Our Team…

I started in the outdoors industry over 25 years ago and have been involved in DofE expeditions for nearly 20 years.
My life in the outdoors goes back to being raised on the family farm high in the Brecon Beacons, being outside in all weathers.
I have worked in various youth organisations and activity centres in Wales and had additional experience in Scotland and New Zealand, before becoming a DofE County coordinator in West Wales and being the DofE Assessor network coordinator for the Mid Wales wild country area.

I set up Expeditions Wales in 2009 and am now living in western Brecon Beacons again, while spending as much time as possible continuing to explore the Cambrian Mountains.

I developed a love of expeditions as a teenager in the Air Cadet Force. Having ridden and competed horses all my life I set up the successful Horse Riding expedition programme, as well as organising all the Open Walking Expeditions. I love to add fun and enthusiasm when working with groups of all ages.

I I also go on personal expeditions and in 2022 I will be undertaking a 100km expedition in sub-zero conditions over 5 days in The Arctic.
Read more about it here...www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/alix-arctic-2022

I love working in the outdoors because you can never be sure what the next day will bring. Its an ever changing environment and no matter how good the weather forecast is there's always the chance of a little surprise.

Tomos is the longest serving member of the team, having joined in July 2010.

Sixth Form College DofE Manager, Uni Lecturer and Student, Paul is our School liaison in the South East. Years of experience as an assessor and supervisor, adding to our knowledge of local areas and our attempts to avoid expedition hot-spots in the busier areas.

Paul joined in June 2016, having been a client of ours for several years and lives in Surrey.

I've been working in outdoor education for around 15 years in Wales and Ireland as well as overseas and am qualified in mountaineering, climbing and canoeing.
A long standing love of expeditions began in Y Rhinogydd in Snowdonia aged 15 and I've since had many experiences in mountain ranges and wilderness areas at home and abroad.
I'm a qualified PE and Geography teacher and (very) ex pro footballer.
I also currently work as a woodland surveyor across the UK, while for interests, I am a keen amateur naturalist and birdwatcher with a concern for the natural world that I try to act upon in my own life, as an example to others.

Will joined our team in April 2013 and lives on the Ceredigion coast within easy reach of the Cambrian Mountains.

A new recruit to the mountains and ourselves. Catherine went from novice to qualified instructor and climbed every mountain over 600 metres in Wales in just 2 years.

Catherine joined us in April 2018 and lives in Carmarthenshire.

Cat has worked as an outdoor instructor for 18 years, on the sea, rivers and mountains of the UK and across the globe. She loves sharing her passion for new places with other people and has led numerous overseas expeditions to the various ranges of East Africa, the Andes and the Himalayas. Personal endeavours include the first ascent of a 6000m peak in Nepal, an exploratory research expedition on the Antarctic peninsula, a pioneering 200km trek through the Indian Jungle and hitchhiking around New Zealand with an orange kayak called Y Ddraig (the Dragon).

Cat is an avid ski tourer and lover of all things in the mountains, dividing her time between summers in Wales and winters in the French Alps or Scotland. In the UK she primarily works as a Mountain Leader with adult and youth groups and has been involved with delivering the Duke of Edinburgh's Award since 2009, joining Expeditions Wales in 2020.
Cat enjoys drawing on the many lessons gained from these expeditions to help train, educate and support anyone with an interest in exploring the great outdoors, so they have the skills to take themselves on their own adventures. Cat is also a Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician, Winter Mountain Leader, Rock Climbing Instructor and Canoe and Kayak coach.

Wales is home for Cat and her spare time is usually spent running up a mountain or along the coast, or on the water exploring the many hidden gems Wales offers.

DofE and Outdoor Education Manager for a South Wales Local Authority for many years, as well as being a regular Expedition assessor for the Brecon Beacons Network, Kerry enjoys helping young people through the challenges of expeditions and seeing them grow in confidence and ability.
A fully qualified Youth & Community Worker with over 30 years experience, she is enthusiastic about supporting young people in an outdoor, natural environment.
A keen swimmer, she sometimes swaps her walking boots for fins and Scuba kit; and can also be found working with young people on sailing residentials for Challenge Wales.  https://challengewales.org/

Kerry joined in June 2016 and is based in the South Wales valleys.

