Trys Eddy
This will be Trys' sixth season leading tours for ISV. He is an Australian Tour Guide who has led three seasons in Australia with ISV and completed a fourth and fifth season in South Africa. Trys's background is in education and the fitness/outdoor industry. He has spent the last ten years involved with outdoor education in Australia and abroad, and is a full-time student completing an Education and Medical Science degree. Trys is an avid surfer and fills his spare time partaking in extreme adventure activities such as bungy jumping, skydiving, and SCUBA diving.
Shannon Donnelly
Shannon originally joined the ISV team in 2007, working as a Project Leader in New Zealand before trading in her sweaters for sundresses and setting off to lead exciting excursions in the South Pacific islands of Fiji. She holds a dual degree in English and Anthropology from the University of Georgia, and has received numerous awards for her outstanding efforts in the volunteer field from the Girl Scouts of America, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Mana Food Bank. Although, her heart will always be at home in Asheville, North Carolina, Shannon counts traveling and meeting new people as her greatest passions, looking forward every day to seeking out new opportunities to 'be the change she hopes to see in the world.'
Irene Arce
Irene has been an ISV Tour Leader since 2010 and has been studying at one of Costa Rica’s universities to fulfill her dream of becoming an English teacher and making an impact in each student life. Irene became a tour guide over four years ago and since High School, has turned it into a full-time job, traveling all over Costa Rica, the country she loves. Irene’s passions include Costa Rica and all the secrets it hides, the culture people can absorb, enjoying a good soccer match and cooking all types of meals. Irene is very much looking forward to getting to know each participant, showing them her country, and making them fall in love with it all while completing the ISV program.
Erick Castro
Born and raised in Costa Rica, Erick is a self-trained naturalist and guide. He attributes his knowledge to a six year stint working for a research station where he was able to learn directly from researchers in the field. Erick has been leading nature-oriented tours for the last seventeen years and has worked as an ISV TL for four seasons. Erick enjoys any outdoor activities from mountain biking, whitewater rafting to SCUBA diving. He looks forward to sharing his knowledge of Costa Rica and its main attractions while having a great time with every ISV participant this season!
Liza Mora
Liza is from Costa Rica and has worked with ISV since 2006 as a Tour Leader in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. Liza has worked as Nature Interpreter and Biologist for over eight years in Costa Rica, Panamá and Belize and has a degree in Tropical Biology from the Latin University of Costa Rica. She is fluent in Spanish, English and German. Liza’s outdoor passions have taken her through different paths in adventure sports, especially as a whitewater kayaker, winning several competitions (2005-2008). She loves everything water related, from surfing to SCUBA diving and when she´s not playing in the water, she spends time in her family´s ranch where she tries to grow her own food. Liza really looks forward to another season in her home country where playing in nature and learning from it is her ultimate adventure!
Paola Durigutti
Paola was born in Argentina and since a young age, has travelled to many countries in South and Central America and Europe. In her 20’s, she moved to Chile and studied Ecotourism and continued to travel in South America all while leading tour groups, teaching and doing outdoor activities in several countries. She has also lived, worked and studied in Belgium, England and France and has volunteered in the Temple of Down in Bangkok, Thailand, where she helped to improve teaching methods of children and adults and learned about meditation and earth-building. Paola is an active learner and is passionate for languages. She currently speaks Spanish, English and French. Paola has also tried different sports, from water to mountain activities, and loves them all. Paola is very easy to please…just give her a beach, sun and she`ll be happy!Ecuador
›
Carlos Ramadan
Carlos was born in Quito, Ecuador and raised in Florida, USA. He traded the city life for a little fishing town in the "green province" of Esmeraldas where he now resides. He has worked for ISV as an Office Manager in the past and is thrilled to lead groups this upcoming season, which will be his second season as an ISV Tour Leader. Carlos completed his studies in Tourism and has worked in the industry for more than twelve years. He's passionate about traveling, learning different cultures, and loves adventure, art and music.
Ovidio Luque
Ovidio is an Ecuadorian from the interior of the coast (Guayaquil) who lives in the Andes (Baños). He has been working with volunteer groups since 2005, starting as a translator for mission trips from the USA. In 2008, Ovidio began working as an ISV Project Leader and then as a Tour Leader the following season. In 2010, Ovidio led ISV adventure tours throughout Ecuador as well as for ISV’s Galapagos Excursions. Later that year, he had the opportunity to lead ISV tours in Costa Rica during the November-February season. This will be Ovidio’s fourth year as an ISV Tour Leader. Ovidio enjoys showing off his country, rock climbing, and many other outdoor activities.
