Meet the Office Staff
Meet the Medics
Meet the Guides

"Is there a company out there that is made up of charity event managers and outdoor professionals who will understand my needs as a charity?"

Yes - at Across the Divide Expeditons, both the founding directors used to be event managers at major charities and our Events and Operations team is headed up by another.

What is it that makes us so different? Our staff are taken from all walks of life- because that is where our clients come from, we choose them for their ability to operate under pressure, work as a team and for their boundless enthusiasm - they are what makes Across the Divide so different and why our clients keep coming back to us.

It is a requirement now that all Across the Divide's expedition doctors and medics complete the Expedition Medicine Course run twice yearly in the Lake District. This course is the most comprehensive of its type in Europe..

Gyles Morris

Gyles is a trained Landscape Architect and teacher of Environmental Studies. Throughout his early life he has spent many weeks of the year walking, cycling and camping in remote parts of the UK, Europe and more recently India and Nepal. These experiences paved the way for Gyles to become a Director and Leader of Forest School Camps; an educational Charity taking children camping in remote parts of the UK.

For the past 5 years Gyles has successfully run a field studies education operation on a freelance basis combining formal curriculum-based courses with adventure training and team building and is now director of the Magdalen Project in West Dorset.

Korbus Alberts

A Namibian, born and bred, Korbus is an essential part of our Namibian and Southern Africa guiding Team.

Along with Across the Divide Director, Mark Hannaford, medic Sean Hudson and Norwegian Polar Guide Per-Thore Hansen he attempted to cross the Greenland Icecap however bad weather and injury forced the team to turn back.

Mike Alderton

Mike was born in Befordshire but moved to Cornwall at an early age where he developed his love for the outdoors. Through Scouts he was involved in moorland walking and camping also was introduced to rock climbing and caving.

These passions carried through University where Mike took part in organising and undertaking various caving expeditions around the world and climbing, rock, ice and mountains around Europe.

After completing University Mike has worked as a Freelance Instructor mainly in the South Westwhich gives him sufficient time to continue to explore the world.

Philippa Arding

Management and team building trainer, mountain instructor and deer farmer, Philippa believes in a packing as much into life as possible! After 15 years as a point to point jockey she decided to take up climbing as a new challenge! A UIAIML Mountain Leader she has experience leading young people and adults throughout the world including treks to Mongolia, Pakistan, Nepal, Africa, South America and Europe as well as a mammoth cycle trip from Alaska to Brazil.

A committed mountaineer Philippa is currently studying for her Mountain Instructor Award (MIA), believing life to be all about staying out of her comfort zone!

She is passionate about the environment and in 1988 cycled from Alaska to Brazil, studying projects for the WWF. She lives on Dartmoor with her husband and step sons, and runs a deer farm in her spare time.

Martin Brennan

Martin is an ATD guide and is an officer in the police force.

He has managed outward bound trips, is a First Aid Officer within the police force, holds the Mountain walking Leadership qualifications and has qualifications in British Sign Language.

Nancy Brooks

Nancy was born and brought up in West Sterlingshire where she was introduced to the outdoors.

Nancy Brooks is an active mountaineer, climber, skier, paddler, mountain biker and orienteerer.

Nancy holds the Mountain Instructor Certificate (MIC) which is the highest British mountaineering qualification, in addition to many other professional outdoor qualifications in the above sports.

Vinnie Butler

Vincent is a professional archaeologist and lecturer who received his BA in geography and archaeology and MA in environmental archaeology from University College, Dublin.

Nearing completion, his Doctorate has concentrated on researching the utilization of mammals in the Anglo-Norman period in Ireland. Working closely with the National Museum of Ireland, Vinnie is at present involved in research on Medieval environmental samples recovered during excavations in Dublin.

Peter Carey (Ph.D.)

Peter is a zoologist with research interests in seabirds and seals of the higher latitudes, and has participated in expeditions to Antarctica, Alaska, New Zealand and the subAntarctic islands.

He has also spent a number of seasons working in Antarctica, involved as a scientist for the national research programs of New Zealand and Australia Peter lives in New Zealand currently works in the field of ecological restoration and in conjunction with the SubAntarctic Foundation of Ecosystems Research see SAFER's site here.

Piers Carter

A desire for change and challenge took Piers to Chile in 1996 with Raleigh International as a Project Manager, after which he embarked upon a freelance career based in the Peak District.

Piers has an runs his own conflict management training company, Carter Wade and is also a director of Expedition Medicine.

