Meet Aisha Al-Balushi: activist, educator and environmental impact officer

Asyad Container Terminal’s Environmental Officer Aisha Al-Balushi shares her passion for helping the shipping industry and other organisations to make more sustainable decisions and choices.

Her passion for the environment was formed in childhood in Oman where she was lucky enough to grow up with a strong connection to nature and landscape, a connection which has helped shaped her expertise and now her career with Asyad Shipping.

Mark joins Aisha in a café in Duqm, near where she works at the container port. She shares her vision for the importance of Duqm as a major hub for focussing on the environmental side of shipping. For Aisha the port at Duqm is perfectly placed to play a key role in developing a greener future for Oman.

Aisha’s love and interest in the environment extends beyond her role at work, she’s also a climate activist, volunteering as a teacher, educator and facilitator with the NGO Climate Fresk.

Discover more about the expedition and track Mark at Oman 3165

The Oman 3165 podcast is produced in Scotland by Adventurous Audio

Sandwich Tern recorded by David Darrell-Lambert and used with permission under Creative Commons licence

Now the unseasonally bad weather has abated, Mark is back on the water again and continuing south west towards the port of Duqm which is about 3 days paddling away. He is joined on the expedition now by his old friend, and logistics wizard, Alan Morrissey.

Alan joins Mark fresh from an expedition through the vast empty quarter and supporting Alice Morrison to be the world’s first walking explorer to cross Saudi Arabia from north to south.

Alan has spent nearly 30 years in Arabia and is passionate about life and travel in the desert. He supports expeditions and people wanting to travel and explore the deserts of Arabia. Mark and Alan reflect on their previous Heart of Arabia expedition, his recent travels with Alice and their mutual love of Arabia while looking forward to the next stage of the Oman 3165 expedition.

Discover more about the expedition and track Mark at Oman 3165

The Oman 3165 podcast is produced by Adventurous Audio

Sandwich Tern recorded by David Darrell-Lambert and used with permission under Creative Commons licence

Oman has been hit by unusually heavy rainfall and high winds so, while Mark waits patiently for the weather to allow him to pick up the journey where he left off at Bar Al Hikman, he takes the opportunity to catch up with Captain Khalil bin Ali Al Hooti, Vice President of Asyad Shipping. Captain Khalil shares his thoughts on Oman’s rich maritime heritage and how its location has helped to shape the country and its people. In particular, he talks about how the relationship to the ocean has shaped not just commerce but identity, turning Oman into a community which looks outward, where sharing and curiosity is woven through the culture. As a result, Omani people not only welcome the stories of others when they arrive on its shores but are inspired to continually expand their horizons through exploration by sea.

Discover more about the expedition and track Mark at Oman 3165

The Oman 3165 podcast is produced by Adventurous Audio

Sandwich Tern recorded by David Darrell-Lambert and used with permission under Creative Commons licence