MEET THE PRESENTERS

Patty Upton

Patty Upton is an explorer, documentarian, and adventurer who spent years traversing the world in a cherry‑red 1966 CJ‑5 Jeep affectionately known as The Sand Ship Discovery. Together with her husband, Loren Upton, she embarked on a five‑year, 56,000‑mile overland odyssey that carried them across the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Their most extraordinary achievement was completing the first all‑land crossing of the Darién Gap—the dense, roadless stretch of jungle between Panama and Colombia. This grueling segment alone demanded 741 days to conquer just 125 miles, battling impenetrable rainforest, raging rivers, swamps, and unforgiving terrain.

Graeme Bell

Graeme Bell is a full‑time overlander and author from Johannesburg, South Africa, best known for traveling the world with his family as part of the A2A Expedition. He, his wife Luisa, and their two children have spent years exploring over 65 countries across five continents in their Land Rover Defender 130, Mafuta.

As a writer and long‑term traveler, Graeme documents their global journeys through books, photography, and storytelling, sharing insights into minimalist family travel, culture, and adventure.

Patty Upton

Andy Lilienthal is an award-winning journalist and photographer who has written professionally since 1999. He’s worked in the automotive aftermarket for 15+ years at companies including Warn Industries, Bushwacker, and others. As a freelance journalist, he’s written for OVR Magazine, GearJunkie, Overland Journal/Expedition Portal, Wheels Afield, Off Road Xtreme, Crankshaft Culture, and many more. His photos have appeared in a variety of publications, including The New York Times. Andy’s passion for travel started at young age on family road trips. This wanderlust continues to fuel his love of travel.

Mercedes Lilienthal is an award-winning freelance journalist, photographer, and content creator who contributes to notable publications like The New York Times, Car and Driver, OVR Magazine, and many more—primarily using her own imagery. She covers everything automotive, inspirational people, adventure travel, and related gear. Mercedes, a dual citizen of the United States and Germany, loves to travel and compete in global time-speed-distance rallies. She and her husband own two customized right-hand-drive turbodiesel 4x4 Mitsubishis: a Delica Space Gear and a Gen 2 Pajero, as well as a RHD Suzuki Jimny 4x4 and modified Subaru Crosstrek daily driver.

William “Billy” Creech is an explorer, adventurer, and conservation-minded professional with a passion for remote landscapes and purposeful travel. A Fellow of both The Explorers Club and the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), he is recognized for his commitment to exploration, environmental stewardship, and documenting the natural world.

Alongside his field pursuits, Creech has built a distinguished career in the technology sector, serving as a Senior Product Manager, Global Project Manager, Technical Program Manager, and Global Process Owner at Oracle Corporation. His work blends strategic leadership with technical expertise, driving complex global initiatives and innovative solutions at scale.

Balancing corporate leadership with a life of exploration, Creech embodies a unique intersection of modern industry and timeless adventure, advocating for responsible discovery and preservation of the world’s most remote regions.