also been a chef, an industrial knitting machine operator, a business administration tutor and a contract worker for the Department of Conservation, being involved in the 2001 Rat Eradication expedition to Campbell Island.  Any opportunity to be in the outdoors is embraced with enthusiasm and she enjoys photography, camping, tramping, mountain biking and kayaking.

Expedition Staff:

	Aaron Russ The eldest son of Rodney and Shirley he literally grew up in the Southern Ocean, surrounded by wildlife and wilderness. Aaron studied zoology and geology at Canterbury University, New Zealand, graduating with an Honours degree. He began expedition leading for Heritage Expeditions but has subsequently led expeditions to the Antarctic Peninsula, the High Arctic and Galapagos Islands.
	Nathan Russ Nathan is the youngest son of Rodney and Shirley. From a young age Nathan had the ambition to be a chef, he graduated with London City and Guilds. He combines this love of food with his love of adventure. He not only chefs aboard the ship but has been Expedition Leader, lecturer and zodiac driver. He is also chief Hovercraft Pilot. Recently he spent an Arctic season as chef on an expedition ship.
	Sarah McElrea Sarah studied ecology and conservation at Canterbury University where she graduated with a Masters in Forestry Science. After a couple of years working in Wellington (mainly behind a desk!) it was time to go exploring. She has worked as Cruise Director / Zodiac Driver in both Ross Sea and Antarctic Peninsula and more recently the Arctic.
	Helen Ahern With a strong background in conservation, outdoor adventures and outdoor education in New Zealand, Helen has traveled the world as a teacher creating opportunities for her students to enjoy some of the same pursuits. She has worked as Cruise Director for several years, her enthusiasm for this position and for Antarctica and the Islands that we visit is infectious.
	Brian Bell A lifetime of experience in the Southern Ocean and its Subantarctic Islands has only served to increase Brian’s passion for these remote destinations and the opportunities that they offer. After 30 years with the New Zealand Wildlife Service and Department of Conservation he now has his own company which specializes in island restoration and seabird research internationally.
	Matt Vance Matt has a diverse background, a university lecturer, filmmaker, artist and writer with a common focus on how people have shaped their landscapes and how the landscape has shaped them. Matt’s passion for the Southern Ocean and the islands dotted through it will become obvious as you sail with him through the Subantarctic Islands and to Antarctica.
	Dr Melanie Massaro After finishing her undergraduate degree in Germany she moved to Newfoundland, Canada where she completed a Masters of Science in seabird ecology. The abundance of seabirds in the Southern Hemisphere convinced her to move to New Zealand where she has completed her PhD on brood reduction mechanisms in penguins. Melanie now lectures at the University of Canterbury. She is a regular lecturer on the ship.
	Dr Victoria Metcalf After completing a BSc(Hons) and PhD in Biochemistry, Victoria is now based at the University of Canterbury working as a postdoctoral research fellow. Her current studies include research into the Antarctic Tooth Fish in the Ross Sea. Victoria is a regular member of our staff both as Cruise Director and also lecturer.
	Chris Eden Chris worked initially for the New Zealand National Parks Authority before transferring to the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service as a park ranger. On returning to New Zealand he worked for the Department of Conservation. He managed the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park and the Wakatipu Area (Mt Aspiring National Park). Chris is passionate about the Southern Ocean, the Subantarctic Islands and Antarctica. He has traveled south many times, as a New Zealand Government representative and as a team member with Heritage Expeditions.
	Aleks Terauds Aleks completed his PhD on the population dynamics and foraging ecology of albatrosses breeding on Macquarie Island. He now works as a Marine Biologist for the Wildlife and Marine Section of Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and Water and continues to be involved with research into albatrosses, whales and seals. Aleks is also a keen photographer and has contributed works to several exhibitions over the last few years.