Meet The Team
๐ฌ Meet Our Marine Guides: Guardians of the Sounds
Our Marine Guides arenโt just staffโtheyโre kaitiaki (guardians) of the ocean. Each one is a proud member of the E-Ko family, drawn here by a shared purpose: to protect, restore, and inspire.
Trained through the globally recognised WCA Certified Marine Guide Programme, they bring deep knowledge, passion, and heart to every encounterโturning tours into transformative experiences.
Whether you're spotting a Hectorโs dolphin or learning about predator-free sanctuaries, our guides connect you to the stories, species, and spirit of the Marlborough Sounds.
They donโt just guide. They lead a movement.
The E-Ko Team
Paul Keating
Founder & Director
Visionary | International Captain | Marine Engineer | Guide Trainer
With over 40 years at sea, Paul Keating is the heart behind E-Koโs regenerative vision. A world-class Marine Engineer and International Captain, Paul has charted courses across the globe - but itโs here, in the Marlborough Sounds, where his passion for protection has taken root.
As the founder of E-Ko and lead trainer for our WCA Certified Marine Guides, Paul is dedicated to cultivating the next generation of ocean guardians. His lifelong mission: to restore and defend the biodiversity of Te Moana-o-Raukawakawa through education, leadership, and bold action.
A champion for marine protected areas, Paul combines practical experience with relentless advocacy. Whether he's free diving with Hectorโs dolphins, leading reef restoration efforts, or developing new conservation initiatives, Paul lives his purpose with integrity and depth.
"Weโre not just running tours - weโre rebuilding ecosystems, inspiring minds, and setting a new course for what tourism can be."
Outside of his visionary role, Paul is an avid scuba diver and underwater explorer, still chasing wonder beneath the waves.
Courtney
Level 3 Certified Senior Marine Guide
Head Guide / Shop Manager
Kaitiaki | Storyteller | Marine Advocate
Courtney bringsย 30 years of experience exploring and protecting the waters of the Marlborough Sounds. As a certified WCA Marine Guide, she leads tours that are more than just sightseeing - theyโre acts of stewardship.
Passionate about King Shags - e.g., native birdlife, youth education, dolphin conservation], Courtney believes every guest encounter is a chance to inspire change and deepen our connection with Te Taiao (the natural world).
When not guiding, youโll find Courtney looking after her family, always with a keen eye on the horizon and a heart rooted in purpose.
Dan Hitchcox
WCA Level 2 Guide & MNZ SRL Skipper
๐ Kaitiaki of the Strait | Marine Guide | Proud New Dad
With over a decade navigating the waters of the South Island, Dan is more than a skipper โ heโs a storyteller, conservationist, and lifelong ocean advocate. As a WCA Certified Marine Guide, Dan combines expert seamanship with a deep love for the marine life that calls these waters home.
Known for his calm presence and encyclopaedic knowledge of local wildlife, Dan brings every tour to life โ whether he's spotting rare Hectorโs dolphins or sharing insights on predator-free island restoration.
Now a proud new dad, Dan says his motivation has only grown:
"I want my child to grow up in a world where wild dolphins still swim free โ and where people still care enough to protect them."
When heโs not on the water, youโll likely find Dan hiking the hills with his family or teaching the next generation how to love and respect the sea.
Andy Endersby
Skipper & Marine Guide
โ Local Legend | History Buff | Tour Extraordinaire
Born in England and now a beloved local in Marlborough, Andy Endersby brings over 30 years of local experience and global perspective to every tour. A former British Navy serviceman with time spent on superyachts and in Australian tourism, Andyโs journey has taken him across oceans and industries - from healthcare to hospitality and back to his true passion: sharing the magic of the Sounds.
Andy is a natural storyteller, especially when it comes to the history of the region and tales of Captain Cook, which he shares with warmth, depth, and a dash of humour. His past owning a local tourism business and working in hospitals has shaped his deep care for people, while his British roots give him a charming international flair.
With three fantastic sons, Andy balances family pride with a full-hearted commitment to guests. Youโll often see him riding his bike through town, living sustainably and leading by example.
From guiding to teaching to simply making people laugh, Andy ensures every E-Ko tour is fun, informative, and deeply memorable.
Julie Robinson
Advisor & Strategic Manager
๐บ Conservation Leader | Ocean Advocate | Global Change-Maker
Julie Robinson grew up exploring the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, where a deep love for the ocean took root at just six years old. That calling led her to become a globally respected conservation leader, with over 30 years of experience crafting innovative environmental solutions across marine, coastal, and terrestrial ecosystems.
