Atlas Ocean Voyages Announces Expedition Team Leaders for Antarctica 2023/2024 Season
Atlas Ocean Voyages, the leader in yacht expedition cruising, is pleased to introduce the Expedition Team Leaders who will guide guests on unforgettable journeys throughout the 2023/2024 Antarctica season aboard the luxurious World Voyager, World Navigator, and World Traveller yachts.
“Atlas Ocean Voyages is proud to have such a talented and knowledgeable group of Expedition Team Leaders guiding guests through incredible journeys to Antarctica.” stated James A. Rodriguez, the line’s president and CEO, “Their wealth of knowledge and experience ensures that each expedition will be an unforgettable adventure for all those on board.”
In addition to this exciting announcement, we are pleased to share that World Voyager has completed her extensive refresh at the Viana do Castelo shipyard in Portugal and is now en route to Ushuaia, marking the commencement of her much-anticipated Antarctic season beginning on Nov 8.
World Voyager Expedition Manager and Expedition Leader: Jean-Roche de Susanne
Jean-Roche de Susanne embarked on his journey into the world of expedition travel after a backpacking expedition through Latin America. His adventures led him to the Galapagos Archipelago, where he initially served as a volunteer and later became the Galapagos National Park Graphic Designer. With a passion for naturalism, he graduated as a Galapagos Naturalist Guide in 2005, launching his career as a Naturalist and Expedition Leader.
In 2011, Jean-Roche broadened his horizons by becoming a Tour Leader in various countries, including Cuba, Panama, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, France, Spain, and Portugal. His vast experience in tourism and communication eventually led him to Polar Expedition Cruises in 2019, where he explored Patagonia, the Arctic, and the Antarctic Peninsula. In 2023, he has embraced the challenge of serving as the AOV Expedition Manager, eagerly looking forward to sharing this extraordinary expedition with guests and enhancing their overall experience.
World Navigator Expedition Leader: Jonathan Zaccaria
Jonathan Zaccaria, originally from France, began his journey into the world of exploration with a background in spectrometry engineering. His work led him to Antarctica, where he spent fourteen months at the coastal French Dumont d’Urville Station. Situated in one of the world’s windiest locations and surrounded by sea ice for eight months a year, this station is known for its proximity to an Emperor penguin colony made famous by “The March of the Penguin” documentary.
Jonathan’s responsibilities included measuring the ozone layer and UV rates in this challenging environment. Subsequently, he overwintered at the high Antarctic plateau’s only international station, where temperatures could drop to as low as -84°C (-120°F). Here, he served as a radio operator, overseeing telecommunications and geophysics instrumentation. Later, he transitioned into guiding on expedition ships in both the Antarctic and Arctic regions, where he achieved notable milestones, such as naming a new place on the Antarctic Chart and discovering a new Emperor Penguin colony. Jonathan’s extensive experience spans ten years, including over 150 voyages aboard vessels of varying sizes, each accommodating from 12 to 220 guests. Beyond his work, Jonathan has a strong interest in permaculture and self-sufficiency.
World Traveller Expedition Leader: Ekaterina Uryopova
Ekaterina Uryopova’s roots in Siberia, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes and Indigenous communities, have fueled her passion for environmental exploration. Holding a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from Lomonosov Moscow State University (Russia) and a Master’s degree in International Journalism from the University of Salford (UK), she brings a unique blend of scientific rigor and storytelling finesse to her work.
With academic interests spanning marine biology, oceanography, and the climate’s impact on ecosystems, Ekaterina has conducted interdisciplinary research in environmental protection. Her Antarctic experience includes internships at the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty in Argentina and the Smithsonian Institution in the USA.
A member of both APECS (Association of Polar Early Career Scientists) and PYRN (Permafrost Young Researchers Network) councils, Ekaterina has dedicated over a decade to working in both Antarctica and the Arctic. She is a Senior Fellow at the Arctic Institute, Centre for Circumpolar Security Studies in Washington D.C.
Having sailed the high seas on nuclear icebreakers and explorer’s vessels, Ekaterina has explored remote northern destinations, including the Geographical North Pole, Svalbard, Franz Josef Land, and the Canadian Arctic. Her firsthand experiences and academic background make her an invaluable asset to the Atlas Ocean Voyages Expedition Team, enriching the Antarctic journey with her deep knowledge and commitment to environmental stewardship.
For information and reservations, call a travel advisor or 1.844.44.ATLAS or visit www.AtlasOceanVoyages.com. You can also follow Atlas on Facebook and Instagram: www.facebook.com/AtlasOceanVoyages or www.instagram.com/AtlasOceanVoyages.