A writer, storyteller and lifelong expedition enthusiast, Liesl Hammer has been connected to the world of exploration from the very beginning. The daughter of Dr Matthias Hammer, founder and director of Biosphere Expeditions, she joined her first expedition to Ukraine at just six months old. Over the past 24 years, she has accompanied her father on expeditions to Namibia, Oman and the Maldives, experiences that fostered her love of travel, different cultures and the stories that connect people to place.
However, writing has always been her first passion. From writing book reviews and autobiographies at the age of eight to graduating with a degree in English Literature with Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia, she has long been fascinated by the power of words to communicate experiences and change perspectives.
As an independent, outspoken disabled woman with Cerebral Palsy, she is particularly passionate about authentic disability representation. Frustrated by how often people see her wheelchair before seeing the person, she uses her writing to challenge assumptions and encourage a more nuanced understanding of disabled lives. She has published articles for online publications including Disability Horizons and DIG Inclusion, and is currently writing her debut contemporary romance novel, which explores these themes.
Since joining Biosphere Expeditions in 2023, she has worked across communications, social media and website editing. One of her most rewarding projects has been developing a testimonial campaign, interviewing expedition alumni and transforming their experiences into stories that reveal the lasting impact of participation in conservation expeditions.
She is also co-authoring Musings on the Brink: The Failure of Conservation and the End of a Stable Biosphere with Matthias Hammer, scheduled for publication in October 2027.
Through her work, she is interested in how storytelling can bring people closer to the natural world, illuminate personal experiences and communicate the complex realities of conservation.
