Adventure Expeditions

Meet Our Team...

We're a friendly, supportive and down to earth team - read more about who you might speak to by phone or email before you join us and the instructors that you may be working during your programme.

AE Core Team

AE has a core team of full-time office and instructional staff - we're here year round and you'll speak to one of us if you call or email. We like to chat and it would be great to hear from you. Click on a staff member to read more about them below.

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Cat Charlton

AE Director, Cat, is a Winter Mountaineering & Climbing Instructor and International Mountain Leader. Cat works with Lindy and the AE Core Team to bring AE's operational and administrative teams together to provide our programmes.

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Andy Charlton

 Andy is AE's Technical Adviser and a Winter Climbing & Mountaineering Instructor and International Mountain Leader. Andy works on a lot of Adventure Expertise programmes along with providing high level advice to other outdoor organisations.

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Lindy Smith

Lindy is AE's Business Director - Lindy works hard behind the scenes to make sure that everything runs smoothly and safely. Lindy joined AE after a career as an ecologist and qualified teacher. A keen climber in her spare time, Lindy is also a Rock Climbing Instructor.

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Jake Phillips

Jake is Chief Instructor for Adventure Expertise but works across all AE operations including leading AE's internal quality assurance and instructor development. Jake is a Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor, sea kayak coach, climbing coach, DofE Assessor and MTB instructor.

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Helen Mahadevan

Helen is AE's Operations Manager and Lead Instructor. Helen works to ensure the smooth running of operations at our base, as well as heading up a range of courses at AE so you may meet her in person on your programme. Helen is a Mountain Leader and Rock Climbing Instructor.

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Andy Browning

Andy joined AE's core team in 2021 after working as part of AE's instructor team and is AE's Operations Manager (SAFE) and Lead Instructor. Andy heads up a range of courses at AE and you may therefore speak to him on the phone, over email or meet him in person on your programme. Andy is a Mountain Leader and Rock Climbing Instructor and holds Qualified Teacher Status.

 

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Laura Gribben

Laura is AE's Client and Programmes Manager, specialising in school DofE expedition programmes and tailor-made expeditions. Laura heads up client liaison for different programmes and oversees AE's core team apprentices, supporting their training and development.

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Jack Tanfield

Jack is AE's Client and Programmes Manager, specialising in Open DofE expedition programmes and residentials. Jack also oversees AE's DofE for Business clients, too.

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Jess Hodgson

Jess is AE's Office and Accounts Manager and has worked in the outdoor activity industry for over 15 years. Jess is a keen walk/hiker and has travelled the world undertaking adventurous activities and experiences.

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Blake Lancaster

Blake is AE's Client & Programmes Manager specialising in residentials for schools all across the UK and abroad.

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Tom Brooman

AE Strategic Lead

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Lu Teagle

Lu joined AE as a freelancer in 2019 and has since joined the core team as Operations Manager and Lead Instructor. Lu instructs on a range of Expeditions and Expertise programmes including RCI training, Climb2Recovery courses, and DofE, and holds ML, RCDI, LCL, and QTS-Post 16 PGCE qualifications.

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Jim Taylor

Outdoor Instructor & Operations Support

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Joe Kirkham

Joe is AE's Outdoor Instructor, who joined the team in 2022 as an apprentice. Joe enjoys most things outdoors-related including running, walking, bouldering, mountain biking and even raced semi-professionally for a road bike team in France. You'll meet Joe out on programmes or back at base on training sessions.

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Jamie Dakota (JD)

JD is AE's Lead Instructor and is a specialist Bushcraft Instructor and Canoe Leader (open water) with a passion for nature connectivity. Whether working with natural materials for woodcraft or leading winter expeditions to Sweden, you'll generally find JD exploring the outdoors.

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Max Barnes

Max is AE's Lead Instructor, is a qualified Mountain Leader, and enjoys leading canoe expeditions in the Scottish highlands. Max has a passion for wild flora and fauna and for helping people thrive in remote environments. 

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Joey

Office pup!

