After a decade in the field as a polar expedition guide and assistant expedition leader, Manda Lundström is excited to join PolarQuest as Operations Manager. Her background spans both poles, with extensive experience from expeditions in Antarctica including Snow Hill, South Georgia, the Falkland Islands and the in Arctic including Svalbard, Greenland and the Canadian Arctic.
Before embarking on her polar career, she worked in the field of geoscience, spending a couple of years on remediation projects throughout Sweden. Over the past ten years, she has primarily worked with Quark Expeditions in various roles, more recently mostly as assistant expedition leader, coordinator and in helicopter operations as well as trainer for new staff involving practical field skills. She also completed a rotation with Médecins Sans Frontières, serving as part of the deck crew and RHIB first responder team, assisting in operations involving boats and people in distress, an experience that further strengthened her practical and safety-oriented mindset.
Her career in polar travel actually began with PolarQuest 2015, guiding on small vessels in Svalbard, an experience that sparked her passion for small-ship expeditions and meaningful guest experiences. Returning now in an operations role feels both exciting and natural, and she looks forward to contributing to PolarQuest’s continued success in delivering world-class adventures in the Polar Regions.
When not working in the office?
When she’s not in the office or at home in Gothenburg, she enjoys spending time outdoors and travelling to experience different cultures and languages. She loves exploring new places, hiking in the mountains, and discovering local cuisine as a true food enthusiast. She’s also passionate about motorsport, with a particular fondness for vintage cars, and has a strong interest in geopolitics.