Meet Our Team...

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.

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.

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.

Tom Brooman

AE Strategic Lead

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.

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.

Ollie Smith

Ollie is one of our Operations Managers at AE. With over a decade of experience in a variety of outdoor pursuits, he is an advocate of quality outdoor experiences. He is a qualified Mountain Leader, Rock Climbing Instructor, Paddlesport Leader, Vertical Cave Leader, Level 2 Mountain Bike Leader and holds the IOL Bushcraft Competency Certificate.

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.

Blake Lancaster

Blake is AE's Business Development Coordinator.

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.

Anna Brown

Ann joined AE in 2025 as a Client & Programme Manager role, from working as a scuba instructor overseas. She is also a qualified yoga and emergency first response instructor and newly qualified Lowland Leader. Anna is a keen swimmer and hiker around the Peaks!

Jay Mottershaw

Jay has joined AE as our Stores Manager, bringing with him over 10 years’ experience working in the outdoor industry. He also holds ML and RCI qualifications ad gets the chance to get out on programmes from time to time.

Sophie Williams

Sophie has joined AE as a Stores Assistant and Trainee Instructor at the start of 2026. She is busy gaining her outdoor instructor qualifications and is already working on DofE programmes.

Tom Allen

Tom joined the team in March 2026 as an instructor. He is a keen climber and can usually be found in the Churnet Valley falling off sandstone boulders. Tom has worked as an instructor for over 10 years mainly based in the Peak District. He is a Mountain Leader, Rock Climbing Instructor and a Local Cave and Mine Leader.

Sam Skelton

Sam joined AE in 2023 as a Team Leader on the SAFE programme - an outdoor intervention in Sheffield schools. Sam grew up in the Dark Peak, is a qualified teacher and spends a lot of his time bouldering, walking and swimming.

Hannah Petrie

Cornelia Smith

I joined AEas a Team Leader and Mentor on the SAFE programme. I am committed to supporting and encouraging young people to develop teamwork, trust, and resilience through meaningful outdoor learning experiences and adventure-based activities. I am a Geography teacher with 15 years of experience working with young people both in and beyond the classroom, as a DofE volunteer and assessor

Steph Ragdale

Steph joined AE in Sept 2025 as a Youth Mentor on the SAFE programme. She has a background in mental health nursing and is a relatively newly qualified Hill and Moorland Leader. Steph’s passionate about the link between nature and wellbeing and loves encouraging others to find their own sense of peace and freedom in wild spaces. Outside of work, Steph can usually be found walking on the moors of the Peak District

Joey

Office pup!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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. 

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!