Piers is also a student of Taiho-jitsu and enjoys socialising, walking, mountain biking, and the home-growing of veggies.

He has been involved in expeditions to Southern Africa, Asia and has recently returned from Lapland.

Ady Cole MBE

Ady is orginally from Leicester and is a former Royal Marine. He served for a little over 20 years. He eventually specialised in Physical Training and Adventurous Training (specifically mountaineering). His last job as a Royal Marine was Chief Instructor of the Physical Training Department at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines at Lympstone in Devon where he was responsible for the delivery of every aspect of Physical Training to Young Officers, Recruits and all other Trainees.

In 2000 Ady was awarded the MBE for his part in a mountaineering expedition during which he became the 10th Briton to summit the world’s third highest mountain. Kangchenjunga in the Eastern Himalaya stands 8,586m or 28,186ft above sea level and to date this remains the highest altitude ever reached without oxygen by a British Serviceman.

Ady believes variety of work and family time to be his two best routes to contentment but he particularly enjoys Team Development and Leadership Training. These are fields that his experience has steered him towards and in which he has worked for 6 years. He still climbs, kayaks, cycles, telemarks, and swims for fun and to keep fit.

Ady is married to Hilary – a chartered accountant and businesswoman – and they have three young children. They have lived in East Devon for the past five years.

Steve Cooper

Originally an actor but also part of the Raleigh International Selection Team, Sid works in the charity field formerly as a international coordinator for Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) and also volunteer organisation BCTV.

Sid has lead numerous charity challenges for ATD to Lapland, Namibia and Nepal to name but a few.

Paul Diver

Paul was born in Newcastle, Northern Ireland. Newcastle is situated at the foot of the Mourne Mountains and it is from this upbringing that he gained his passion for the outdoors.

Paul's hobbies include trekking, mountain biking, and swimming - Paul is also a keen follower of rugby.

Jeff Dyer

Originally hailing from the West Country, Jeff grew up in rural East Anglia and learned to appreciate the outdoor life from an early age. Too tight to check into a hotel, his father regularly took him and his brothers on basic back-to-nature camping trips on Dartmoor and Exmoor to toughen them up. Despite their best efforts to give Jeff the slip, he managed to hone his navigational skills sufficiently to always return home to the fold.

Among his many exploits Jeff, aided by one of his brothers rowed the channel following his mother's untimely death from cancer, to raise much-needed funds for a CAT Scanner in their local hospital.

Cui Feng Rui

During many years of working as a medicine man, Lao Cui also supervised the reconstruction of the Jinshanling Great Wall area from 1984-1988. He was responsible for the cultural preservation of the Wall and knows all the secret paths and trails of this area.

His first expedition on the Great Wall was in December 1999 when he led an 8-man group from Gubeikou to Bailingguan area. After that he has led 13 charity expeditions for ATD, UK. Lao Cui loves talking about the history of the Wall.

Andy Ford

Andy was born in London, and after living in Germany for several years his parents settled in Somerset. At the age of 16 he joined the Army and after training at Aldershot as a chef, he served with the Royal Corps of Transport for five years.

Since leaving, Andy has travelled throughout Asia and Australia. Whilst on this trip, and accompanied by his wife, Andy trekked for three weeks to Everest Base Camp, ascending to 18,500 feet.

Andy now works as a project manager, taking time off to ski dive (his favourite pastime), occasionally climb and travel as much as possible. Andy has been an expedition leader for ATD for 10 years

Mark Fothergill

Jos has worked as the senior selector for the Youth Development charity, Raleigh International and for Outward Bound in Australia, which led eventually to him gaining a Masters in Human Resource Management from Glasgow University.

Involved with Across the Divide from virtually the first day, Jos has been involved with ATD's charity challenges all over the globe.

Lynne Gow

Lynne was born and brought up in Scotland. Her love of the outdoors dates back to her Duke of Edinburghs’ Award involvement as a participant and then as a leader. During her conservation activities with Raleigh International in Zimbabwe in 1993, Lynne’s relationship with the great outdoors and nature begun. Her travels have taken her throughout Africa and beyond.

She joined the Fire & Rescue Service as a Firefighter in 1998 and following a secondment as an Instructor at the Scottish Fire Service College, has returned to an operational manager role. Once described as an “adrenaline junkie”,

Lynne spends her “me” time in the beautiful diversity of the Scottish mountains or on the Scottish Triathlon circuit.

