Meet The Team

The Explorers
Behind Argon

Dr. Gareth Andrews (Australia) and Dr. Richard Stephenson (New Zealand) are highly accomplished medical professionals with a shared passion for extreme exploration. Over the past decade, they’ve journeyed across more than 3,000 kilometers of polar terrain, unsupported and on foot — a testament to their resilience, expertise, and commitment.

In 2019, they completed a world-first traverse of Iceland, scaling the Vatnajökull glacier and descending the full length of the Skjálfandafljót river via packraft. In 2022/23, they undertook a 66-day unsupported ski expedition from the Antarctic coast to the South Pole, collecting valuable climate science data for the Australian Antarctic Division — a feat of endurance, logistics, and scientific contribution.

More than just adventurers, Gareth and Richard are compelling storytellers and experienced public speakers. Their work blends wilderness medicine, environmental science, and raw adventure, inspiring audiences and raising awareness for a planet under pressure.

Expedition Manager

Andrea brings critical expertise in expedition nutrition, logistics, and communications. As the Antarctic 2023 Expedition Manager, she coordinated operations and storytelling, ensuring every challenge was met with precision. She is a recognised IAATO expedition staff member.

Andrea currently works as Operations Manager for RacingThePlanet, a global series of self-supported, multistage 250km ultramarathons. She coordinates logistics and operations for races held in remote environments, including Antarctica and Chile’s Atacama Desert.

Dr. Gareth Andrews

Consultant Anaesthetist & Explorer

Gareth is a Consultant Anaesthetist with a passion for wilderness and expedition medicine. He has led journeys from the Arctic to Antarctica and this year joins his brother-in-law, Richard, to traverse Chile’s Northern Patagonia Ice Field.

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Dr. Richard Stephenson

Emergency Physician & Explorer

Richard is Head of Emergency at his local hospital and an avid planner of remote expeditions. With a lifelong love of New Zealand’s wild places, he now takes his mountaineering spirit to Patagonia, joining Gareth to cross the Northern Patagonia Ice Field.

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Andrea Andrews

Expedition Manager & Operations Specialist

Andrea is the driving force behind Argon Expeditions’ logistics, ensuring journeys to the world’s most remote regions run seamlessly. With a background in clinical dietetics and years of experience managing international endurance events, she now channels her expertise into coordinating complex expeditions while exploring the world with her young family.

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Finding the Balance

Both Gareth and Richard advocate for a healthier model of life in medicine — one where wilderness and wellness are intertwined.

“Adventure is essential to resilience — in medicine, and in life.”

We have a unique bond - we are all family.

Our expedition planning is shaped by a deep desire to include our families, sharing our love for the outdoors and expedition life  with them from an early age. For us, the mountains are a classroom, and every journey is a lesson. We teach our children to respect the wilderness, to make good and safe choices, and to understand that the more time they spend in nature, the better and more responsible adventurers they will become. Beyond inspiring the next generation of explorers and climate activists, we hope to show our partners and children that remarkable experiences are within their reach. Seeing these journeys through their eyes is every bit as rewarding as completing the expeditions themselves. We are not just teaching them skills for the future — we are passing down a way of life, and there is nothing more meaningful than bringing them along for the ride.

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