Our Employees

Finnmarksvidda på ski

Here are profiles of the team at GLØD. In addition to those listed below, who have GLØD Explorer as their main employer, we have several freelance guides who step in when we have large groups or for other reasons. They all have the same passion and pride as the rest of us. They are wonderful representatives of Arctic Living and help to elevate Glød Explorer’s Adventures so that our guests can experience the best.

A common feature is that we all are ladies & gentlemen who go on adventures together with ladies & gentlemen.

Ida Grubben

Administration – Guide

Background: Ida is originally from Hamar in Innlandet County in Southern Norway. She has an MA in Nature-based Tourism and is a trained Arctic Nature Guide. She moved to Alta when she was offered a full-time job at GLØD Explorer. Ida is very fond of exercising, especially on her mountain bike. She has finished OffroadFinnmark several times.

Fun fact: Ida love the Norwegian delicacy rakfisk (fermented fish) and makes everyone at GLØD eat it at the Christmas party every year!

 

Rikki Egon Nilsen

CEO – Guide

Background: Rikki is originally from Solrød Strand in Denmark. He trained as a seller of outdoor equipment, with some subjects in economy thrown in. He has also completed a BA in Outdoor life, an MA in Sports Science and now, as of late, some credits in pedagogy. He’s the oldest of six children. He moved to Alta to live out his dream of having as many outdoor adventures as he can. He is also certified by NOLS as a Wilderness First Responder.

Fun fact: Rikki is a superfan of Britney Spears and Celine Dion. His friends only refer to him as Egon.

 

Trygve Nygård

Founder – Owner – guide

Background: Trygve is from Bognelvdalen in Alta Municipality. He is educated in building/construction and is licensed to operate/drive construction machinery, mobile cranes, forklifts and lorries. Life then took a different turn. He decided to study at university and completed a BA Sports and Outdoor life and then an MA in Tourism. Trygve founded GLØD Explorer in 2005. Trygve loves long expeditions. He has cycled and skied the full length of Norway – and has skied the length of Spitsbergen as well. Trygve has cycled OffroadFinnmark several times.

Fun fact: Trygve lives 30 m from the office, but always manages to arrive late for work.

 

Kalle Møller Nielsen

Guide

Background: Kalle is originally from Århus in Denmark. As well as being educated as a car mechanic, Kalle has a BA in Arctic Outdoor Life. He also has the following credentials: Certified Arctic Nature Guide, NOLS, Wilderness First Responder and certified outdoor guide.

Fun fact: He has tinnitus from listening to too much loud heavy metal music.

 

Kristine Bjerring Madsen

Guide

Kristine Bjerring Madsen

Background: Kristine is originally from Denmark but has fallen in love with Norway and will probably (and hopefully) stay here for quite some time. Kristine is a qualified teacher and has also studied outdoor life for two years, at the University of South-East Norway in Telemark.

Fun fact: Surprisingly, she is very fond of traditional Norwegian lutefisk (cod treated with lye and served boiled)!

 

Simone Ciancoini

Chef

Background: Simone is originally from Italy. He startet to work in Glød in 2023.

Fun fact: He loves the arctic nature when he is out on his snow mobile, or hiking in the mountains. Simo has a dream of taking the hunting test and becoming a hunter in the Norwegian nature.

 

Isabel Derosa

Breakfast host/Cleaner

Background: Isabel is originally from Italy.

Fun fact: She has three huge sheep dogs that fill her entire car when she goes on trips with them. Isabel loves tattoos and has, among other motives, one of a slightly luxuriant and colorful unicorn.

 

Tor Even Aas

Chef

Background: Tor is the grand old man in the kitchen. He has full control, and nothing knocks him off his perch when he is tending his pots. Tor has run most of the kitchens in Alta and served the most meals prepared over a campfire.

Fun fact: Tor Even is a gun dog man – and he only has Pointers. The dog must do a perfect job before he raises his shotgun!

 

Johanne Kuhle

Guide

Bakgrunn: Johanne is studying Arctic Outdoor Life and Nature Guiding at the University, and works as a guide at Glød. She previously has a bachelor’s degree in biology, and has worked as a guide and knowledge communicator in Antarctica, Svalbard and Greenland.

Funfact: Loves the Arctic, winter and most winter activities, but hates the cold and is always freezing.

 

Nikola Gallovits

Guide

Bakgrunn: Originally from Croatia.

Background in computer science and economics. Got tired of the office life and mild winters so he fled to Norway in search of colder weather, steadily moving farther north each year. Spent nearly 7 years dog sledding all over Norway (and sometimes Finland), from Røros to Tromsø and Alta. Loves the cold and windy conditions and still tries to get onto a dog sled any chance he gets.

Funfact: Never had a headache in his life, doesn’t drink coffee (nobody understands what fuels him) and is a huge math and physics nerd.

 

Maria Brøgger Jensen

Guide

Bakgrunn: Marie is originally from Denmark where she’s educated as a teacher. But she has always loved Norway and the opportunities for outdoor life here. So she’s now studying Arctic Outdoor Life and Nature Guiding at the University in Alta.

Funfact: Has an ability to always involve in big projects and say yes to crazy ideas – for example doing 1000 burpees in one day…