Aurora Expeditions’ 2022-23 special guests programme

The Australian expedition company said it wants disembarking passengers to be richer in their knowledge and understanding of the planet than they were when they stepped on board.

Dr Sylvia Earle

Renowned American marine biologist, oceanographer and explorer Dr Sylvia Earle will lead an ‘Antarctic Climate Expedition’ on board her namesake ship sailing from Ushuaia, Argentina on February 15, 2023.

‘Earth’s changing climate is the headline issue of our time,’ Earle said.

‘Antarctica is the part of the planet that plays a major role in shaping earth’s climate.’

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, a popular Australian media commentator, will share his infectious enthusiasm for science with passengers aboard Greg Mortimer during a 21-day ‘South Georgia & Antarctica Odyssey’ round voyage from Ushuaia, sailing March 10, 2023.

Richard Morecroft

Richard Morecroft was the 7 p.m. news presenter for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation for two decades. 

Morecroft also hosted a weekly national wildlife programme for the ABC and has narrated numerous wildlife documentaries.

He is a trustee of the World Wide Fund for Nature, a patron of Wildlife Information and Rescue Service, a governor of the Taronga Foundation and a director of the Zoological Parks Board of New South Wales.

He is the guest lecturer during a 12-day round ‘Antarctic Explorer’ package from Punta Arenas, Chile on February 19, 2023.

Lisa Blair

Australia’s multi-world record holding sailor, Lisa Blair was the first woman to sail solo around Antarctica with one stop.

Blair is also the first woman to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around Australia.

She has received the Spirit of Adventure award from Australian Geographic and the Seamanship Award from the Ocean Cruising Club.

She will join Sylvia Earle’s 12-day ‘Spirit of Antarctica’ roundtrip Ushuaia package, sailing December 9.

Dr Paul Willis

Australian paleontologist Dr Paul Willis studied zoology and geography at the University of Sydney, followed by a PhD looking at fossil crocodiles at the University of New South Wales.

Willis then trained as a cross-media reporter for science with the ABC.

His company, Palaeo Pictures, raises funds for palaeontological research and produces documentaries on that research.

He will be guest lecturer on board a ‘Wild Antarctica’ 12-day package from Punta Arenas to Ushuaia, which departs February 28, 2023.

Gillian Hovell

Others in Aurora’s lineup of top onboard presenters include English academic Gillian Hovell who has appeared on the BBC and is known as ‘the muddy archeologist.’

Hovell will be guest speaker during Aurora’s ‘Jewels of the Arctic’ and ‘East Greenland Explorer’ voyages, both departing in August 2023.