Engineer

Julie Lassonde is a Canadian civic leader, executive, and philanthropist with extensive leadership across higher education, the arts, and the corporate sector.

She serves as Chairman of the Board for the Lassonde Art Trail, Canada’s largest public art initiative. Opened in 2026 across 62 acres and featuring over five kilometres of trails in downtown Toronto, the project permanently integrates accessible, world-class contemporary public art into the city’s waterfront.

Julie is deeply engaged with her alma mater, Brown University, where she serves as Chair of the Board of Governors of the School of Engineering and sits on the Provost’s Advisory Council. Her governance experience spans prominent institutions across Canada and internationally, having held board and leadership roles with the National Gallery of Canada, the Royal Ontario Museum, York University, the Canadian Engineering Memorial Foundation, and the Pierre Lassonde Family Foundation.

Earlier in her career, Julie held executive and board roles across the mining and financial services sectors. A civil engineer by training, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Queen’s University, as well as an Executive MBA and a Master of Arts in Art History from Brown University. In recognition of her distinguished contributions to civic leadership, industry, and the arts, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Utah.
Julie is married with three children and divides her time between residences in Connecticut and Bermuda.

Master of Logistics

Rhiannon Mabberley learned to float before she could walk, face-down in the shallows off a small island on Canada’s west coast — and she’s been chasing that feeling ever since, as a diver, surfer, and free diver in oceans worldwide.

By day, she’s spent more than 20 years helping shape some of Canada’s most ambitious real estate projects. Somewhere along the way, she became the voice arguing — in dollars, not just ethics — for stripping single-use plastics out of major properties and getting recycled materials into new builds before the waste even exists. She’s usually the only woman, and often the youngest, in the room, which has become an identity with a unique advantage.

She’s often trailed by her four-legged shadow, Hunter — skiing, hiking through the forest, or just wandering, narrating a one-sided conversation about what humanity plans to do about all this plastic. (Hunter has yet to offer a solution, but he’s an excellent listener.) She has volunteered her time and expertise on multiple boards and fundraises regularly for the less advantaged.

She’s joining eXXpedition this January to build real world knowledge: trawling for microplastics alongside actual scientists, gathering evidence for an industry that only moves on numbers, and sailing with a crew of women tackling this problem from angles she hasn’t tried yet. She’s coming home with more than data — with the receipts to make the argument harder to ignore.

Ocean Advocate and Marine Science Student

Kenia Marcano is a marine science student ocean advocate from Trinidad and Tobago passionate about connecting science, innovation and storytelling to create a healthier ocean.

Born in Ecuador to Trinidadian parents and raised across six countries, Kenia developed a global perspective from an early age and a deep appreciation for the ocean and the communities that depend on it. Her experiences living internationally sparked her interest in entrepreneurship and innovation, which she now applies to ocean and environmental challenges.

Kenia is the former World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council representative for Trinidad and Tobago in which she participated as a youth delegate at international ocean and climate events, including the UN Ocean Conference in Nice and the UN High-level Political Forum in New York. She is also the founder of Ocean Break, a youth-led initiative exploring solutions to plastic pollution and marine debris in Trinidad and Tobago.

Through eXXpedition, Kenia is excited to contribute to scientific research on plastic pollution in the Antarctic Peninsula while documenting the journey and findings with audiences back home and across the Caribbean. As the first person from Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean selected for eXXpedition Antarctica, she hopes to highlight the connections between seemingly distant ecosystems and inspire greater participation from Caribbean and Small Island Developing State communities in ocean science and exploration.

Finance Professional & Senior Leader

As a mother of three (adult) children the preservation of the planet, addressing climate change and conserving nature is critical. I am passionate about addressing environmental harm, especially after seeing the devastation of plastic pollution whilst kayaking in remote locations in Europe, N America and Asia. Having recently retired as Co-leader and CFO of a biodiversity conservation charity, I am now dedicating my time and energy to environmental issues.

As a Chartered Accountant (ACA) with a MSc in Environmental Management, I have held senior roles across both the corporate and charity sectors. I have served as a Trustee for 3 charities and I hope to bring a wealth of expertise in finance, governance and strategic leadership. I therefore aim to contribute a combination of skills to this expedition which are less typical and would seek to share these skills to support ideas, projects and organisations.

On a personal level I am a keen cyclist, having recently completed National Cycle Route 1 from Dover to the Shetland Isles (over 2,200km), sea kayaker and hiker, as well as enjoying cooking, theatre and red wine!

Taking part in this expedition is a huge privilege and one I intend to use as a springboard to deepen involvement in active environmental action through both personal engagement and offering assistance to other participants in my specific areas of expertise. I am looking forward to the adventure, no doubt involving physical hardships and challenges, but the energising freedom of the great outdoors will be hugely rewarding.

Operations & Strategy Leader

Natalie Foote is a Colorado native who finds inspiration in nature, adventure, meaningful experiences, and lifelong learning. She feels happiest outside, spending her time camping, practicing yoga, hiking, and exploring new cultures and landscapes. While the mountains are home, she has always been drawn to the water and the beauty of the ocean. One of her favorite places is by the water, watching the sun dip below the horizon.

Much of her life has been spent in and around nature, from backyard adventures and family road trips to leading summer camp programs and a yoga retreat. Time outdoors has taught her to slow down, shift perspective, and feel more connected to herself and the natural world. These experiences have shaped a strong appreciation for wild places and a strong desire to protect them.

In her work in operations and community leadership, Natalie leads teams, brings structure to complex projects, and turns ideas into action. She enjoys creating clarity, solving problems, and supporting work that moves meaningful missions forward. She is dedicated to supporting women and empowering others to grow.

Inspired by eXXpedition’s work since 2019, she is drawn to its blend of science, adventure, environmental action, and female leadership. Joining this Arctic voyage feels like a natural extension of her curiosity and values, and an opportunity to better understand plastic pollution in one of the world’s most remote and fragile environments.

Natalie is grateful to join this mission alongside an incredible group of women and hopes to return with a deeper understanding of the ocean and stories that inspire greater care for our planet.

Director of International Pole and Line Foundation.