EXPEDITION WALES - Key Persons
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.
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).
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tomos is the longest serving member of the team, having joined in July 2010.
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/
Job Titles:
- Sixth Form College DofE Manager
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.