Tony Halliwell

Tony is an occasional outdoor freelance instructor for Plas y Brenin and Expedition Medicine and he has for 20 years been a volunteer instructor with Bremex, responsible for training aspirant instructors and course director of Summer ML training and assessment courses and for the several years a trustee with specific responsibility for the safety committee.

Tony holds the Mountain Instructor's Certificate (which also means that he holds the Mountain Instructor's Award, Summer ML, Winter ML and holds the Single Pitch Award) and is an honorary lifetime member of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors.

He is a member of the Alpine Club, with around 25 climbing visits to the European Alps and hass climbed in Peru, Kenya, Tanzania and Nepal with ascents of Chulu East, Island Peak, Lobuche, Chulu. Pumori.

Per Thore Hansen

Per-Thore Hansen is Norwegian from Skutvik. After finishing College he joined the Army, serving in the Norwegian Special Forces as a Paratrooper for seven years, spending 2 years in Lebanon, 6 months in Bosnia and 3 months in Somalia. He was in the Norwegian National Team for Cross Country Skiing when he joined the Army.

Per-Thore is happier with a team of Huskies in the mountains than in an office and is the mainstay of the Across the Divide charity dog sledding expeditions in Norway and Sweden and works also an instructor on the Polar Medicine Courses run by Expedition Medicine Ltd.

In 2006 along with other ATD staff he attempted to cross the Greenland Icecap on skis but was forced to turn back by bad weather and injury.

Keith Homer

Keith was born in Portsmouth and moved to London in 1986. Keith is a non-smoking, tee-total vegetarian without an afghan coat or hippy complex!

Keith has spent many years travelling in Asia, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia.

Keith loves to explore new cultures and countries, trekking being a superb way to get involved on a very natural level, and he also enjoys sharing his knowledge and experiences.

Hugo Iffla

A geography graduate and teacher by training and a keen rock climber and mountaineer, Hugo has been a senior instructor at the Outward Bound Centre at Aberdovey in Wales and Director of Training at the Rhowniar Centre in Wales. Hugo also holds the Mountain Instructor Certificate.

Since 1992 Hugo has been self-employed, setting up his own small outdoor activity business, and recently a development training partnership and is a member of the South Snowdonia Search and Rescue Team.

Alex Janzen

Alex was born in Kettering and attended University at Bristol reading Economics. Whilst at University he played Professional Rugby for Leicester and later Bristol and was sponsored through University by the Royal Marines.

Alex enjoys travelling and has plenty of overseas experience. He has been working with ATD for the past two years in Namibia and China. At present Alex in a commissioned officer in the Royal Marines.

Morton Lindholm

Morten (aka Dane) originated from the eastern part of Denmark, and has always had an adventurous outlook on life, starting early by running away from home to….. Paris!

Morten is passionate about long distance hiking, mountaineering, the arctic and outdoor photography. He has explored the European Alps intensively and traveled extensively in Europe, Scandinavia and Kashmir.

He also holds a degree in photography, for his website click here, and is probably the world’s worst skier!

Mark Lindsey

Mark aka 'Sparky' was originally a teacher of outdoor education before becoming an expedition leader and freelance trainer.

Always the active type, Sparky was a member of the British Bobsleigh team leading up to the 1992 Winter Olympic Games in Albertville, France.

Today a great deal of his leisure time is taken up trying to master the acoustic guitar, a skill which, thus far, is proving to be elusive.

Darran Liversidge

Daz was born in Sheffield where he attended Ecclesfield Comprehensive School. He left school and joined the Junior Leaders Regiment Royal Engineers at Old Park Barracks Dover, where the heady heights of Junior CPL were reached.

Daz left the Army in 1982 and for 12 months was a Post Office Driver, where he got very bored and hence applied for a job with the London Fire Brigade - He has never looked back! Over the years as a Firefighter Daz has probably dealt with every emergency situation a fireman could be faced with and a couple that you wouldn't expect, he was awarded a Commendation for actions carried out during the Tottenham riots.

Diego Martin

Diego was born on the rainy north coast of Spain but spent most of his childhood in Madrid, where he studied for a degree in Geography which allowed him to pursue his other interest in mountaineering and exploring the mountains of the world. This led him to South America where he worked as a park ranger in the world famous Torres del Paine National Park.

Diego 'bumped' into an ATD recce team in Patagonia and has been working with us ever since in Chile, Namibia, China, Nepal and Morocco.

Nick Mathers

Nick was born and raised in Birmingham; his post-school career began with the West Midlands Police Cadets where he became actively involved in adventure training and physical fitness.

