Sam grew up in Timaru on the eastern Pacific coast of the South Island, swimming at beaches with scenic views of the Southern Alps. He completed his higher education at University of Otago in Dunedin, receiving degrees in business management and philosophy, politics and economics. After a brief spell as a corporate project manager, Sam hit the road and traveled extensively throughout the Pacific, Europe, Southeast Asia and Central Asia. Along the way, he developed a passion for sustainable tourism and wildlife. A short period working in London cemented his desire to find an outside office and show off the beauty of his homeland.

Eight years after he left, Sam returned to Aotearoa (the Maori name for New Zealand) and has guided outdoor tours throughout the country since. He has a passion for photography, particularly wildlife and aurora photography, and enjoys sharing camera tips with travelers on every expedition. In 2022, Sam joined Natural Habitat Adventures as a New Zealand Expedition Leader.

When he's not guiding, you can find Sam working with the Department of Conservation, photographing birds on forests walks and hiking in the mountains. Residing in Queenstown, the Adventure Capital of the World, he is learning to play ice hockey, training to run marathons and always plotting his next adventure.