Completed Silver and Gold expeditions with us while at College. Is now a qualified leader and assessor in her own right, inspiring other youngsters to follow in her footsteps.

Paralympian and adventurer. Holds the hand cycling record for Land's End to John O'Groats.

A former Head of Centre in Snowdonia, Nuala brings a vast amount of outdoors experience to the team.

Sophie is based in Mid Wales and assesses a number of Gold expeditions, while also studying at University. Previous experience includes working in outdoor centres within Wales and overseas, having spent time in Canada and New Zealand.

Sophie joined us in April 2016 and lives on the edge of the Cambrian Mountains.

Tori has been supervising and assessing DofE expeditions for over 20 years and is a Gold Award holder herself.
Her personal experience of the DofE Award fostered a love of human-powered journeys and a healthy addiction to setting herself bigger and bigger goals. In 2007 Tori became the first Welsh woman to climb Everest. She has also skied to the Magnetic North Pole and she and her team hold the record for the longest sea kayak in UK waters when they completed the first ever straight-line journey between Land’s End & John O’Groats.
Tori lives in Cardiff with her husband and two children.
She loves trail running, cycling around Cardiff on her cargo bike and planning the next adventure.

Find out more at https://torijames.com/

Another highly experienced instructor and a long serving team member, having joined us in October 2010. Brian is often working on Bronze expeditions, where his dedication helps even the most challenged of participants to succeed. When not on expedition, he is a member of Brecon Mountain Rescue Team and provides safety cover for film locations.

Brian recently completed the Telemark Challenge in Norway.

Started as a qualified teacher before moving into the outdoors many, many years ago. Graham brings a wealth of experience and many exceptional stories. Led many expeditions and trips both home and abroad and when not out on expedition is often manning control for Brecon Mountain Rescue.

Graham is another long serving team member, having joined us in August 2011

Joined Expeditions Wales in April 2013. Lives in Oxfordshire

My love of the outdoors came from my Army days. When I left, I wanted to continue to explore having been on a few expeditions in the Alps.
I have been involved in DofE since 2004, starting as expedition support, then running a popular DofE programme at a School for several years.
I become a DofE Supervisor and Assessor in 2012 and haven't looked back.
I have travelled most of the UK, but still a few places yet to explore.

A retired librarian who has returned to the Brecon area and in 2016 finished all the Scottish Munros. Mark is a keen volunteer with Brecon Mountain Rescue team and since joining us in June 2015 has thrown his enthusiasm into expedition work.

Matty is a former DofE officer from Snowdonia who brings a huge level of DofE, outdoors and youth work experience. Matty has worked with us since April 2018 and is involved in both walking and cycling expeditions.

The outdoors is an escapism that offers a chance to face personal challenges and adventures. I see it as a chance to feel the refreshing forces of the natural environment and understand when and why young people can find the experience challenging.

Owen joined us in June 2012 and having spent many years living in Southern Snowdonia, is now based in the Midlands.

When I was aged nine some kind people (Newchapel Scouts) took me from the centre of smoky Stoke-on-Trent to the Lake District. I fell in love with the lakes and the mountains. I just love being out in all weathers, to breathe the fresh air and to share that experience with young people, just like Newchapel Scouts did for me over forty years ago.

Patrick joined us in February 2014 and lives in the West Midlands.

Brought up in West Wales, Rob has a vast amount of DofE experience throughout Wales and has worked for DofE in a number of roles before stepping back into the outdoors again.
Rob has been part of the team since June 2019 and is now based in the Lake District.

Steve is based in the Rhondda Valley and has been part of the team since July 2018 . His other skills, outside of outdoor leadership include being an artist and a landscape gardener.

Could you fit into a strong, tight working team, developed and enhanced over 12 years.

We take a long term, development view to employing outdoor leaders.
You don't have to be qualified, as we can support you with this.
Key to us is a love of the outdoors, the ability to learn from others, share and adapt to an ever changing environment.
You would want to promote good practices in the outdoors, both in terms of responsibility and sustainability, while having an understanding of the challenges communities based in popular areas face.

In return, there are ample opportunities to work with some fantastic youngsters, build relationships and enjoy being part of a team that has a long track record of delivering quality outdoor experiences based on huge experience, knowledge and sharing of key information.