Katie Todd

I grew up overseas in the Middle East and Far East and we travelled all the time as a family, so I suppose it was always fate that I would end up in the travel industry. Since then I have travelled all over the world, including backpacking around the USA and Alaska in my early 20s, spending hours spotting wildlife in Kruger National Park, staying in a longhouse in the rainforest in Sarawak and seeing polar bears in the High Arctic.

I have been in the travel industry for 20 years, beginning as a ski rep in the Alps and then ultimately moving into product, contracting and operations for small specialist tour operators. I am now the Polar Product Manager here at Natural World Safaris, ensuring that our Svalbard small ship expeditions and Polar product as a whole are all running smoothly and we’re offering the best wildlife experiences. I thank my lucky stars that I work in a job that I absolutely love.

Where have you travelled to in the last 12 months?

I’ve been to Svalbard, France, the Seychelles, Switzerland and Thailand.

Where are you planning to travel in the next 12 months?

Plans include Switzerland, Svalbard (again) and Vietnam.

What is your first travel-related memory?

Apparently I was on my first flight at 2 months old to South Africa… I grew up in the Middle East and Far East and always remember being in the hot sun near a pool!

Aisle or window seat?

Window seat – Every time I fly over Greenland, I resolve again to visit…

Do you have any travel habits or rituals?

I always have to buy a good map wherever I go – I can spend hours looking at maps.

What are you most likely to splurge on while travelling?

I love being in places where others aren’t so I’d probably say exclusivity. I do also love some swanky place to stay every now and then though!

What’s your favourite thing about working at NWS?

It’s a great team, full of people with incredible travel knowledge and passion for wildlife – I am constantly inspired by the team to look at new destinations for my own travels.

What do you like doing outside of NWS?

I’m a sea swimmer so being able to walk down to the beach in five minutes is a huge bonus! I’m also a big fan of hiking on the South Downs. We’re very lucky being based in Brighton with so much lovely countryside nearby.

If you could do just one NWS safari, which one would it be?

Apart from absolutely anything in the Polar Regions, I’d love to do the Steve Winter Tiger Photography Safari.

Is there a standout destination in your mind?

Svalbard – it felt to me like being at the edge of the world.

What is your best travel souvenir?

A scarf I bought years ago in Turkey which now doubles up as my travel pillow while I’m away.

What is the best travel advice you have received?

Decide which clothes you’re taking, then halve the number!

What is your spirit animal?

I’m imagining a jaguar – sleek and elusive. In reality, I’m probably more like a seal, bobbing about in the sea…

What is your favourite thing about working/living in Brighton?

It’s a really friendly place to live and there’s no shortage of amazing restaurants to try.