Andi Cross is the Edges of Earth Expedition Lead, a growth strategist, journalist and sponsored scuba diver. She currently is leading a team of creators around the world to explore remote dive destinations, sharing stories of positive ocean progress and impact. Hailing from Philadelphia, Andi has 15 years experience helping build and launch impact businesses and evolve Fortune 100 enterprises. Becoming a certified divemaster and freediver has allowed her to travel globally, helping nonprofits, scientists and ocean leaders share their impact stories on mainstages. Andi has been recognized in major media outlets for her work in impact consulting, conservation, growth and disruptive strategy. She's a member of The Explorers Club for her work communicating the importance of ocean exploration.
Adam is the Expedition Logistics, Equipment and Safety Lead for Edges of Earth. As a long-time lifesaver and avid surfer from Perth, Western Australia, Adam has been in love with the ocean since his earliest days. His decade-long career as an accountant has enabled him the ability to turn big ideas into reality on behalf of both small- and large-scale operations. In his role on expedition, he ensures that the team delivers on all partner expectations, while also measuring the impact being made in each location alongside scientists, researchers, conservationists, local leaders, ecotourism operators, and more. Adam is behind the scenes as one of the founding team members, making a 2-year, self funded voyage around the world possible.
As the Creative Director spearheading the "Edges of Earth" diving expedition, Marla embodies a blend of artistic prowess and unwavering dedication to the ocean's vitality. Her professional journey is rooted in the dynamic realm of marketing, graphic design, and photography. Over the past three years, Marla has navigated the realm of oceanic impact, using creativity as a compass to illuminate the interplay between humanity and our fragile blue ecosystems. With an unquenchable thirst for authenticity, Marla has made it her mission to unearth and capture the realness of those safeguarding our planet's aquatic splendor, weaving their stories into a visual tapestry that evokes empathy and action.
As Content Creator and Social Lead for Edges of Earth, Maddy blends her strategic understanding of the ever-changing platform landscape with her creative talents to tell stories of impact around the globe. With a degree in journalism and a decade of combining marketing and creative for brands of all shapes and sizes, she has a knack for connecting people through empowering stories, and inspiring impact across a variety of sectors. She has created on six continents and in every major ocean, and has been invigorated by the way adventure travel and ocean exploration can move people into productive action for good.
As the Lead Videographer for Edges of Earth, Jeff combines his two main passions - capturing incredible stories of adventure and community, and exploring the depths of the underwater world and the many creatures that call it home. Over the past four years, his professional career has centered around those two fields, filming for brands and nonprofits, and being a wilderness guide both in and out of the water. His eye for detail and precision behind the lens has helped organizations tell better strategic visual stories that inspire and connect with their audience. His photography and videography is calibrated, curated, and consistent. It is his goal for the wider world to witness the wonders of the ocean, its inhabitants, and its everyday relationship with not just coastal communities but the entire human population.
I’m not any good at art – or at least that’s what my high school art teacher told me. I started drawing animals and writing stories at age two and haven't stopped since. It's a love that has never wavered, and nothing could deter me from it.
I always presumed I would only be able to secure work as an artist if I had a qualification, so with this, I attended university to obtain a Diploma in Digital Media. During this time, I gained a position in my desired field, but unforeseen circumstances soon brought the workload to a halt.
Losing my full-time job unexpectedly pushed me to pursue my long-desired career as a freelance illustrator and designer, overcoming the fear that had previously held me back before.
With the newfound abundance of time, I immersed myself in the art of capturing various animals as illustrations. From enchanting sea creatures to captivating land critters, and even the lesser-known and obscure creatures, I embarked on a creative journey. The result was an extensive portfolio that celebrated the diversity of our natural world.
Motivated by a shared passion, I took a leap and created @artworkbymatilda on Instagram. Little did I know, it would become a platform that resonated with biologists, ecologists, and scientists alike. Together, we formed a community dedicated to raising awareness about the awe-inspiring ecosystems and the remarkable flora and fauna that inhabit them.
Now as a full-time graphic designer and illustrator, my focus is on assisting businesses, organisations, and individuals in realising and achieving their artistic ambitions. I channel my efforts into raising awareness about global flora and fauna conservation and advocating for initiatives that safeguard our precious species and, ultimately, our planet.