Staff at Discover the World

Email jo@discover-the-world.co.uk 
Tel +44 (0)1737 214 213

Jo joined the company after finishing university by working in the administration department and then went on to sell the wildlife watching holidays, which is her real passion. She has travelled extensively throughout her time here to many of our past and present destinations including Iceland, Greenland, Spitsbergen, Norway, Churchill and British Columbia in Canada, Ecuador and the Galapagos, New Zealand, Australia, Sweden, Gibraltar, the Azores, Bahamas and Sri Lanka. She has also visited much of Europe, China, Thailand, Bali, Kuala Lumpar, India, various parts of the US and most recently her dream came true with a voyage to Antarctica.

Jo’s Top Travel Experiences

• Quietly cruising past icebergs the size of buildings swathed in mist in a Zodiac boat in Greenland
• Seeing the northern lights dancing across the sky over the frozen lake at the ICEHOTEL
• Watching polar bear cubs playing next to the tundra buggy in Canada
• Taking a scenic flight over Kaikoura in New Zealand and watching the sperm whales diving below
• Having a perfect day in Antarctica seeing humpback whales at breakfast, taking a zodiac excursion amongst icebergs and seeing crabeater and leopard seals, penguins and a minke whale, followed by an amazing sunset BBQ with towering mountains behind us

Email liz@discover-the-world.co.uk  

Liz joined Discover the World in 2002, working in the Iceland operations team before becoming Programme Manager for New Zealand for several years. Following an 18 month break she returned to DTW as Polar Journeys Product Manager in 2008, and more recently has set up our new Australia and Canada programmes. Having lived and worked in both Canada and New Zealand, Liz has also travelled extensively throughout Australia, NZ and the South Pacific, as well as North, Central and South America. She has also visited Iceland several times and in December 2008 achieved a lifelong dream of visiting Antarctica – which managed to surpass every expectation!  

Liz's travels have also inspired her artwork, which can be viewed at   
www.doodles-by-liz.co.uk 

Liz’s Top Travel Experiences

• Swimming with majestic whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia – literally took my breath away! 
• Exploring New Zealand’s Catlins Coast in search of penguins; highlight was going for a surf and being joined by a pod of Hectors dolphins (who were infinitely better surfers than I’ll ever be…)  
• Flying over the spectacular mountains and glaciers of Kluane National Park in the Yukon, Canada, and finally spotting my first (and second!) moose in the wild, from the air.  
• Antarctica: everything, from the dramatic scenery, the immense icebergs, the fascinating history of exploration, the endearingly comical penguins and other amazing wildlife, to the invigorating polar plunge, the great company on board and the enthusiasm and knowledge of the expedition team.

Email ben@discover-the-world.co.uk  
Tel +44 (0)1737 214 229

Ben (also answers to ‘Bin’…) is our resident Kiwi and is part Maori (only 1/32, but that still counts!). Before joining Discover the World in 2011 Ben’s colourful past includes 6 years in the New Zealand tourism industry; he also ran away to join the circus in New York (twice) and has travelled extensively throughout New Zealand, Australia and North America. Additional talents include juggling and being able to reach things on high shelves - very important with Lindi and Lauren on the team!!

Ben’s Top Travel Experiences:

• Swimming in meltwater on Franz Josef Glacier, NZ - bracing, to say the least!
• Most memorable wildlife encounter was surfing with an orca at Whale Bay, NZ 
• Birds have proved to be less friendly – have been stabbed through the hand by a yellow-eyed penguin (my fault entirely!) and attacked by a flock of Australian cockatoos 
• Setting my hair on fire during a circus performance in upstate New York...

Email lauren@discover-the-world.co.uk
Tel +44 (0)1737 214 243

In 2003 Lauren moved to Auckland, New Zealand and studied at Rangitoto College for 2 years before working in Auckland City. Lauren has a great passion for all things Kiwi and after moving back to the UK in 2007 she joined the New Zealand Sales Team at Discover the World. Lauren has travelled extensively throughout New Zealand and is now an accredited New Zealand & Australian Specialist. She has also had the amazing opportunity of visiting the Canadian Arctic last August and successfully sailed the North West Passage - a truly unforgettable experience! Since then, she has expanded her Arctic and Antarctica knowledge and is now also, a Polar Journeys Travel Consultant. She has recently returned from a 5 month, round the world adventure travelling throughout South East Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji! She has also visited several countries throughout Europe as well as the paradise islands of Rarotonga and Aitutaki in the Cook Islands.

Lauren's Top Travel Experiences

• Travelling on our wee campervan on the West Coast of Australia and feeding the dolphins at Monkey Mia - a highlight of my round the world trip!
• Meeting Jason Phillips in Whakawerawera Thermal Village, Rotorua, was an amazing experience. The geothermal village is full of genuine Maori culture and stories are told through traditional song and dance. I spent some time with Jason before he designed my Whakapapa tattoo which represents my family history, personal achievements and connections to special people and places. The whole experience was very moving - most definitely a true Maori experience!”
• The first sighting of a mother Polar Bear and cub in the Canadian Arctic - absolutely incredible!

Email lindi@discover-the-world.co.uk

Lindi started her career in sports administration with the International Tennis Federation and then spent several years working in the bio-pharmaceutical industry. She has a degree in management studies and is an accredited Life Coach. Following a year working and living in New Zealand, Lindi joined Discover the World in 2003 and has enjoyed the wonders of the travel industry ever since! She is passionate about New Zealand, its people and its culture. She has a life-long addiction to travel and her favourite destinations include New Zealand (of course!), Japan, Australia, Brazil, the USA, and Italy amongst many others.

Lindi’s Top Travel Experiences

• Standing on top of Mt Tarawera in Rotorua, New Zealand and taking off on a “scree” slide with a sheer ascent from the top to the bottom and into a fractured volcanic crater that literally “ blew its top” in 1886
• Flying to the top of the Remarkables mountain range by helicopter; sipping champagne whilst overlooking the most breathtaking scenery and views of Queenstown below
• Observing the 5 minute “Sound of Silence” on board the Fiordland Navigator at Doubtful Sound, in the depths of Fiordland National Park, and being humbled by the immense power of nature in this incredible wilderness and its awe-inspiring landscape