MEET THE TEAM

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Philip has backgrounds in environmental management, sustainable development and outdoor training and has held roles including a charity chairman, a national advisor on running outdoor programmes and in consultancy. He has been involved with DofE, in a voluntary and professional capacity, for almost 30 years and is passionate about teaching navigation in the hills.

Keen on fitness training Philip is often to be found in the gym or walking, running, cycling and canoeing in the great outdoors. He is also a mediocre guitar player, Scrabble enthusiast and prefers books to computers.

DIRECTOR

Sarah takes a keen interest in the outdoors and enjoys exploring the countryside by foot, bike or canoe; she has a love of plants and foraging and encourages others to value their local environment. She has backgrounds in outdoor education and conservation, environmental health and DofE, as well as also being a qualified Life Coach.  In addition to her office-based roles you may come across Sarah on some of our DofE expeditions, bushcraft courses and taking a lead in our eco-therapy work.

Sarah masquerades as an artist, is a frustrated pianist but makes rather good Welsh cakes.

OPERATIONS MANAGER

Rachael spends as much time as possible on top of hills; usually with dogs or children or both. She loves horse riding, maps, exploring new places and traveling with her family in their van. When she isn’t outside Rachael enjoys sitting under blankets sipping herbal teas with her dogs snuggled up next to her. She has a background in primary teaching, in the UK and internationally, and has brought her strange love of organising to our office.

SENIOR OUTDOOR PRACTITIONER

Sam’s background is in outdoor education and adventurous activities; however he has also been employed in residential care with young people with challenging behaviours. Sam has worked and trained across England, Scotland and Wales, as well as spending over a year leading journey based expeditions in Australia. He holds a number of outdoor qualifications, loves to sit around a campfire, and is also pretty handy with a map and compass. He also enjoys a diverse range of additional activities such as canoeing, climbing, caving, mountain biking and hiking.

Sam has a key instructional role on a number of our courses and spends much of his time on the ground on DofE expeditions, bushcraft events and training first aid.  On the rare occasions when things get too stressful he will engage in a little techno-therapy and retreat to his Xbox!

BUSINESS MANAGER

Emily is a travel enthusiast and loves discovering exciting new outdoor locations. She is an International Studies graduate and maintains a keen interest in international affairs especially in regards to environmental policy and wildlife Her role in the company encompasses marketing, online sales and office management.

Emily enjoys music and photography and spends a little too much of her life watching Marvel movies. She has developed a love of exercise and is always on the look out for exciting new fitness challenges.

COURSE DIRECTOR

Cari was born and brought up on the Western edge of the Brecon Beacons, and has always felt most at home outdoors. After a 20 year career as a press photographer the call of the mountains won and she retrained as a Mountain Leader. For the past decade she has worked as an outdoor instructor both in the UK and abroad including extensively in South East Asia, Africa and South America.

Cari enjoys teaching in the outdoors and loves nothing better than passing on skills and knowledge to young people through working on DofE expeditions. Since becoming part of the Learn Outdoors and Wilderness Project team Cari has also discovered a passion for bushcraft and foraging.

COURSE DIRECTOR

Originally from North Wales Jamie has recently returned to his native land after 20 years away following a decade in the corporate world and holding posts including a local authority DofE Operations Officer and a DofE Co-ordinator for 2 schools.

Adventure has always been a big part of his life, having bike-packed in the Pyrenees at 17, walked to Everest Base camp and led expeditions and cycling trips throughout the UK, Europe and further afield.

Over the years Jamie has participated in triathlons, adventure racing, SUP, kayaking, climbing, roller skating, kite buggying, snowboarding plus various other sports. He also enjoys mountain biking, music, rugby, football, painting and most of all, spending time with his family whether it is walking the dog or simply watching a film.

COURSE DIRECTOR

Simon has a background in teaching and in outdoor education. He has been involved in outdoor activities across the spectrum since he was a youngster in his native Yorkshire and this has remained part of his life ever since.

This has meant that Simon has climbed, skied, kayaked, biked and run across most parts of these isles and further afield. He has led treks and cycle trips in Europe, Nepal and Africa as well as leading Duke of Edinburgh expeditions and UK based challenge events for charities.

Simon enjoys family holidays, being out in the hills preferably in winter, on foot or on his bike. He is a keen rugby league fan and loves spending time with his family and walking his dog. He also believes you can’t beat a good book and a real fire especially in a bothy!

COURSE DIRECTROR

Kirsty is passionate about the outdoors and sharing it with others. She has a background in working with young people, as a secondary school teacher, a Youth Worker, a Scout Leader and now as an Outdoor Instructor. She has been involved with DofE in both a voluntary and professional capacity for over 30 years.

Kirsty has lived in North Wales for over 20 years and loves exploring the hills of Snowdonia both above and below ground.

COURSE DIRECTOR

Chris has many years experience of delivering DofE expeditions both in the UK and overseas and for some diverse groups including a narrowboat expedition for wheelchair users.  His career has extended to a wide range of outdoor activities for young people and adults including navigation courses, guiding trekking, cycle challenge events and overseas expeditions.

When not at work in the quieter times of the year he can be found cycling, skiing and travelling in other countries.

OFFICE AND STORES ASSISTANT

Declan undertakes a good deal of the company’s administrative tasks as well as helping to manage our store of outdoor equipment.  He is also a watersports enthusiast being a qualified paddlesport instructor with a particular interest in kayaking.

Running is one of Declan’s favourite ways to exercise and he is always up for a running challenge whether for fun or to raise money for charity.  He also likes to listen to artists like Catfish and the Bottleman.