Lisa Baldwin is not just an expedition guide; she’s the compass to your expedition adventures. With a passion for exploration and a deep understanding of the natural world, Lisa has carved her path as a seasoned guide, leading countless voyages through some of the planet’s most awe-inspiring landscapes. She now joins EYOS as an Expedition Specialist, drawing on her extensive knowledge and first-hand experience to help tailor and plan trips for clients around the world.
- Hi Lisa! Welcome to the team. You recently joined EYOS as an Expedition Specialist after spending years in the field. Can you tell us a little bit about what this new role entails and what motivated the change for you?
I’m very excited to fill this new role with EYOS which helps satisfy a core element within the operations team. I’m utilizing my past experience as a research biologist and a guide in order to excel in this dynamic role which is a hybrid between project management and expedition services. I was looking for a change that allowed me to utilize my project management skills yet still remained within the expedition industry.
- In your time in the field, you’ve been a guide everywhere from Antarctica to the South Pacific, Hawai‘i, and Southeast Alaska, with a focus on your background in marine mammal biology. With your extensive experience in expedition travel, what are some of the most memorable moments from the expeditions you’ve led?
I think it’s challenging to quantify all of the different moments that have been both beautiful and memorable. To me, my most exciting and enriching memories have been during a guided tour. Whether it’s guiding a hike or giving a Zodiac tour, I love nothing more than explaining and showing the value of the natural world to our clients. This role has allowed me to be a biology teacher in a very nontraditional sense. I find teaching highly rewarding yet I could never acquiesce to the confines of a classroom environment.
- What is the process of planning and organizing expeditions with EYOS Expeditions like? What are some of the key considerations and challenges involved and how does your experience as a guide play into it?
There’s so much that goes into planning and organizing an expedition. The process is multifaceted and requires a high level of attention to detail. From itinerary planning to arranging enriching activities and cultural experiences for our clients, it’s a process that requires careful planning and communication. I really enjoy the planning process as a whole. It’s a bit like a puzzle and each piece represents a different aspect of the expedition. It’s extremely rewarding to see it all come together for our clients. I draw on my guiding experience daily particularly when it comes to itinerary planning in different regions of the world.
- What sets EYOS Expeditions apart in the world of adventure travel, and how does your role as an expedition specialist contribute to the company’s mission?
EYOS expedition’s claim to expertise really is grounded in hard-won experience. Through decades of experience across all seven continents and a shoreside team alone that has over 350 years of collective experience, it’s a pleasure to be a part of such a competent team that curates world-class adventure travel for their clients. My role as expedition specialist is just a small part of the equation which ultimately enables our clients to experience something new and explore the edge of what is possible.
- Looking ahead, what are some upcoming expeditions or projects with EYOS Expeditions that you’re particularly excited about, and why?
I’m looking forward to our Northwest Passage projects this summer. The last trips I participated in as a guide involved the Northwest Passage and I’m excited to see our projects from a different perspective. It creates a more complete picture to the whole process having been a guide in the field to then being a member of the shoreside team and planning the trip.