Raised in the Pacific Northwest near wonderful nature sites, I was taught to be concerned for the environment early on. My father was a research chemist and my older brother was a geologist, so science was a major influence in my life. In college, I became interested in the conservation of antiquities and how they related to todays environment. This led to trips to Pompeii, Rome, Dubrovnik, Istanbul, Athens and Beijing. After college, I moved to San Francisco to work. I met my husband to be, Charles, on a flight from San Francisco to Hawaii. I was in the process of finalizing an around-the-world trip while he was exploring volcanos and sailing. Back in San Francisco, Charles taught me how to sail and a year later we were married and began our life together combining exploration with sailing. As Co-Captain, the most recent expedition mounted was the Arctic Northwest Passage Sailing transit, similar to Amundsens historical sailing transit route. Our expedition used the latest technology of satellite-mapping to survey the route and our expedition was credited with adding a new channel in the Tasmania Islands. Our transit information was recorded by Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, UK. In 2015, I completed a two-year sailing World Circumnavigation expedition which helped to collect water samples to aid research into the ocean dispersal of microplastics. Later, I joined the Circumnavigators Club. Other explorations have included: Mexico, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Panama including the San Blas Islands of the Kuna Indians. Plans are now evolving for an Amazon River, bio-diversity exploration. Also, I co-authored the book Circumnavigation Guide: Timed for weather, a forthcoming book, The ARCTIC Northwest Passage, 2020, and I was a contributor to the book of international women sailors, Blue Water Women, 2018. There have been many magazine write-ups and a television interview with Washington DC, ABC-7 TV WJLAs, Eileen Whelan.

Now retired, I was a Vice President with Barclays Bank of England in San Francisco. Barclays is a multinational investment bank and financial services company. I held a key role providing bank financing for rapid growth technology firms and Fortune 1000 companies. Other related professional highlights include serving as a member of San Franciscos County of San Mateos Housing Program. Also, I was appointed by the Mayor of Foster City, CA, to serve on the citys Housing Advisory.

My philanthropy focus is on education relating to science and has included: The Explorers Club Lowell Thomas Awards, major sponsor, and on the Board of Directors ; Mobius Science Center, startup co-founder, along with Astronaut Anne McClains mother, Charlotte Lamp; The Regional Library Foundation, major sponsor, and on the Board of Directors. Also received the Citys Benefactor of the Year Award. A medical School, PNWU, startup donation and on the Executive Committee of Advisors. The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre, donor, one of South Africas leading conservation & wildlife rehabilitation centers. The Smithsonian affiliate, Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture Executive Leadership Council, major underwriter and Honorary Co-Chair for the Leonardo Da Vinci: Man-Inventor-Genius major travelling exhibition.

My husband, Charles, a fellow Explorers Club Washington DC Group member and I have been married for 40 years. We have one son.