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Bridging the Equator: Micronesia & Polynesia

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Trip Leaders

John Yersin

John is a microbiologist who worked in the industry for 33 years investigating the impact of industrial wastes and products on the environment. The tools of his trade included diving, hovercraft piloting, and powerboat driving. He conducted marine, freshwater, and terrestrial surveys and then reported the results. Since retirement, John has done consultant work, taught powerboat handling, and worked as a fitness instructor. His extensive experience in powerboat and Zodiac driving makes John an asset to our team. Having spent a lifetime in environmental sciences, he is a keen environmentalist with some sympathy for industry. John's interests are wide ranging and include swimming and physical fitness, motorbikes, wine tasting, and good food. Any free time is used restoring old bikes and building kit cars.

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Jonathan Rossouw

Zegrahm & Eco Expeditions Director Jonathan Rossouw is a medical doctor by profession; however, his lifelong passion for wildlife led him to trade in his stethoscope for binoculars and take up a full-time career in the expedition travel industry. Since 1997 he has guided wildlife expeditions throughout the globe, and has gained experience with over 7000 bird species and 700 mammal species in the process. Jonathan has co-authored birding site guides to Southern Africa and Madagascar, and his guidebook Where to Watch Birds in Uganda is widely acclaimed as one of the finest site guides ever published. Jonathan is equally enthusiastic about mammals and coral reef fishes as he is with his specialties, birds and reptiles; indeed, he has an infectious curiosity and passion for all aspects of natural history. This serves him in good stead as he leads travelers on expeditions to all seven continents and scouts new destinations for Eco-Expeditions.

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Shirley Campbell

Dr. Shirley Campbell is an anthropologist specializing in the indigenous peoples of Australia and Papua New Guinea. Born and raised in California, her interest in different cultures was sparked as a child finding many Native American artifacts near her home. She holds degrees from Stephens College, Missouri and the Australian National University in Canberra, and is currently a research fellow at the Australian National University.

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Giovanna Fasanelli

As a young girl growing up in South Africa, Giovanna spent holidays wading through the tidal pools off the eastern coast. Watching the cult classic movie, The Big Blue, clinched her love of all things marine and after moving to Australia, pursued a B.S. in Marine Biology. Today, Giovanna works on an Australia fishing and adventure show, Escape with ET. As a dive master she has traveled extensively with experience in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Vanuatu, Fiji, and Palau, and has been involved in numerous documentary projects on the Great Barrier Reef, including satellite tagging of tiger sharks and green turtles in the Coral Sea. She has a deep love of sharks and wishes to involve her future with the proactive protection of these animals around the world.

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George Lake

Inspired from a young age by world-traveling grandparents, George developed a love for travel, adventure, and nature - especially pertaining to the sea. He became a certified scuba diver at age 14 and worked many years as a commercial diver, assistant dive instructor, and sailor working on charter vessels. He has recently retired from a successful career in computer network security and cryptography and returned to a life of travel and his passion for the sea.

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Susan B.M. Langley

Susan is the State Underwater Archaeologist for the Maryland Historical Trust. She received her B.A. in anthropology from the University of Toronto and her M.A. and Ph.D. in archaeology from the University of Calgary. She is a Dive Safety Officer for the state of Maryland and is a Master Scuba Diver Trainer through PADI. Her long-standing interest is updating international and national heritage protection legislation, to which end she often consults and advises UNESCO. She has published numerous academic articles in journals and books as well as educational materials for government agencies, including the National Parks Service. Susan teaches classes and seminars on marine archaeology and works as a consulting archaeologist for various projects as well as developing public education programming for use in interpretive centers, schools, and outreach programs. She also raises bees and is a master spinner who gives demonstrations and presentations on textiles of cultural and historical importance.

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Charlie Livesey

A native Tasmanian with a degree in environmental studies, Charlie is a nature conservation specialist with a passion for the marine environment. He began his career as a park ranger with the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service, then worked as a marine park ranger in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. In 2007 he returned to Tasmania as Conservation Programs Manager for the Tasmanian Land Conservancy which aims to protect and enhance Tasmania’s biodiversity and natural heritage. In addition to working as a frequent expedition team member, Charlie is a keen photographer and scuba diver.

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Mike Murphy

Mike was born on the Isle of Wight, England, and raised just a stone's throw from the once largest passenger ship terminal in the world. From there, his travels have taken him to most countries around the globe, where he has served as cruise director and expedition staff on both small and large luxury vessels. Mike's recreational scuba diving unintentionally led him to a career as a deep-sea commercial diver. He has dived in almost all of the world's seas. After ten years he left commercial diving to captain his own charter boat along the inland waters of British Columbia. Five years later he returned to cruise directing, sailing from the icy waters of Alaska and Antarctica to the emerald seas of the South Pacific and beyond. When he wasn't working, he sailed his own vessel extensively along the east coast of the United States and traversed the Indian Ocean from north to south. Mike also works as divemaster, taking divers to explore the underwater world of the Arctic and Antarctic, diving beneath ice-caps and icebergs.

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Julie Christensen

During Julie’s tenure leading travelers around the world she has visited all seven continents. Aboard a variety of expedition vessels such as Le Levant, Le Ponant, and the Clipper Odyssey she has traveled to the Russian Far East and Alaska; the numerous countries rimming the Mediterranean, Black, and Baltic Seas; Central America; Micronesia and Melanesia; the Middle East; and India. During several of our past voyages, Julie has been integral to the success of the expedition team due to her calm, decisive, and affable nature. With a special interest in Spanish and Latin American cultures, Julie earned a B.A. in Spanish from Western Washington University. Before officially embarking on a career in adventure travel, Julie biked across the United States; now, when she isn’t traveling, Julie makes her home in Seattle.

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Lynda Murphy

A native of the Jersey Shore, Lynda's love of the outdoors led her to the Pacific Northwest where she lives with her husband Joe in Seattle. She came to work at Zegrahm Expeditions in 1994 as the third member of our Air Department. During her 15 years working in the office, Lynda has become well acquainted with adventure travel and has also taken on several roles in the field-scouting new destinations, air/land logistics coordinator, assistant cruise director, cruise director, and land based expedition leader. Lynda has worked on several expedition ships, including the Clipper Odyssey, where she is now working full time as Manager of Onboard Services. Lynda has been to all seven continents, with extensive travel in the Asia Pacific and Oceanic regions. Her passion for travel and industry knowledge makes Lynda a great asset to our expedition team.

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