Phil Hunter, founder and Expedition leader
Phil has been guiding travelers around the world’s most remote regions for the past decade, and is grateful for every chance he has to get outside to witness our planet’s most stunning locations. He is a veteran of over 100 trips to the high latitudes, including expeditions to Antarctica, Southeast Alaska, Eastern Greenland, and Svalbard. During his time, Phil has expertly led guests through some of the most technically challenging seas in the world, both in sea kayaks and powerboats.
Phil’s passion for the sea is equaled by his passions for wildlife photography and ecosystem dynamics. He is keen to piece together the mosaic of our natural world, weaving together narratives that he hopes will spur his guests to engage with the spectacular world around them. Phil’s degree in marine biology and years of experience in the field make him a knowledgeable and enthusiastic resource for guests traveling with Arctic Tern Expeditions.
BRENT S. STEWART, Ph.D., J.D., scientific advisor
Brent is an award winning scientist, explorer, author, photographer, and athlete. He was born in the territory of Alaska but soon after became a nomad as a ‘military brat’, growing up in Morocco, France, Germany, Spain and a variety of outposts throughout the U.S. After graduating from high school in Madrid, Spain, he enrolled at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) for studies in Math, English, and Biology.
Brent subsequently earned a B.A. in Biology from UCLA, a M.S. in Ecology from San Diego State University, a Ph.D. in Biology from UCLA, and a Juris Doctorate in Law from Boalt Hall at the University of California at Berkeley. He began working at a marine research institution in San Diego in 1977 where he has been since, conducting wide-ranging research on the ecology, physiology, population biology and genetics, and behavior, of all vertebrate groups except amphibians, on all seven continents, and in all of Earth’s Oceans. His research throughout the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic has spanned over 40 years, and he has co-led over 300 research expeditions to mostly remote locations on land, in the ocean, on offshore islands, and on sea ice and ice shelves around the planet.
Brent is a National Fellow of the Explorers Club and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. In 2011, he was awarded the prestigious Lowell Thomas Medal by the Explorers Club for his career efforts to explore, understand, and conserve Earth’s ocean wildlife, and in 2012 was recognized as one of forty of the world’s leading conservation biologists. His scientific research has been featured by the BBC, the CBC, National Geographic, New Scientist, The Economist, the New York Times, Gulf News, the Los Angeles Times, the San Diego Union, and the Wall Street Journal among others.
dr. marcelo flores, Expedition Leader
Marcelo was born and raised in central Chile. His fascination with the ocean led him to study Marine Biology, specializing in seabirds, marine mammals, oceanography, and invasive species. He possesses a Doctorate in Conservation Medicine and vast academic and field experience leading and carrying out conservation and research projects throughout Chile, Patagonia, and the remote Easter Island. Since 2017 he has been working as a Polar Guide both in Antarctica and the Arctic, and in the present day, he is pausing academic life and preparing to return to the high Arctic in the boreal summer. Marcelo is also an enthusiast and celebrated wildlife photographer. He has been awarded in several photography contests and contributed images to various books on environmental education. Find out more about Marcelo’s body of scientific work here and his photography here.
renato granieri
Renato specialises in wildlife and travel photography, earning commissions from newspapers, magazines, tour operators and tourist boards. He leads specialist photographic tours to a number of destinations around the world. He has spent several months working with chimpanzees in Sierra Leone, Uganda and Rwanda.
Award-winning photographer, he’s been featured in a number of international contests, www.renatogranieri.com
He has a strong passion for conservation and has been actively involved in a project in Sierra Leone since 2020, at Tacugama Chimpanzee Conservation centre. Last year, he was awarded the status of official ambassador for the chimpanzees by Tacugama.
Whether you are an advanced photographer wielding a DSLR camera and 500mm lens or an amateur snapper, he is available to help you get the most out of your trips with Arctic Tern Expeditions.
Check out Renato’s amazing photographic work on his website or on his various social media platforms, like Instagram and Facebook.