Elliot Smith
Born in New Zealand but raised all around the world, Elliot is a self-obsessed travel junkie! He has lived in countries such as China, Scotland, Africa, Australia and Canada from a young age and it has fueled his passion for adventure. Elliot has worked for ISV as a Project Leader in South Africa in 2011 and will start his first season as a Tour Leader in 2012. He enjoys any outdoor activity from skiing to bungy jumping and is passionate about music, photography and immersing himself in other cultures. Elliot is really looking forward to the upcoming season in his home country and excited to share his ISV groups’ “experience of a lifetime” in New Zealand.
Cornelius van Aswegen
Cornelius first started working in the outdoor and people industry in 2005, when he trained as an outdoor instructor for Abseiling, Rock climbing, Mountain biking, Sea Kayaking, Map Orienteering and Snorkeling. In 2007, he worked for a Veldt School teaching school groups about Ocean Ecology on the northeastern Coast of South Africa. Cornelius first became involved with ISV by facilitating project groups as the Host Organisation Volunteer Coordinator at the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre. Cornelius has since gone on to lead projects and tours for ISV in 2011. Cornelius is very passionate about the environment and Southern Africa and likes to spend his free time surfing, making music and meeting new people. His favourite saying is “I love it here!”
Gareth Webb
Gareth is a newbie to the ISV team this season and is enthusiastically looking forward to what it will bring and what he can contribute. Gareth has a passion for both people and nature, leading him to graduate with a BHCS (Hons) in Heritage and Cultural Tourism from the University of Pretoria. During his academic life, Gareth has helped develop sustainable tourism models for towns and communities but has since decided to throw in the towel (academically speaking!) and is now ready to show and share with people his passion for Southern Africa. Gareth’s enthusiasm for life and sense of fair-play is contagious, allowing for easy interaction. Gareth looks forward to sharing this with each participant whist ‘making a difference.'
Darrin Baxter
Born and bred in Cape Town, South Africa, and surrounded by all its natural beauty, Darrin Baxter was compelled to the natural environment from an early age. He studied nature conservation and became a Game Ranger, working for South African National Parks in the Kruger National Park. Thereafter, Darrin worked with the anti-poaching unit in KZN Parks’ Hluhluwe-Imfolosi Game Reserve. In 1997, Darrin moved into the tourism sector and began conducting mobile safaris throughout Southern Africa, eventually running a lodge in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Darrin has more than fourteen year’s of tour-guiding experience in South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. He is enthralled by all things to do with nature and is an avid birdwatcher, hiker, mountain biker and adventurerThailand
›
Supicha Chaiboonma (Queen)
Queen was born and raised in Thailand, both in Bangkok and her beloved hometown in northern Thailand. Queen credits her dad and brothers for instilling in her a passion for adventure. She realized that being a Tour Guide was the perfect job for her and started as a river guide before completing professional guide training at Chiang Mai University in 2005. Since then, Queen has worked as general manager of a tour company in Koh Chang, and an off-road adventure company in Chiang Mai. She has been with ISV since 2007 and has led over thirty-five tours in Thailand, making her one of ISV's most experienced Tour Leaders. Queen loves traveling and has a passion for photography and animals as well as language- she is currently teaching herself Russian!
Pakaphan Puanjaisert (Milk)
Milk was born and raised in Chiang Mai. Since she was young, she developed a thirst for adventure, traveling and seeing as much of her country as she could. After earning a degree in English Literature at Chiang Mai University, she followed her dream and trained to be a tour guide. Since gaining her certification, Milk has traveled extensively around northern Thailand, trekking up mountains and rafting down every river she encounters. She also spends plenty of time in the south doing her favorite sport: SCUBA diving and jet-skiing. Milk has been working with ISV since 2010. She is happiest when on a field trip and traveling. This year, Milk is excited and is more than ready to meet her ISV groups and share their experience of a lifetime in Thailand!
Kriangsak Takham (Yo)
Kriangsak (Yo) graduated from University of Thailand with a B.A. in English and a M.A. in Project Management and Evaluation. For many years, Yo has served as a Local Leader, Coordinator, and Thai Language Teacher for The Experiment in International Living of the World Learning and Global Quest Programs. Yo has worked as an ISV Project Leader for over three years though he recently joined on as an ISV Tour Leader this season. Yo is passionate about working with international organizations and people, travelling, as well as, exploring new places and cultures. He’s committed to international cross-cultural understanding and is excited to share his homeland with ISV participants!ISV's ONLINE COMMUNITY
CONNECT WITH ISV
ISV Blog
Skilled Trips for Vet, Medical and Biology Students
ISV is excited to launch 3 amazing trips designed for students and professionals with specific skills and interests. These projects will be running on selected dates throughout both Nov-Feb programs in 2012-2013 and May-Sept in 2013. Vet project with elephants in Thailand Medical and nursing projects in South Africa Sea Turtle Research in Costa [...]
Visit Botswana and Zambia as part of the ISV Wild Africa Excursion!
