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Trustees

Meet the IOL Trustees

 

 

Mike King

Mike King

Chair of Trustees

I was appointed as a Trustee in Feb 2010 and have now the privilege of supporting IOL in becoming the Chair of the Trustee Board. I started working in the outdoors when I was a 16yr 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.

 

 


 

Mark Lavington

Mark Lavington

Trustee

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.

 

Nick O'Loughlin

Nick O'Loughlin

Trustee

I was appointed as an IOL Trustee in March 2017, I am currently Head of Geography at AKS School, Lytham St Anne’s. I don’t really remember a time before spending time in the outdoors, but professionally I been in the Outdoor Learning sector since 1997; first as an outdoor instructor, then as a geography teacher trying to spend as much time outdoors, where the learning is enhanced. As a teacher for the last 16 years, I am keen to ensure that the myriad of outdoor learning opportunities that take place in countless schools are represented and supported both in and through the IOL.

 

Asa Gurden

Asa Gurden

Trustee

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.

 

 


 

Louise Edwards

Louise Edwards

Trustee

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.

 

Dan Cook

Dan Cook

Trustee

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, commercial and third sector environments, I now specialise in Leader, Instructor and Coach education, leading on mountain biking and integrating the Outdoors Sector within the NGB context through my role at British Cycling. My motivations in the outdoors started with groups returning from my activities saying ‘that was brilliant’ and ‘when can we do that again?’. These still apply although I now want participants to say it to the leaders and instructors that have benefitted from the training and provision I have been able to influence. I am keen to enable engagement in the outdoors across society and to help in being part of IOL’s increasing support in transforming lives.

Sarah Wilks

Sarah Wilks

Trustee

I have worked in environmental education for many years and in education for even longer as a trained teacher. During this time I have developed a passion for learning and the benefits of developing connection with the natural environment, strongly believing that learning experiences in contexts outside the classroom make significant and long lasting impacts.
In my current role as Head of Engagement with the Peak District National Park, I am involved in working with the education and outreach teams across all 15 of the UK’s National Parks to deliver the commitment for every young person to have a National Park experience during their school years.

 


 

 

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