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Call 1-800-387-1483 or email us
Call 1-800-387-1483 or email us

Our Team in the Field

Tour leaders are an integral part of the Worldwide Quest and Quest Nature Tours experience. They bring a particular expertise in some - and sometimes many - elements of the destination you are visiting and the theme we are exploring. They work with our expert local guides and naturalists to help you see and experience more and to create a context for the observations you will make. Our leaders take care of logistical concerns in order to maximize your experience. Last but not least, they ensure your safety and comfort. We carefully select our leaders and match them to tours based on their experience, their interests, and their compatibility with the destination and tour theme. Meet our exceptional group of leaders below and see where they're heading next.

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Marine Mammal Researcher

Andrew Trites

Dr. Andrew Trites is the Director of the Marine Mammal Research Unit at the University of British Columbia and oversees a research program that involves captive and field studies of seals, sea lions, whales, and dolphins. His research spans the fields of ecology, nutrition, physiology, and animal behaviour—and is designed to further the conservation and understanding of marine mammals and resolve conflicts between people and marine mammals. More >
UPCOMING TOURS
Professor of Biology

Brent Sinclair

Brent Sinclair is a Professor of Biology at Western University. Brent’s research on the physiology and ecology of insects and other arthropods has led him to spend more than a year of his life in the Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic. More >
UPCOMING TOURS

Bruno Tremblay

Professor Bruno Tremblay, McGill University, is an associate professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. His current research focuses on the presence of sea ice and snow at high latitudes and their effect on global climate and climate change. Bruno will discuss Antarctic ice sheet history and sea ice trends. More >
UPCOMING TOURS
Ornithologist

Catherine Jardine

A graduate of the University of Guelph, Catherine Jardine is a staff ornithologist and data analyst with Birds Canada, based at the organization’s National Data Centre in Delta, B.C. She has conducted field projects in remote locations around the world and is the Bander-in-Charge at the Iona Island Bird Observatory. More >
UPCOMING TOURS
UBC Professor

Dolph Schluter

Dolph Schluter, FRS, FRSC is a professor of Evolutionary Biology and University Killam Professor in the Department of Zoology at the University of British Columbia. He is the winner of the 2023 Crafoord Prize, one of the major international science prizes awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the Lund-based Crafoord Foundation, for his work on the origin of species. He was awarded the Royal Society’s 2021 Darwin Medal for major and fundamental contributions to the understanding of how species originate.
More >
UPCOMING TOURS
Fundraising Professional

Faye Wightman

Faye Wightman, BSN’81 (Nursing) is a community and engagement leader and former Chair of the UBC Alumni Association. An avid traveller, she has visited 40 countries, including China, Bhutan, Iran, Australia, and India. Faye hosted UBC’s “East Coast Extravaganza” tour to
Halifax, St. John’s, and Fogo Island. More >
UPCOMING TOURS

Jane Macdougall

UBC grad Jane Macdougall, a long-time columnist for The National Post, currently writes a reader engagement feature for Postmedia publications that appears in over 100 publications and platforms including the Vancouver Sun. You can join her in The Bookless Club where she spawns conversations that build community. Her professional career includes morning drive rock radio, weather forecasting for BCTV, and even hosting a game show! Her recent travels include Korea, Algeria, and Mexico.

You can find Jane’s website and more about her here. More >
UPCOMING TOURS

Jon Beasley-Murray

Jon Beasley-Murray is a professor UBC and chair of UBC’s program in Latin American Studies. His research interests include Latin American cultural, literary, and political history and global latinidad. More >
UPCOMING TOURS
UBC Alumni

Judy Rogers

Judy Rogers is a former Chair of the UBC Alumni Association (2011 – 2014). She is a recipient of the Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for Excellence in Public Service in BC and was recently awarded the Order of Canada for her outstanding contributions to municipal government and the community. Judy is based in Vancouver and is an active lover of the outdoors. Judy is a veteran of many walks, including as host of the alumni UBC Travel Club’s “Peru’s Sacred Valley” walk in 2018. Judy will be accompanied by our UK-based walking guide. More >
UPCOMING TOURS
Art Historian and Artist

Justin Newell

Justin Newell, art historian and artist, has lectured extensively on Western painting, sculpture, and architecture (from 1300 to 1963) at UBC and various Vancouver colleges, as well as leading art history tours to Venice, Florence, Rome, Paris, London, and other art centres of the world, weaving his knowledge of history, art, political events, and famous sights into his presentations. Justin recently taught the course "Venetian Painting: from the Renaissance to the Rococo Period" for UBC Extended Learning. More >
UPCOMING TOURS
Director of Quest Nature Tours

Justin Peter

Justin Peter is a Principal of Worldwide Quest and Director of its Quest Nature Tours branch. Prior to joining the company, Justin was the senior naturalist at Ontario’s world-renowned Algonquin Park, where he coordinated the park’s interpretive program and acted as lead howler for the celebrated Public Wolf Howl events. More >
UPCOMING TOURS

