Heather Thorkelson
Heather Thorkelson is a polar expedition entrepreneur and founder of Polar Tracks Expeditions and Minimal Impact Cruises. Based in Sweden, she has spent nearly two decades guiding travelers through the Arctic and Antarctic while championing sustainable, low-impact tourism.
Heather Thorkelson's Bio
Heather Thorkelson is a polar expedition entrepreneur and founder of Polar Tracks Expeditions and Minimal Impact Cruises. Originally from Canada, she has spent nearly two decades guiding travelers through the Arctic and Antarctic while championing sustainable, low-impact tourism.
She has visited the polar regions more than 40 times as a guide and naturalist, building a deep understanding of both the environments and the travelers drawn to them. In 2018, she was inducted to the Board of Directors for the Polar Travel Guides Association (PTGA), where she later served as Vice-Chair.
Her latest venture, Minimal Impact Cruises, launched in 2025 as a division of Polar Tracks Expeditions. It operates a wind- and solar-powered expedition vessel designed for silence, efficiency, and a 90-percent reduction in carbon footprint compared with conventional cruise ships.
Career Timeline
2007 — First expedition to Svalbard
Visited Svalbard as a guest and fell in love with the polar regions, setting the course for her career in expedition guiding.
2018 — Joined PTGA Board of Directors
Inducted to the Board of Directors for the Polar Tourism Guides Association, supporting professionalism in polar guiding.
2020 — CEO of Polar Pioneer Management
Led a second polar company, Polar Pioneer Management, as CEO from 2020 to 2024.
2025 — Launched Minimal Impact Cruises
Created a Polar Tracks sub-brand focused on sustainable expedition cruising with a new wind- and solar-powered vessel.
