Conrad Combrink
Conrad joined Silversea in the newly created position of Director of Expeditions. He will have the responsibility for creating and coordinating many of the important aspects of our new expedition cruise programme including itinerary and programme development and selection and recruitment of expedition staff and lecturers. Conrad was involved in programme and itinerary development and served as Expedition Leader for the Noble Caledonia ship, Island Sky. He has worked in cruise expedition programmes for more than 10 years and has served as Expedition Leader on a number of vessels including the World Discover II (now Silversea's new expedition ship). He has substantial expedition experience in the world's most exotic destinations including Antarctica, the South Pacific, Russian Far East, Alaska, North Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Arabian Gulf, Mediterranean and North Africa. Conrad is a native of Cape Town, South Africa.

Uli Demel, Captain
Revered as both a naval captain and an ice pilot, Captain Demel has sailed the seven seas, leading expedition cruises from the Amazon River to the South Seas, from the White Russian Sea to the Indonesian archipelagos. With more than 20 years of expedition cruising experience and being at the helm for more than 100 polar expeditions, Captain Demel is truly a Master Captain. Working several years as a naval architect and then switching mid-career to begin as a ship hand in the shipping industry, he quickly toiled his way to the rank of captain. The Lüneburg, Germany native spends about eight months at sea each year and returns to his Adendorf country home where he spends the remaining four months. Capt. Uli Demel is a Member of the Nautical Institute, London. He also serves as adviser for megayachts and charger projects, mainly in polar areas. In 2005, he was elected for membership in the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operator (IAATO) Marine Committee. He received his master mariner’s license in 1982 from the prestigious Maritime Academy, Bremen.

Suzana Machado D’Oliveira
A pioneer of expedition travel, Suzana has spent 20 years logging three million miles exploring our vast world. The Brazil native, who generously shares her expertise, can do so in four languages. She has led adventure travellers across seven continents including the Artic and Antarctic. Suzana is accomplished, holding a bachelor’s degree in cultural history from the Catholic University in Rio de Janeiro. She maintains citizenship in Brazil and the United States. In her spare time, she studies the world’s primitive cultures, is an accomplished Zodiac driver, scuba diver, and kayaker.
 

Brad Rhees
By definition, Brad Rhees is an adventurer. And for the past 28 years and 120 excursions, the Antarctic has been his playground. Rhees’ zest for life and trekking off the edge of the map to the far reaches of the earth, affords him the opportunity to share his love affair with the diverse landscape, abundant wildlife and pristine environment of the Antarctic. One can scarcely believe this Colorado and British Columbia resident came out from behind a corporate human resources desk to now run his own adventure travel company in the American Southwest.

Rob McCallum
Passionate about the pursuit, especially the Polar Regions, Rob is a full-time expedition leader with more than 25 years of expertise. This self-professed “Antarctic Addict” holds a Master’s of Science degree from the University of Wales (Aberystwyth), is a published conservation and development author; is fluent in neo-Melanesian languages; is a licensed pilot and PADI scuba dive master; lecturer; Zodiac driver; and led an underwater expedition to the RMS Titanic wreck. A New Zealander, he calls the port of Lyttleton (Christchurch) his home.

Nadia Eckhardt
Nadia’s infectious smile will capture your heart, while her extensive global knowledge will captivate your attention. Having extensively traversed the earth, Nadia is well versed in a multitude of adventure destinations including Antarctica and South America. In her youth, the Cape Town, South Africa native, and her family often went exploring to the southern tip of Africa and the islands of the Indian Ocean. She began her career as a cruise director, but once she embarked on her first expedition vessel, she never looked back. Nadia’s credentials include: a business diploma from Imperial Underwood College of Commerce; an ASTA Travel & Cruise certificate from Sacramento State University; and a National Powerboat Certificate. Currently, she owns her own Seattle-based African safari and tour company. Twenty years later, Nadia’s love of people and adventure is apparent as she still gains great pleasure leading expeditions and tours to the remote corners of the globe for some of the world’s top expedition companies.

Robin West, Dive Master and Expedition Leader
Being in nature and on the water are two of Mr. West's dreams. He has spent the last five years realizing this dream. After obtaining his human movement science degree, he realized his passion for the outdoors and the world's oceans could not be suppressed. Today, the South African native and German national lives in Holland, but spends the majority of his time aboard expedition ships. He began making a living doing what he loved by opening two PADI dive centres, both of which work in conjunction with outdoor adventure companies along South Africa's Garden Route. This enterprise was a fabulous venture, but it proved to not be enough to fill the hunger for adventure that coursed through Mr. West's veins. As he gained experience, he began working on expedition ships as a Zodiac driver, snorkel & dive master, staff assistant and expedition leader. He now works full-time aboard cruise ships, voyaging to the far reaches of the earth. So far, he has trekked across Antarctica, the South Pacific, Indonesia, Australia, the Indian Ocean, the British Isles and Japan

Jarda Versloot, Assistant Expedition Leader
A zealous spirit has driven Ms. Versloot to the remote corners of the world. At age 18, this Amsterdam native, who now resides in South Africa, used her small Holland home as a jumping off point for an ever-growing adventure packed career. She began with a degree in International Tourism Consultancy. However, it was her love of the ocean and hunger for learning about the wide, wide world around her that brought her to working aboard expedition ships. To date, she has explored all seven continents, including Antarctica, the South Pacific, Papua New Guinea, the Northern Marianas, Japan, Australia, the Indian Ocean, the British Isles and Australia. She is also a certified PADI rescue diver; qualified in first aid; and can drive a Zodiac.

Russell Evans, Assistant Expedition Leader
Springing from a deep affection for the sea and a keen interest in travel, Mr. Evans decided on a career in expedition travel. This sixth generation Falkland Islander spent more than 6 years crewing and skippering commercial vessels and most recently worked in the Arctic, British Isles, and Antarctic regions. Currently, he is pursuing certification as a commercial yacht master. Utilizing his considerable cumulative knowledge of the waters around the Falkland Islands, he assisted with scientific research and medical evacuations; served as a naturalist; and supported international fishing fleets and cruise ships, eventually moving into providing dive boat support. Mr. Evans is an experienced Zodiac driver with outdoor interests that consist of hiking, camping, wildlife observation, and photography.

• Dr. Brent Stephenson, Ornithologist
• Dr. Brad Schram, Ornithologist
• Stefan Kredel, Geologist
• Dr. Susan Langley, Historian
• Dr. Tony Huntley, Biologist
• Christian Walter, Historian
• Jón Vidar Sigurdsson - Special Guest Lecturer
• Nancy Mann, Ecologist
• Richard Harker, Photography Professor
• Claudia Holgate, Environmental Lecturer
• Jon Bowermaster - Special Guest Lecturer
• Dr. Toby Musgrave, Naturalist
• Juan Jose Apéstegui, Naturalist
• Ignacio Rojas, General Naturalist
• Andrew Marshall
• Dr. Howard Falcon-Lang, Geologists and Climatologist
• Juan Carlos Restrepo, Geologist and General Naturalist