Kaitlyn Gaynor

Kaitlyn Gaynor is an assistant professor of Zoology and Botany at the University of British Columbia. Kaitlyn is a wildlife ecologist and conservation scientist who studies animal behavior, predator-prey interactions, and human-wildlife coexistence. More >
UPCOMING TOURS
President of Worldwide Quest

Lewie Gonsalves

Lewie Gonsalves, our peripatetic president, has over 40 years’ experience researching and organizing trips throughout the world. As well as designing and leading our President’s Tours, Lewie is also chief designer of our Private Journey collection of tailored tours. More >
UPCOMING TOURS

Liron Gertsman

Liron Gertsman is an expert naturalist and guide as well as an award-winning photographer. A graduate of the University of British Columbia’s biology program, Liron is based in BC and has explored and guided across all corners of this magnificent province. More >
UPCOMING TOURS
Canadian Writer

Lisa Pasold

Lisa Pasold is a Canadian writer who divides her time between Paris and New Orleans. She is currently the host of Discovery’s travel show, “Paris Next Stop.” She has published a novel and three books of poetry. More >
UPCOMING TOURS

Lynn Feasy

Lynn Feasy has worked with artists for over 20 years as a gallery owner, artistic director, and consultant for artists, government, and arts organisations. More >
UPCOMING TOURS
Olympic Medalist

Lynn Kanuka

Lynn Kanuka is an Olympic medalist and WalkRun coach. She is best known for her Bronze medal performance at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984. For over 25 years Lynn has inspired people of all ages and ability levels through physical fitness to take steps toward better health, achieve personal goals, and be active and happy. More >
UPCOMING TOURS
Marine Mammal Specialist

Marc Webber

Marc Webber is a marine mammal specialist with an undergraduate and graduate degree from San Francisco State University. He has worked as a biologist and refuge manager for non-profit organizations and the US government for his entire career in places all over the United States. More >
UPCOMING TOURS
Personal Trainer

Marisa Mae

Marisa Mae has trained clients 1:1 and in small groups for over 12 years from her base in Vancouver, British Columbia. She creates and leads programs, workshops, and workouts for UBC Faculty of Medicine Department of Paediatrics and BC Children’s Hospital staff. More >
UPCOMING TOURS
Archaeologist

Megan Daniels

Megan Daniels has worked as an archaeologist for over 20 years. She has undertaken archaeological fieldwork in numerous countries, including Canada, Bermuda, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Turkey, and Tunisia. She first visited Tunisia on a study tour in 2009, as a graduate student studying ancient North Africa at UBC. More >
UPCOMING TOURS

Michelle Sitbon

Michelle Sitbon completed her Undergraduate studies in Art and Masters of Information Science in Israel and graduated with a certificate of advanced studies from the Library and Information Science Department at UBC. More >
UPCOMING TOURS
Opera Expert

Nancy Hermiston

UBC Opera Ensemble Director Nancy Hermiston’s operatic career has taken her throughout Canada, the United States and Europe. The consummate opera expert, Nancy is as knowledgeable as she is congenial. More >
UPCOMING TOURS
UBC Lecturer

Paula Swart

Paula Swart is a museum curator and expert on Asian culture and history. Paula has degrees in Sinology, Asian art history, Chinese history, and archaeology and has published several books and numerous articles on the art and architecture of Asian cultures. Paula is a lecturer at the University of British Columbia and has recently been teaching courses on UNESCO World Heritage sites at the UBC Summer Institute and the University of Victoria. More >
UPCOMING TOURS
Professor of Oceanography

Philippe Tortell

Philippe Tortell is a Professor of Oceanography at UBC, and Head of the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences. He has conducted oceanographic research expeditions around the world from the Arctic to the Antarctic, measuring marine biological productivity and the oceanic concentration of dissolved ‘climate-active’ gases, including carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. His work focuses on the development of ship-board automated sensors, field experiments and the use of satellite-based remote sensing observations. More >
UPCOMING TOURS

Sarah and Murray Bancroft

UBC graduates Sarah Bancroft and Murray Bancroft are the owners of Birch Block Vineyard in Kaleden, South Okanagan. They have an extensive network of winery contacts in France and lived in Paris for a year. More >
UPCOMING TOURS
Naturalist

Sherry Kirkvold

Sherry Kirkvold brings a deep love of nature along with her more than 30 years of experience as a naturalist, geographer and expedition leader. She has worked in the national, provincial and regional park systems as well as museums in British Columbia. More >
UPCOMING TOURS
Canadian Agrologist

Wendy Holm

Wendy Holm (M.Sc., UBC, ’74; M.M.C.C.U., Saint Mary’s University, 2014) is an award-winning Canadian Agrologist, columnist, author and speaker.  More >
UPCOMING TOURS
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