AE Instructor Team

We are lucky to be closely supported by a fantastic instructor team - some instructors specialise in delivering different types of programmes while you might meet others across a range of programmes. Get to know more about your instructors below - we're looking forward to meeting you.

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Rick Wojtaszewski

Rick is a Mountain Leader (Summer and Winter) and Mountaineering & Climbing Instructor and a key part of AE’s team. Rick can be found instructing on our expedition, residential and outdoor activity programmes in both Summer and Winter as well as helping us to keep our stores and equipment in top condition.

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Lucy Wallace

Lucy is a Summer, Winter and International Mountain Leader and wildlife specialist. You might meet Lucy on one of AE’s wildlife and conservation residentials (either on the mainland or Lucy’s home island of Arran), on expedition or on one of AE’s Winter skills courses.

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Rob Applegate

Rob is a Summer and Winter Mountain Leader and also a Rock Climbing Instructor. Rob can be found heading up all sorts of programmes for AE from wildlife and conservation or outdoor adventure residentials through to DofE expedition programmes, Winter skills courses and everything in between.

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Jen Roberts

Jen is a Summer and International Mountain Leader who works across a wide range of AE’s expedition programmes, both in the UK and overseas. You might meet Jen anywhere from the South Downs to Snowdonia and anywhere in between - including the AE office where Jen can sometimes be found helping us to prepare your programmes.

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Sally Fowler

If you have joined AE for a DofE expedition, a outdoor adventure residential or a wildlife and conservation programme then you might have already worked with Sally. Sally is a Mountain Leader working on expedition and adventure residential programmes all over the UK – you might also spot her down a cave on the odd residential too...

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Mat Etheridge

Mat is a Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor and International Mountain Leader. Mat works on AE’s outdoor adventure and rock climbing programmes in both Summer and Winter – you might also find him on a DofE expedition or two, particularly near his home in the Lake District or overseas in the sunshine.

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Dave Phillips

Dave is a Mountain Leader who lives in the Lake District but can be found heading up a wide range of expedition programmes for AE across the country. You might meet Dave on a DofE expedition with your school, a DofE Business programme or have him as your instructor and mentor on an Open Expedition.

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Robbie White

Robbie is a Mountain Leader and DofE Assessor – you might meet him on expedition in the Peak District area or he might be your Course Director if you join us for a Lowland Leader NGB training or assessment course. Robbie is also a Qualified Teacher and brings much experience in working with different types of youth groups to his work with AE and our instructor team.

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Mikaela Toczek

Mikaela is an International Mountain Leader, now living and working full time in Slovenia. You might therefore meet Mikaela if you join us in the Julian Alps or on an adventurous programme across Slovenia where she will be able to provide some good local knowledge!

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Dave Coulson

Dave is a Mountain Leader and CIC caving instructor – you are most likely to meet him on DofE expeditions and adventurous programmes in the Brecon Beacons or Peak District national park but you might also bump into him below ground with his love for caves. Dave has a big smile and big laugh!

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Rachael Gatehouse

Rachael lives in the Peak District local to AE’s base in Hathersage and is a Mountain Leader and DofE Assessor. With her wealth of local knowledge, you might meet Rachael sharing adventures with you at local gritstone climbing crags on outdoor residentials or on DofE expedition programmes across the UK.

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Richard Banks

Richard is one of the longest serving members of the AE instructor team and if you have joined AE for a DofE expedition over the years the chances are that you have met him. Richard is a Mountain Leader and Course Director for Lowland Leader NGB training and assessment courses. Keep an eye out for Richard on programmes all over the UK!

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Hannes Bonitz

Hannes is a Mountain Leader, Rock Climbing Development Instructor and Qualified Teacher who lives in Sheffield. With his depth of experience and qualifications, Hannes can be found working across a range of AE programmes: you might work with him on your DofE expedition, Activity Days or on a range of rock climbing adventures in the Peak District where he has great knowledge of the famous gritstone crags.

