Polar Star Expeditions Head Office Team

Our head office is located in beautiful Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Members of the Polar Star Expeditions team include the following:

David Archibald
Operations Manager

David joined the head office team in October of 2003. He has spent his life in and around boats and ships and is an accomplished sailor/yachtsman. Most recently he was responsible for the snow crab fishing fleet and plant operations for a seafood company in Nanortalik, Greenland. Prior to that, David spent 12 years in the fishing industry, managing operations in Belgium, the Boston area and New Brunswick. His work experience, combined with a BSc, BEd and MSc, bring a strong operational and managerial background to ensure that M/V Polar Star is fit and ready for expedition cruising in all the remote parts of the world.

Kelly Castle
Reservations/Passenger Coordinator

Kelly has been with Polar Star Expeditions since January 2004. She brings to the company four years of reservation and coordinating experience in the Tourism Industry, most recently with a motorcoach tour and charter operator in Calgary, Alberta. After completing a one-year backpacking trip through Australia in 1997 and discovering her passion for nature, history and culture she returned to school and earned an Advanced Diploma in Ecotourism from the Nova Scotia Community College in 1999.

Dale Eager
Administrative Assistant  

Dale joined the company early 2006, bringing with her over 10 years of experience in office coordination including accounting and office management.  In addition to running the front office, Dale is responsible for staff travel, assisting with tenders and helping our Assistant Manager with the Safety Management Systems and Barbados Registry requirements.  Dale graduated from NSCC in 1994 with a Certificate in Accounting.

Mary Filbee
Marketing and Sales Manager

Mary joined Polar Star Expeditions in 2002. She is responsible for all aspects of marketing planning and execution, as well as all sales activities. Mary brings broad experience gained from working in industries including real estate, seafood and golf resorts and has operated her own marketing services firm for a total of 12 years, serving clients from a variety of industries. She has lived and worked in Canada, the US and Europe, worked extensively with Asia and holds two graphic design diplomas and an MBA.

Lee Harnish
Maintenance and Purchasing Assistant

Lee has been working for Karlsen Shipping since 1983. After obtaining qualifications in Marine Fitting, he was initially employed at the company’s then fish processing plant in New Harbour, Nova Scotia. Since that time he has received his Stationary Engineer 2nd class ticket and now works in the head office as a maintenance and purchasing assistant. Lee helps ensure that the Polar Star runs efficiently and safely.

Martin Karlsen
President

Our President comes from a long line of marine industry entrepreneurs active since the late 1800s. Martin learned the business from the ground up, starting as a messboy and deck hand. By 1977, at the age of 19, Martin was in charge of operations in Norway. Nine years later he became President of Karlsen Shipping and the overall group of companies. Martin is a graduate of Eaton College in England and Stranda Videregaende Skole and studied for his MBA at the Bedriftsokonomisk Institute in Norway.

Shera-Lee Kerr
Marketing and Sales Assistant

Shera-Lee joined the Polar Star team in January 2007 as our Marketing and Sales Assistant. She has a Bachelor of Public Relations from Mount Saint Vincent University with a minor in Marketing. Shera-Lee has a great passion for marketing and advertising, and brings an extensive knowledge of sales and customer service from her 10 years in the hospitality industry as well as an ability to communicate to diverse audiences using her experiences in corporate advertising and non-profit communications. As Marketing and Sales Assistant she is involved in researching destinations, maintenance of the Polar Star website, liaising with partnered tour operators and travel agents and various other sales and marketing activities.

George Myra
Assistant Manager

George  has been employed by Karlsen Shipping since 1977. For over 21 years he was Plant Manager at the New Harbour fish processing facility. More recently, George has been made responsible for vessel crewing requirements and agency work and is the safety officer for the M/V Polar Star. George is a graduate of Acadia University and the Technical University of Nova Scotia.

Pat O’Neill
Controller

As the Controller for Karlsen Shipping, Pat is responsible for the day-to-day accounting functions as well as the financial operations of the group of Companies.  A graduate of St. Mary’s University in Halifax and a Certified Management Accountant, Pat brings over twelve years of financial and accounting experience to the management team including a number of years in the ship building/repair sector servicing Nova Scotia’s offshore oil and gas industry.

Julie Ronbeck
Accounting Assistant

Julie began working for Karlsen Shipping in July 2003. She works directly with the Controller assisting with various accounting functions and projects for both Karlsen Shipping and Polar Star Expeditions. Julie graduated from Nova Scotia Community College with a diploma in Business Administration – Accounting in June 2003. She is currently pursuing her Certified General Accounting (CGA) designation and she expects to complete the program by 2011-12.