Trustees

I have been involved in Outdoor Learning for over 20 years, working across a range of providers and am currently Head of Apprenticeships at Channel Training. Having spent the early part of my career working in IT, I decided that I needed a career that made a difference and had real purpose . I had always wanted to try “outdoor activities” and working with young people couldn’t be too difficult!  It didn’t take me long to realise the impact and benefits that Outdoor Learning delivers and I haven't looked back. It is a privilege to be a trustee of the IOL and help support the development of our amazing sector.

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Growing up in and having a heritage in the outdoors meant it was inevitable I would continue along that path albeit with various dispersions into other sectors such as engineering and food manufacture. From working in outdoor centres, local authorities, national governing bodies, adult education and in commercial and third sector environments, I am currently the National Cycle Infrastructure Manager at Forestry England.  In order to provide fantastic outdoor learning experiences for visitors to the nations forests, I continuously draw on my own and others shared learning; often returning to my initial motivations in the outdoors where my groups returned from activities saying ‘that was brilliant’ and ‘when can we do that again?’.

Having innovated and developed NGB qualifications and directly benefited from the IOL qualification pathway, I am committed to enable engagement in the outdoors across society and to help in being part of IOL’s increasing support in positively transforming lives.

I don’t remember a time when I didn’t spend my free time outdoors. I’ve played sport, explored and had adventures all my life in various parts of the world. I’ve spent over 30 years in the outdoor industry as an instructor, facilitator, trainer, lecturer with much of that being involved one way or another with the IOL including being an Associate Editor and contributor for Horizons and helping develop the original professional accreditation scheme. It is a huge honour to have been elected a Trustee. My interest has always been in helping people become the best they can be and in addition to ultrarunning, walking and open water swimming, I am involved with a couple of military charities using the outdoors, and understanding how the outdoor industry and military can become more synchronised in some areas.

I am passionate about outdoor learning and have spent my whole career dedicated to delivering and providing outdoor learning opportunities for children and young people. I have a B.Ed. (Hons) degree in Outdoor Education and a Post Grad. certificate in Youth Work. I am also qualified as an Advanced Skills Teacher in Outdoor Education. I am currently the Outdoor Learning Service manager for Surrey Outdoor Learning and Development (SOLD) – Surrey County Council’s outdoor learning service. I am a huge supporter of the national outdoor learning networks, an active member of the Association for Heads of Outdoor Education Centres (AHOEC) and a trustee for the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC). I am also the vice-chair of the Outdoor Council and a member of the AHOEC GOLD standard management group.

It was a privilege to be co-opted as a IOL trustee in 2018. I’ve been working in the outdoors since volunteering at my local Scout site at the age of 15. Having got the bug for being in nature and sharing adventures and I went on to do one season in an instructor role. Many years later, in what must surely be the longest season ever, I now work in the voluntary sector for the Scouts looking after Scout Adventures.
I’ve joined the trustees of IOL as I think the voluntary sector plays an important role in both enabling young people to have truly life changing experiences outdoors well as providing a great route into becoming a practitioner either as a volunteer or in a paid position.
It’s an exciting time to be part of IOL and I look forward to working with the team to bring our aspirations to life whilst making sure we also represent the vast voluntary sector that contributes so much to young people getting outside.

I was appointed as a Trustee in Feb 2010 and have had the privilege of supporting IOL as the Chair of the Trustee Board. I started working in the outdoors when I was a 16yrs old apprentice and now 30 years later I have the privilege of continuing to enable people to engage with the outdoor environment. Through this journey in the outdoors I have overseen the development of Releasing Potential which is an education charity that comprises of an Independent Special School, Academic Institute and Forest Schools amongst its interests. I became a trustee as I believe that interaction (in any form) with the outdoors is a positive vehicle for change in people’s lives, enabling them to understand who they are and what they can become.

I look forward to serving the Institute, meeting members of the organisation and helping to develop relationships that supports a positive interaction with the outdoors for the whole of society.

I was honoured to be appointed to the Board in March 2018 as a Trustee. I have been enjoying the outdoors since escaping inner-city Cardiff in the late 70s with the Scouts, canoeing in the Lakes with Lancaster University, and 25 years of walking and cycling all over the UK, Europe and more exotic locations including Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan and China – interspersed with teaching science and 25 years working for PGL. The Outdoors can be transformational – not least for those of us who grow and develop through working in it. My passion these days is for working to ensure that the outdoor workforce has access to fit-for-purpose training and assessment programmes that can stand shoulder to shoulder with other better understood sectors. This is hugely interesting time for IOL and I look forward to working with the Trustee team and Executive.

I have been involved in outdoor learning all my professional life, although I don’t really remember a time before spending it in the outdoors. I have been a Trustee since 2017 and I am currently Head of Geography and Cocurricular Coordinator at AKS Lytham; using the outdoors to enhance the knowledge and understanding of the students whenever possible. I organise at least two whole year group residentials each academic year, and often either coordinate or accompany many more! Following on from completing an MA in Educational Management and Leadership, where I looked into the perceived benefits of educational visits on GCSE attainment, I am currently working towards a PhD, investigating the lived experiences of subject leaders who are prepared to organise learning outside the classroom opportunities. Before becoming a teacher, I worked at an outdoor centre in the Lake District and I am also currently a trustee for the Field Studies Council.

I was appointed as Trustee in June 2022 and now have the pleasure of supporting the Institute’s members and board in driving forward the Outdoor Learning Sector. I have been involved in the sector for over 20 years starting out as an apprentice and now after several years of development I manage apprentices across a range of sectors. Throughout my journey of being involved in the sector I have worked at a range of outdoor education centres holding a range of different positions, taught in the college environment, and been involved in the design and implementation of both the Level 3 Outdoor Activity Instructor and Level 5 Outdoor Learning Specialist apprenticeship standards.

I am excited to continue the amazing work that the institute has carried out and look forward to supporting them further as I have a deep belief in the magic of outdoor learning as a tool for individuals to access their true potential.

I was privileged to serve the IOL as Chief Executive for 12 years and was co-opted as a Trustee following my retirement from the role in 2021.  I am currently part-time Chief Executive at Lindley Educational Trust, an Outdoor Learning based charity that delivers urban youth & community services as well as outdoor based personal development experiences for young people.

My back ground is in accountancy, learning and development and professional services management and leadership.  I am passionate about enabling all to benefit from engaging with the natural environment and especially those children and young people who have less opportunities than most.

I’m also a member of the Adventure UK board, sit on the National Youth Advisory Board and more recently have joined the Peak District National Park Foundation as a Trustee.

Growing up on a diet of Peak District gritstone and rain showed me from a very early age that people are the best versions of themselves when they are outdoors. After completing a degree in Civil Engineering I happened upon a job that captivated and fascinated me – working in a residential outdoor education centre. I did a PGCE in Physics and Outdoor Education, spent 10 years teaching in secondary and FE and here I encountered Apprenticeships. I made a spontaneous leap out of a well-paid job into starting a company with nothing and eventually built a training provider dedicated to the outdoor learning sector’s workforce. This workforce is the one that creates the magic I first saw many years ago and I am constantly amazed and humbled by how impactful these talented, committed professionals are.

I was Chair for the Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres from 2019-2022 and have been fortunate to work across the sector on many projects. I am very privileged to now be an IOL Trustee and look forward to continuing work to further the development and recognition of our sector and to drive up the value of Outdoor Learning in our society.