Expedition Leaders
Patagonia Conservation and Wilderness Training - PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PROGRAM IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

Stephen Meyer - Country Director - Costa Rica

Stephen joined the team in October 2006 as the Science and Logistics Manager and stepped up in August 2007 to lead the expeditions. He graduated with a Masters in Geography and Sports Science from the University of Mainz, Germany, in 2005. Stephen has been in the German Special Forces, worked as a first mate and commercial diver in Australia and as a snowboard instructor in the European Alps. He is also an EFR instructor, lifeguard, holds a marine drivers license and is trained in remote & crevasse rescue techniques. So far, his work has taken him to SE Asia, Australia, North America and Africa. Before coming to Patagonia, Stephen led 2 conservation expeditions as a country director, collecting data in Malaysia (Setiu Wetlands Biodiversity Assessment) and Fiji (Coral Reef Conservation Project) for a British NGO. He speaks German, French, Spanish and some Arabic.

Katy McCune - Science and Logistics Manager

Katy joined GVI in May of 2007, first as field staff, then as the condor base manager and she is now the Science and Logistics Manager in Patagonia. With a dual degree in Biology/Environmental Studies and Sociology from Tufts University, her previous experience includes being the rearing specialist for California condors in Big Sur and Pinnacles National Monument. She has also worked at a raptor rehabilitation center, an emergency veterinary clinic, and at the New England Bay Aquarium. Most recently, she was a cartographer and GIS editor for the Virginia Forestry Department, piloting a conservation project for the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Katy is also an EFR instructor and a certified Wilderness First Responder. Born in the Appalachian Mountains and raised in Brussels, Belgium, she has spent most of her life travelling and decided being a gringa in Argentina couldn’t hurt.

Deborah Kurtz - Base Manager

Deb joins the GVI Patagonia team from the wilds of Alaska. After completing a Master’s degree in Geography from Montana State University (focusing on Biogeography and GIS), she has worked in the Rocky Mountains and Alaska on conservation and natural resource management. Her experiences include exotic plant management, stream restoration planning, corridor connectivity planning, watershed management, fisheries field work including snorkel surveys, and people management at a remote brown bear viewing area. Last year Deb expanded her geographic realm by travelling to a remote island off of Chile to collect field data on a critically endangered hummingbird. Deb is excited to be back in the Southern Hemisphere, learning about and working with new species in Patagonia. In her free time Deb loves to observe wildlife while hiking, skiing, backpacking, and sea kayaking.

Ian Leith - Field Staff

Ian joined GVI in the winter of 2007 as a volunteer, and stayed on as a scholar for the following spring expedition. Originally from South Africa, Ian was introduced to hiking and camp-craft at a young age and feels it is most definitely a huge factor in his life and loves the spirit of adventure. Ian has spent the past few years travelling through the Americas, where his experiences have taken him from volunteering for a non-profit organisation in Bolivia interested in re-introducing wildlife back into their natural environment, to working as a Camp Counsellor and then Adventure Coordinator for a youth camp organisation in the USA. He’s a qualified lifeguard and Wilderness Advanced First Aider. When not walking jaguars through the jungle, Ian bases himself out of England. He is excited to be back in South America, working in the Patagonian wilderness once again.

Malcolm Shead - Field Staff

Malcolm Shead is from the Westcountry in the United Kingdom and joined the staff team at GVI for the spring 2009 expedition. His background is varied, including extensive experience in the catering industry and time spent working as a Watersports and Activity Instructor. These skills have helped him travel and work through Europe, Asia and Australasia. Following a BSc in Ocean Science and Masters Degree in Climate Change and Risk Management, more recently Malcolm has been working for an environmental charity based throughout Devon and Cornwall, involved with their conservation and project development teams. In July 2009 itchy feet and the need to get his hands dirty again propelled him into contacting GVI. Outdoor life has been part of Malcolm’s upbringing and he is no happier than when under canvas! This job has enabled him to combine his professional goals with his hobbies.

Grant Williams - Field Staff

In July 2009, Grant left the United States to start a year of adventure travel, leaving behind his position as a therapeutic counsellor for the State of Missouri. He is joining this expedition as a hiatus from travel status. Grant graduated from Prescott College in Northern Arizona with a BA in Environmental Studies with a focus on Adventure-based Environmental Education. Prior to his job in Missouri, he worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School in Alaska, Teton Science Schools in Wyoming, and voluntarily for the Red Cross in Missouri. Some of his qualifications are Wilderness Advanced First Aid, Emergency Medical Technician, and he is a Red Cross CPR and First Aid Instructor. He is an avid adventurer and traveller who thoroughly enjoys the relationship between nature and humans.

Nicola Burwood - Expedition Nurse

Nix is a registered nurse with 9 and half years experience in Trauma, minor illness, tropical medicine, expedition medicine and remote care. Over 18 months of her experience has been in remote locations on charity expeditions in Borneo, Namibia, Ghana and India with further experience as a medic for charity bike rides in France and Spain. Nix is a very keen traveller and after leaving her role as a medical coordinator for a expedition charity in December embarked on a charity car rally from London to Timbuktu and continued her travels independently all the way down to South Africa. Nix is very excited to be part of this expedition in Patagonia, an area she has always wanted to visit but until now not found the opportunity to.

Michael Pollard - Expedition Scholar

Michael is originally from Yorkshire. After finishing a BSc in Biology at the University of Leeds he decided to join the GVI Patagonia winter expedition to test his knowledge and gain some valuable experience of life outside of Europe. After having a great time and with the opportunity to do another expedition he is back in the beautiful wilds of south Argentina for the spring. Prior to coming to Patagonia Michael had travelled throughout western and southern Europe and done various jobs including a stint in a Medical School mortuary.