11 Jun 2026
Engineer, polar expedition guide, Coastguard rescue crew member and Irish dancer. These seemingly contrasting, high‑octane pursuits are just a glimpse into the multifaceted life of Rochelle Kirby.
A mechanical engineer specialising in building services for Beca in Tauranga, Rochelle Kirby MEngNZ is equally passionate about her chosen profession as she is for her seafaring activities. She says that the most important part of any role for her is the teamwork.
“What I like the most is working as a team with other engineers and disciplines. Every project presents its own challenges, but everyone is passionate about sharing knowledge. Since I started at Beca a couple of years ago, I feel as though I have learned almost exponentially.”
Passionate about diversity and bringing young people into STEM and engineering, Rochelle has contributed to numerous initiatives advancing that cause, including Engineering New Zealand’s Wonder Project. She’s also been awarded a number of professional accolades, including the 2021 joint winner of the Rising Star award from the National Association of Women in Construction and a finalist for the New Zealand Green Building Council Future Thinker of the Year award. She was also one of eight global finalists for the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers and American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Graduate of the Year award in 2020.
Teamwork is also a matter of survival in her job as a polar guide for Swan Hellenic Cruises, which offers high-end tours in Antarctica, the Arctic and beyond.
“The ships follow the seasons – Antarctica in our summer and the Arctic in our winter – so I’ve spent time guiding in both incredible environments. My contracts are for about four weeks at a time.”
Her role on the ship is a blend of polar guiding and ornithology.
Rochelle Kirby at Damoy Point in the Antarctic Peninsula, December 2025. Photo: Claire Penny
“In the ornithology realm, I’ll give lectures on a variety of bird‑related topics, from seabird ecology to the mechanics of feathers, where my background in mechanical engineering and physics often comes into play. I love exploring how those worlds intersect.”
Her goal is to make every voyage truly memorable for those onboard.
“Many guests have waited years for the experience, so I help them connect with the landscape and identify as many animals as possible.”
When heading out in Zodiac boats, navigating everything from open water to dense brash ice, she says safety is paramount.
“In the Arctic there are polar bears, so we go and scout for an hour before any guests leave the ship to make sure there’s no sign of them around. If there are bears nearby, operations will stop and we have the awesome opportunity to observe them from the ship.”
Rochelle comes from a line of seafarers – her father was in the Royal New Zealand Navy, her grandfather in Merchant Navy, and boats were a big part of her childhood.
“I’ve been always interested in maritime activities and completed many qualifications just out of interest.”
She has a great respect for the ocean, which is fickle and can change quickly.
“There’s a lot to learn which is why I do a variety of things and I love how they all intertwine and the skills crossover. What I’ve learned in the Coast Guard has been really helpful for Zodiac operations as a polar guide, and even engineering relates to the marine environment.”
So, how did the extraordinary polar role come about? On an expedition cruise to the New Zealand Subantarctic Islands, Rochelle met a group of guides and asked how they got into the field.
“They gave me very helpful advice about what to study and what qualifications to get.”
She spent the next few years working toward that goal, building the skills she needed, including a certificate in ornithology and a Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers qualification, a practical marine course covering maritime safety.
Rochelle says on the ship, things can get pretty wild.
“Sometimes the conditions are extreme. While we operate within strict safety parameters, it could be snowing with ice in the water and large swell and it feels like you’re having a proper adventure. For example, you might have your teammates holding fast on the lines for you while you embark the Zodiacs. Or helping you navigate when thick Antarctic fog rolls in and Zodiac navigation is done using GPS or compass.”
She’s also a member of the Coastguard in Maketū, recently gaining Qualified Operational Crew status.
“I’ve always had a lot of respect for the Coastguard, but I never fully appreciated the number of volunteer hours involved nationwide.”
In the high-stress environments in which they operate, teamwork is again vital. She’s currently completing a skipper’s qualification (Skipper Restricted Limits) which will enable her to operate vessels up to 12m in length within restriction limits. For the foreseeable future, she’ll focus on her engineering work and enjoy doing all the things she’s worked hard for. “I never want to take it for granted that I can go to these places.”
Rochelle also does Irish dancing twice a week, a hobby she’s loved since she was a small child. But how does she fit it all in?
“I guess I’m an active relaxer. I’m happiest when I’m learning and progressing in my career and in my personal life.”
This article was first published in the June 2026 issue of EG magazine.
