A younger veteran of the Expedition Cruise industry, the 45-year-old Newton has, over the last 20 years, led over 150 expeditions, worked on 15 different ships, and explored more than 100 countries. This includes 15 years working as an expedition leader in Alaska, the entire Pacific, and Antarctica, and he has also made multiple visits to the North Pole. And as if that wasn’t enough, he is also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and holds a private pilot’s license.
Commenting on the appointment, Iain McNeill, Hurtigruten Expeditions’ SVP Operations, is delighted “Alastair’s incredible experience from expeditions in the Arctic, Antarctica, Alaska, the Pacific and in all the exciting waters in between, sets us on track to realise our ambitions to be the world leader in sustainable expeditions on all the world’s oceans”.
Science, sustainability and super teams
Having studied Arctic Biology at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, Newton started his expedition career as a Wilderness Guide in Denali National Park in Alaska in 2001. He has since worked for some of the world’s best-known expedition and adventure travel brands including Cruise West, Polar Star, Orion, Lindblad, TCS, Overseas Adventure Travel and Noble Caledonia. He joins Hurtigruten Expeditions from Ponant where he has worked for the last four years as director of its National Geographic partnership.
Says Newtown, “I got into the industry thanks to a passion for wildlife and science education. My number one goal is to structure our global team to further develop the global industry’s leading Science and Education program – wrapped in the world’s most sustainable expeditions.”.
Starting his career at the at the Kantishna Roadhouse Wilderness Lodge in Alaska, owned and run by Doyon – the Native regional corporation for Interior Alaska, also gave Newton special insight and respect for native cultures he will bring to Hurtigruten Expeditions. “As I became an Expedition Leader focused on remote parts of Alaska, Russia, and the Pacific Islands, this helped me open guests’ eyes to native cultures and bring respect and understanding. I became passionate about remote places, and local culture and experiences centered in respect and cultural exchange”.
Newton believes the key to creating unique expedition cruises with edge, depth and meaning lies in the interaction between the expedition teams and the guests. “My goal is for Hurtigruten Expeditions to help guests deeply understand and appreciate the destinations we visit together through placing the spotlight on our exceptional Expedition Teams. It’s paramount for me to empower the Expedition Teams to realise their full potential and to help guests appreciate the full value of the Teams,” he says.
For more information about Hurtigruten Expeditions, please visit:
https://www.hurtigruten.com.au or telephone 1300 322 062
