Karim Iliya (LBN/USA)

Photographer, documentary filmmaker and wildlife conservationist

Karim Iliya is a photographer, filmmaker, and whale swimming guide based in Iceland and Hawaii. In 2022, he was selected as crew on the dearMoon mission, the first planned civilian space flight with Space X, around the moon. He is also the co-founder of the non-profit Kogia, a free library of marine photos and videos built for conservation.

Karim grew up in the Middle East and Asia. He developed a curiosity for the natural world, which has taken him into the midst of exploding volcanoes, battling whales, ice worlds of the Arctic, and many of the fascinating places where humans and animals make their homes. Through his photography and films, Karim takes his audiences to hidden underwater worlds and documents other natural places in an effort to protect our delicate ecosystems on Earth. Throughout his life, he has been fascinated by the hidden mysteries in our universe, from the smallest creatures and the deepest seas to the great vastness of space. Karim has worked in over 45 countries, won multiple awards, and been published in National Geographic Magazine and BBC Earth.