Julie is best known for leading the landmark Belize Blue Bonds for Ocean Conservation โ a transformative USD $553 million debt conversion that secured large-scale marine protection and climate financing. As Director for The Nature Conservancy in Belize, she expanded the team, tripled the budget, and launched ambitious programs across sustainable fisheries, regenerative agriculture, nature-based carbon solutions, and biodiversity protection.
Her leadership blends science, policy, finance, and community engagement to deliver real-world impact, all while mentoring the next generation of global environmental leaders.
Now based in New Zealand with her son, Julie brings her powerful track record to the E-Ko mission โ helping protect Aotearoaโs marine ecosystems and guiding E-Koโs regenerative vision for long-term cultural and ecological resilience.
"My lifeโs work has been about linking people, nature, and purpose. Thatโs why Iโm proud to be part of the E-Ko journey."
Julie is a Belizean national and Fellow of Wake Forest Universityโs Sabin Center for Environment and Sustainability.
Astoria Fenjie Qi
Project Coordinator & Regenerative Tourism Advisor
๐ฟ Social-Ecological Thinker | Connector | Caregiver of Place
Born in the mountain city of Lanzhou, Northwest China, Astoria brings a deeply rooted appreciation for resilience, landscapes, and the delicate balance between people and nature. Her journey has taken her from finance and events in Beijing to the coastlines of Aotearoaโguided by a clear vision: to create tourism that heals, connects, and empowers.
Astoria works at the intersection of project coordination, conservation partnerships, and sustainable business strategy. With hands-on experience in hospitality, risk management, and community engagement, she supports initiatives that restore habitats, uplift Indigenous knowledge, and build long-term social-ecological resilience.
A PhD in Development Studies (Massey University) and a Masterโs in Tourism Management (University of Queensland) back her strategic insight. Her research and practice focus on regenerative tourism as a form of caregivingโa way to honour both land and lineage.
At E-Ko, Astoria advises on marine restoration, community partnerships, and educational programs, always with a commitment to inclusion, reciprocity, and future-focused action.
โTo travel is to enter into relationship. My work is about making those relationships regenerativeโfor people and for place.โ
A passionate diver, snorkeler, and hiker, Astoria draws strength and inspiration from the ocean, and from the cultural stories woven through every wave and coastline.
The E-Ko Digital Team
Jitendra Patel
Head of Digital Marketing
Jitendra is an award winning digital marketing specialist with extensive experience in New Zealandโs tourism industry. He works closely with E-Ko Tours to generate awareness, bookings, and brand presence across Google, Meta, and other online channels.
With a deep understanding of how travellers research and plan their adventures, Jitendra focuses on connecting the right audiences with authentic, nature-based experiences. His data-driven strategies and storytelling approach help E-Ko Tours showcase the beauty of Picton and the Marlborough Sounds โ inspiring more visitors to discover dolphins, wildlife, and the wonders of the region.
Tom Butlin
Google & Paid Performance
I entered the world of online marketing in 2000, running e-business seminars in London.
Since then I have run an international publisher's website, managed a tertiary education web team and spent 6 years a senior search analyst for a search marketing agency.
I love the internet, and have found my calling in the world of paid search.
Status
Current; craft beer aficionado, snapper fisherman, Coast to Coast runner, family man
Previous; volunteer firefighter, cyclist, geologist (for exactly 1 day)
Future; craft beer aficionado, snapper fisherman, family man, cyclist, possible Coast to Coast repeater
Brent Carpenter
AI, Content & Funnels
I studied Tourism Marketing at the University of Johannesburg and built my career leading sales and marketing teams in the tourism sector. I managed a national sales and marketing team of 35 at TourVest - Tourism Investment Group, founded iHololidays, a tour operator focused on wildlife conservation in the big 5 Game Lodges in South Africa. I was a director at Six Degrees Media, which produced in-flight media and content for 3 major airlines. Travel has been in my blood since I was young. I have been fortunate to have lived in 4 different countries and visited all 6 continents of the world. (Only Antarctica to go).
After moving to New Zealand in 2016, I continued leading national sales and marketing initiatives in the digital payments sector before transitioning into AI where I founded Global Thinking AI to future-proof my expertise and help businesses adapt to an AI-driven world.
My hobbies include cycling, anything outdoors and 50cc motorcycles and mopeds.
Tourism remains my passion, especially regenerative and nature-based tourism. I now combine this passion with AI innovation โ helping operators like E-Ko Tours stay at the forefront of their industry by creating unforgettable experiences that connect people with nature, while safeguarding the environment and protecting its inhabitants.
You can see more of what I do here.
Neil Martin
Email Automation & API Development
Profile coming soon.
Paul Keating
Content Creation & Domain Management
Donna Anderson-Jones
ย Website Development & Technical Design
Profile coming soon.