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 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.
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, 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.
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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.
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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.
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.
Belong To The Leading Network of Outdoor Learning Professionals