Kara Weller

Kara’s connection to Antarctica began long before her first voyage south in 1993. Raised in Alaska and trained as a wildlife biologist, she earned both a BS and an MS degree before launching her early career in field research focused on Arctic and sub-Arctic species. However, her first expedition to Antarctica proved transformative, prompting a career shift that began with a four-week contract and evolved into more than three decades of leadership in polar expedition operations.

Over the course of her career, Kara has served in a wide range of expedition roles, including naturalist, lecturer, Zodiac driver, expedition leader, submersible pilot, and operations manager. She has led nearly 200 Antarctic voyages and built a distinguished reputation for operational excellence, strong safety performance, exceptional guest experiences, and high-performing expedition teams.

Kara has held senior expedition leadership positions with numerous IAATO operators, including Quark Expeditions, Clipper Cruise Line, EYOS Expeditions, Scenic, Seabourn, and Abercrombie & Kent. She currently serves as Senior Manager, Expedition Operations, for Seabourn.

In addition to her operational expertise, Kara holds an MA in Science Writing from Johns Hopkins University. Her background enables her to communicate complex scientific, environmental, and operational subjects with clarity and impact for guests, crew, and industry stakeholders alike.

Despite a career spanning leadership roles across the polar travel industry, Antarctica remains Kara’s enduring passion and favourite place on Earth. She was welcomed onto the IAATO Executive Committee in 2026.