Alumni News December 2024

**A round up of Alumni News from our December 2024 Explorer newsletter.**

Gemma Wyllie (Inspiring Explorer 2023), a passionate pediatric nurse, has embarked on a three-month volunteer mission with Mercy Ships in Sierra Leone, Africa. In a country where over half of the population lives in poverty and access to healthcare is limited, Gemma is part of a dedicated team providing free, life-changing surgeries and medical care to those who need it most, making a profound impact on both patients and communities.

James Blake (Inspiring Explorer 2015) recently served as the Director of Photography for the film Endurance, which chronicles the discovery of Shackleton’s lost ship. He was filming with the Endurance22 team when the ship was first discovered and captured the underwater footage of the Endurance wreck. James credited his Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ experience with the Trust in 2015 as having a helping-hand in him securing this opportunity. The film has been released in UK cinemas and is now available to stream on Disney+.

Julian Bickersteth (Trust Conservation Design Team) captivated attendees at the International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (IIC) Lima 2024 Congress with a presentation on the Trust’s Ross Sea Heritage Restoration Project. Speaking to a paper he co-authored with Gord Macdonald (Trust Heritage Consultant) and Lizzie Meek (Trust Collections Conservation Manager), titled “Sustainable Conservation Solutions in a Hostile Environment: the Historic Huts of Antarctica”, Julian highlighted the project’s adaptability in the face of harsh conditions and the importance of long-term vision in heritage conservation, with particular reference to conservation work on the Observation Hill Cross. The presentation was praised as a “masterclass” by IIC Secretary General Professor Jane Henderson and sparked thought-provoking discussions on the impact of climate change on fragile environments.

Isobel Ewing (Inspiring Explorer 2017) recently took the opportunity to spend four months bikepacking in Ladakh, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia and Crete. You can read about her adventures at substack.com/@isobelewing. Isobel is now living in Istanbul working as an anchor for TRT World.

After years of volunteering in the climate space, including co-founding the nonprofit Climate Club, Jenny Sahng (Inspiring Explorer 2023) felt it was the right time to dedicate her career to tackling the climate crisis. She has transitioned from working at a tech startup she co-founded to working full-time for Rewiring Aotearoa, a climate data nonprofit. Jenny is passionate about her new role and feels it aligns perfectly with her values and purpose.

Annick Vuissoz (Conservator 2014-15) is currently working at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, USA, where she conserves artefacts, coffins, and mummified people in preparation for a new exhibit on Ancient Egypt planned for the end of 2026. As the lab manager of a visible conservation lab located inside The Stories We Keep exhibit, Annick focuses on conservation, trains various interns and volunteers, and supports all the museum’s departments with their specific needs, particularly rehousing and integrated pest management. In addition to her current projects, she will conserve a large number of artefacts and taxidermy animals from the Arctic region next year. In June 2024, Annick obtained an additional Master in Conservation of Cultural Heritage from the Sorbonne University in Paris, France.

Since working on Ross Island with the Trust’s On-Ice Conservation team, Diana McCormack (Conservation Ambassador 2017) has become Head of Conservation for the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth, UK. She recently led an exhibition project titled “Worlds beneath the Waves,” focusing on the legacy of HMS Challenger and the Royal Navy’s oceanographic work, particularly on HMS Protector in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. The exhibition, which runs until the end of March 2025, features collections from the National Oceanography Centre, including specimens from Captain Scott’s Discovery, which was refitted as the first official Royal Research Ship in 1925. The exhibition also showcases the original Boaty McBoatface underwater vehicle and specimens recovered from the Challenger expedition 150 years ago, demonstrating the progression of ocean science to the present day and the importance of protecting Antarctica.

Several academic papers have kept David Harrowfield (Trust Inaugural Executive Officer) busy. His latest work, co-authored with a colleague, has been accepted for publication in Records of Canterbury Museum and is awaiting final release. In addition to this, David has submitted a paper on Sir Ernest Shackleton’s membership in the Masonic Lodge and is about to send another featuring international science in Terra Nova Bay. He has also completed his 36-chapter memoir on Physical Geography at the University of Canterbury, which will soon be sent to an editor.

Cole Yeoman (Inspiring Explorer 2023) recently spent two months in Palestine documenting the everyday struggle for those living there. Since returning to New Zealand, Cole has been sharing his first-hand experiences and the stories of those he encountered through various media outlets and in-person seminars across the country.