Laurence Cotton

Laurence Cotton is a practicing public historian and documentary filmmaker with a professional focus on regional history, cultural landscapes and environmental change across North America, particularly in the Pacific Northwest.

With an academic background in cultural anthropology and field experience in Latin America, Southeast Asia and the South Pacific, Laurence has worked with contemporary tribal entities in the United States on issues related to cultural and natural resource stewardship. His early career also included work in the NGO and foreign policy sectors, with experience in international humanitarian assistance.

As a historian, Laurence’s areas of focus include terrestrial and maritime exploration, encounters between Indigenous communities, explorers and settlers, and the environmental history of place. He has produced historical and biographical documentary films that have been featured on public television, bringing archival research and storytelling into accessible public interpretation.

Laurence brings more than two decades of experience working on expedition cruises in North America. In his role as an interpretive naturalist, he supports guest engagement through field-based context, historical insight and an appreciation for national parks and protected landscapes.