In an attempt to shake off that dulcet Brummie accent once and for all Nick moved down to London to work at the BBC as a gym instructor. He now finds himself working at Brooklands College.

He lectures students in the subjects of "Health and Fitness", "Map and Navigation" and "Expedition Skills".

Kristie Mathers

Kristie was born in Stockport but grew up in Cheshire, close to the Peak District and North Wales, where she developed her love for the outdoors and sports from an early age. Kristie studied Zoology and Psychology (Natural Sciences) at Cambridge University.

In her spare time Kristie enjoys running, cycling, swimming, skiing and hiking as well as travelling. Kristie's biggest passions are music and meeting people.

Ian McLaughlin

Ian has been with Across the Divide from virtually the first day joining us on our first Morocco charity treks. He specialises in working with people, teams and leadership, and is able to draw upon 16 years of experience.

He is our senior Expedition and Project Leader for our charity projects challenges and CSR Projects.

Ian lives in Devon with his wife Amy and children Ellie and Sam. They are currently enjoying an ongoing project of their own renovating a 16th century farmhouse.

Max Milligan

Max Milligan is our Peru expert and there are very few people in the world that know the area as well as he does. He is the author of numerous books but most importantly the Realm of the Incas- the definitive photographic guide to Peru.

click here

Gillian Moore

Gillian was born in Dublin, Ireland. Although, she spent most of her teenage hills in the nearby Garden of Ireland……A.K.A. Wicklow Mountains National Park. It was here that her passion and love for the outdoors began. Today these passions include hiking, via ferratering, skiing, mountain biking, golf and just generally being out in the wilderness and great outdoors.

Gillian has been working with Across the Divide since 2001 and loves every minute of it. She is a Radiation Therapist by profession and has 13 years professional experience internationally aswell as in Ireland.

Some of her most memorable experiences in the great outdoors are, getting up close and personal with desert elephants in Namibia (her favourite animals), wild camping at Mount Rolleston in New Zealand and navigating the rapids of the Pacuare river in Costa Rica, while under the water.

Matt Morton

Matt works and lives in Hampshire with Catherine and three mad sons. He has been an Expedition Leader for Across the Divides Charity Challenges virtually from the first day. He is a keen mountain biker, runner and general outdoor enthusiast but he does have an unhealthy obsession with gadgets!

Matt's other dubious honour is that he is editor of the Across the Divide Staff News.

Jamie Morton

Jamie was born in Stockport where he grew up with his 3 brothers. Jamie’s love of the outdoors started at the tender age of 7 on a cold and frosty November morning when his older brothers locked him out of the house in his pyjamas for an hour and a half.

After graduating from Sheffield University Jamie set off to travel the world in search of sunnier climes and some warmer pyjamas.

After almost 15 years of travelling and working his way around the world Jamie has finally settled down and now lives in Sydney, Australia with his wife 1yr old son.

Darren O'Brien

Obbie was born and raised in Ireland (according to him ‘The Centre Of The Universe’. Growing up he developed a hunger for the great outdoors, camping, playing football, GAA, horse riding, and fishing.

His biggest ambition is to emulate McGuyver by promoting world peace using just a piece of chewing gum foil wrapper.

Faan Oosthuizen

Born and bred in Namibia Fann is our Across the Divides mover and fixer and has built up an enviable team of staff and support staff.

As he says about himself 'A stern fella who's smile is only used sparingly but is ever willing to give a hand, likes new and old folks a lot, prefers to do things the hard way and loves to be challenged. Loves Africa and the wilds and loves it even more to spend time with friends and family in places where one could get bitten or worse!'

Rob Pitt

Robs experience includes design and delivery of team development programmes for high level public sector and corporate clients, as well as coaching on a freelance basis for business consultancies.

Rob is passionate about adventure and the outdoors. He is a dedicated climber and mountaineer and holds the Mountain Instructor Award. He has climbed extensively in the UK and Europe and has lead trekking expeditions to Europe and South America.

He is also a committed kayaker and British Canoe Union Level 4 Coach.

Mark Read (Ph.D.)

Mark Read is a wildlife biologist who specialises in things that bite and have the potential to kill you.

One of Australia’s most respected crocodile biologists, Mark has spent 15 years working with these animals in Australia, Papua New Guinea and South Africa. He has spent much of that time leading teams in remote locations; counting, catching and researching crocodiles and trying to learn more about these miss-understood animals.

Mark joins us on our charity challenge trips as an accomplished outdoors man and has experience working in Papua New Guinea, Antarctica and Central and South America.