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Steve White

Steve is a former teacher who now lives and works in the European Alps full time. Steve is an International Mountain Leader and while you might still spot him on the occasional programme in the UK, Steve might be found heading up your overseas expedition or trekking itinerary.

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Mark Oliver

Mark is a Summer Mountain Leader who lives in the Lake District but you might meet Mark on expedition all over the UK - from the North Downs to Scotland and often in between working from our base in the Peak District!

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Bryan Wakeley

Bryan is a Mountain Leader and Winter Mountaineering & Climbing Instructor. Based in the Lake District, you might spot Bryan working on occasional DofE expeditions or adventurous residential programmes but most likely you might meet him on a Winter residential programme in the snow and ice in Scotland. 

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Alex Jones

Al is a Mountain Leader and Mountaineering & Climbing Instructor based in the Lake District. Al can often be found in the hills on his days off but you might meet him working on a DofE expedition or adventurous residential in the Peak District or further afield!

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Cat Charlton

Cat left a career in law to work full-time in the outdoors and has never looked back. Equally happy climbing warm rock in the sun or taking on the challenge of icy Winter conditions, Cat's passion lies in helping others to overcome their fears and achieve their aims in the outdoors. Cat also combines her legal background and experience in the outdoors by providing technical advice and acting as an expert witness alongside her role as director of AE.

Qualifications

  • Winter Mountaineering & Climbing Instructor (WMCI)
  • Mountaineering & Climbing Instructor (MCI)
  • International Mountain Leader (IML)
  • Summer Mountain Leader (SML)
  • Winter Mountain Leader (WML)
  • DofE Accredited Assessor for Bronze, Silver, Gold
  • Member of Association of Mountaineering Instructors
  • Member of British Association of International Mountain Leaders
  • Member of Mountain Training Association
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Andy Charlton

Andy is a technical adviser and operational adviser for AE and loves working and playing in the mountains. Hooked on the outdoor life from an early age, Andy's been lucky enough to climb, run, walk and mountaineer extensively in the UK and overseas, pushing himself personally and professionally in the mountains.

Qualifications

  • Mountaineering Instructor Certificate (WMCI)
  • Mountaineering Instructor Award (MCI)
  • International Mountain Leader (IML)
  • Summer Mountain Leader (SML)
  • Winter Mountain Leader (WML)
  • DofE Accredited Assessor for Bronze, Silver, Gold
  • Member of Association of Mountaineering Instructors
  • Member of British Association of International Mountain Leaders
  • Member of Mountain Training Association
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Lindy Smith

Lindy combined her passion for rock climbing and the outdoors with her previous teaching experience when she joined the AE team to manage operations full-time. Lindy's experience adds a great depth to our programme management and she is often the friendly voice that picks up the phone when you give us a call!

Lindy spends much of her free time rock climbing, bouldering and running and has extensive knowledge of the wonderful wild places of the UK.

Qualifications

  • Qualified Teacher (QTS)
  • Lowland Leader Award (LL)
  • DofE Accredited Assessor course
  • Member of Mountain Training Association
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Jake Phillips

Jake acts as Lead Instructor alongside Andy and Cat for both Adventure Expeditions and Adventure Expertise. Jake is both highly experienced and passionate about the outdoors and this always evident in the energy that he brings to the courses that he works on.

Jake has worked in the outdoor industry for the past 11 years and is a keen climber, runner and mountaineer, personally and professionally. His commitment to developing people's skills in the outdoors is always carried out with a sense of humour - hailing from Cornwall he is happiest with a pasty packed for lunch!

Qualifications

  • Mountaineering Instructor Certificate (WMCI)
  • Mountaineering Instructor Award (MCI)
  • Summer Mountain Leader (SML)
  • Winter Mountain Leader (WML)
  • Foundation Coach Award (FCA)
  • Sea Kayak Coach (MW)
  • Mountain Bike Instructor Award (L2)
  • DofE Accredited Assessor for Bronze, Silver, Gold
  • Member of Association of Mountaineering Instructors
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