Our People

Sarah joined Antarctica New Zealand as CEO in June 2019, following a long career with Air New Zealand in a number of executive roles. She is leading the organisation through the largest project it’s ever undertaken, the Scott Base Redevelopment.

Before Sarah joined Antarctica New Zealand she was Group General Manager Business Performance at Air New Zealand, with broad accountabilities including group procurement, domestic and international airline operations, leadership of the airline’s global property portfolio and major projects including introduction of new aircraft, and design of new customer propositions.

Prior to this she led the Airline Operations and Regional Airline divisions. Sarah was the first woman in New Zealand to hold the Airline Chief Executive’s Operators Certificate with CAA, and has had experience in sales, customer services operations and human resources.

With a Masters in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography and Psychology Sarah has always been impressed with the work Antarctica New Zealand does to support science in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. During the summer season Sarah regularly travels south to Scott Base.

Jordy is internationally recognised as a leading interdisciplinary cryosphere/snow scientist, with publications spanning from climate change impacts on snow, to avalanche forecasting, hazard mapping, hydrology and decision-making science. He has worked in both the Arctic and Antarctic, with extensive experience leading and supporting research.

Prior to joining Antarctica New Zealand in 2022, he was the Director of the Snow & Avalanche Laboratory and a Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at Montana State University. He served as Department Head for Earth Sciences, and as the Director of Liberal Studies. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Geosciences for the Arctic University of Norway.

He started his career at Victoria University of Wellington, worked at the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research in Switzerland, and then completed his PhD at Canterbury University. He then worked for NIWA before moving to the United States in 2010. Jordy leads the Antarctica New Zealand science team, supporting the delivery of world-class research and the communication of research findings.

Peter has led the Corporate Services team since joining Antarctica New Zealand in December 2003. Peter is a Chartered Accountant who has undertaken a variety of senior finance roles in the profession, in business and most recently in the public sector. He has managed corporate services teams for over 20 years and enjoys the variety this brings. Peter has worked in New Zealand, Australia and the UK but considers the highlight to be the short times he's spent working in Antarctica!

Simon has been involved with the Antarctic field operations, planning and science support for over ten years. Simon joined Antarctica New Zealand to lead the field training team before moving into the area of operations planning and of science support. Simon has interests in Search and Rescue and represents Antarctica New Zealand on the NZ SAR Consultative Committee and at COMNAP as part of the Safety Advisory Group. As GM Antarctic Operations, Simon is passionate about the relationships between other National Antarctic Programmes, the team environment within the organisation and supporting everyone who goes down to the ice with Antarctica New Zealand.

Megan leads a passionate team of professionals who are focused on supporting our people, promoting Antarctic science and celebrating the logistical support that makes it all possible. Megan was a journalist for 20 years, 13 of that with TVNZ, before moving into corporate communications and human resources. She oversees Antarctica New Zealand’s Community Engagement Programme which takes media, educators and artists to the ice to help tell our Antarctic story. Megan has travelled and lived around the world, but Te Tiri o te Moana (Antarctica) holds a special place in her heart as the last great wilderness on earth.

Ceisha has been involved in Antarctic policy and environmental management for 12 years, working in both the Science and Policy, Environment and Safety teams at Antarctica New Zealand. She has led the development and management of the Environmental Management System and more recently the Health and Safety Management System, focusing on the organisation's commitment to Zero Harm. She is currently the New Zealand representative to the Committee for Environmental Protection and the expert group leader of the Council of Manager of National Antarctic Programmes Environmental Protection Group.

Jon is no stranger to the challenges of rebuilding in Antarctica. Prior to joining the Scott Base Redevelopment team, Jon was the Director of the British Antarctic Survey’s Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme where he led a programme of work that operationalised the delivery of the Sir David Attenborough polar research vessel and completed new wharves on the continent and in South Georgia. He procured a new intercontinental aircraft for BAS matched to a complex runway modification, and he also led the construction of a new science and operations facility - the Discovery Building - at Rothera Research Station. Prior to his time with BAS, Jon served for over three decades in the Royal Air Force, retiring in the rank of Air Commodore. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2016, he is a Fellow of both the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Chartered Management Institute, and a Member of the Association of Project Management, where he is recognised as a Chartered Project Professional.