Cat comes from the picturesque mountain town of Lake Hāwea, nestled in the South Island of New Zealand. With a passion for adventure and outdoor exploration, she graduated in 2010 with a degree in Outdoor Education and Adventure Recreation. Over the following decade, Cat gained extensive international experience as an outdoor professional, working and traveling across the globe. Her diverse adventures have included whitewater kayaking in the United States, working with 300 huskies in Arctic Norway, rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking, and kayaking across Europe, surfing in Costa Rica, and exploring the coral reefs and tropical forests of the Pacific Islands. However, it is in the polar regions where Cat has found her most treasured experiences.
A certified Polar Guide through the Polar Tourism Guides Association, Cat holds multiple qualifications with the New Zealand Outdoor Instructors Association (NZOIA), including in whitewater kayaking, sea kayaking, hiking, and rock climbing, as well as serving as an assessor for hiking qualifications. In addition to her fieldwork, Cat has contributed to the education and development of future outdoor professionals, having worked as a lecturer for tertiary-level outdoor education programs. Cat is completing a Master of Psychology and is particularly interested in the connection between nature and well-being and social justice.
Since joining Quark Expeditions in 2019, Cat has worked on expeditions in both Antarctica and the Arctic, where she encourages guests to fully immerse themselves in the awe-inspiring polar environments. She is committed to fostering meaningful connections with the natural world and often takes the time to pause on excursions, inviting guests to listen, observe, and reflect on the extraordinary landscapes that surround them.