Volker Roder

Born in the then South African harbour town of Walvis Bay, of third generation German descent. This makes him a true, albeit white, Namibian and hence does not worry him that they lost the war. During his days as a rebellious, young, daisy-sniffing student, he became interested in conservation and journalism. This led him to contribute to an underground cultural and environmental magazine called Kegenna, whilst dodging the Regime’s enforcers for digging up the lawns.

In his free time Volker surfs the icy Atlantic waves, cycles with his hyperactive Jack Russell, Rassie, wonders if he is to old to grow his hair long again, cleans up after his soul mate with German precision (can’t help the genetic coding), beats the hell out of his traditional African drums and writes amusing poetry.

Malcolm Sanders

Malcolm climbed his first mountain at the age of thirteen and says the sense of wonder and excitement has never deserted him.

After many years climbing in the UK and overseas and a couple of (modest) first ascents he has guided and led ATD expeditions to China, Nepal and Peru.

At various times he has been an English teacher, police officer and outdoor education instructor

Jonathan Taffs

Jonny was born and grew up in North London. He graduated from Sheffield University with an Honours Degree in Zoology and a love for the outdoors. Shortly afterwards he began his career as an Army Officer which allowed him the opportunity to visit some of the more interesting (and not so interesting) places in the world.

He spent a busy 2 years running a small outdoor pursuits centre in North Wales where he gained his Summer ML award. A career break with his wife, Fiona, confirmed a desire to explore and trek in remote areas.

He tries to take part in at least one expedition a year and spent 2 months climbing in Tibet in 2006. He is passionate about the natural world and local cultures and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. He lives near Salisbury where he spends his spare time planning surfing trips, and future travels.

Mike Taylor

Mike went to university to study a science degree in Bangor, North Wales where he learned to climb, kayak, surf, understand the mountains and enjoy the companionship that all of that brings. Upon leaving he went on to work in two outdoor centres in Wales and after several years of great fun, hard work, and low pay (and sometimes none), set up a management training company with some colleagues, based in Bristol. This has grown into a happy and successful business.

Throughout all of this time, Mike has managed to make trips abroad to a range of places, highlights so far having been travelling alone in Morocco and Mongolia. He speaks a little French, and is now learning Arabic.

He dreams of travelling overland from Iraq to India through Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan – either alone, or with one of his kids. However, he’s a pretty conservative character and is happy to wait until the kids have grown up – or just dream.

Donna Timmis

Donna is an Outdoor specialist, who is passionate about helping people to develop themselves and maximise business learning through experience-based outdoor activities that stretch the individuals capabilities.

Donna's wide range of experience delivering management training, graduate assessment and development, personal development programmes and outdoor education extends throughout the UK, Europe and USA.

Her solid organisational skills and attention to detail allow her to perform a variety of roles which include; planning and design of programmes, project management, facilitation and coaching, safety cover, outdoor technical support and logistical backup.

Donna holds a Diploma in Psychology, is a Licensed Practitioner of NLP, is qualified to administer MBTI, she also holds a Diploma in Performance Business Coaching. She is also trained and qualified to operate in a number of outdoor environments.

In her other life Donna enjoys power kiting, Geocaching, travelling and doing up a vintage 1971 VW camper. She lives with her husband James and children Finnegan and Rosie on the banks of the River Tamar.

Clive Vale

Clive is currently a police inspector Police with the Surrey Constabulary.

After an 18 month career break where Clive worked as Project manager for Raleigh International in Belize and Namibia he travelled to New Zealand for 6 months.

He recently returned from living in Bosnia for 12 months, working for the European Union and has led numerous ATD charity challenges around the world.

Ian Walby

Ian was born in North London and joined the Metropolitan Police Cadets at the age of 18 where he had his first taste of adventure training in the mountains of North Wales. Upon becoming a full time Police Office he pursued this interest.

Ian has climbed extensively in the UK and the European Alps. He is a holder of the Mountain Instructors Award and is a Winter Mountain Leader as well as a keen kayaker.

Ian has travelled throughout Southern Africa having developed a passion for that part of the continent after his first visit to Zimbabwe. He has also travelled across Australia and Asia and visited S.America.

Ceri Williams

From Wales Ceri was for many years a chief physical training instructor for the Royal Marines. Ceri has operated at the highest level within the world of business consultancy and personnel development, working with organisations such as Diageo, Guinness, Smirnoff, Unilever and Reuters. Ceri has extensive expedition and mountaineering experience, which includes the jungles of Borneo and Central America, the Arctic, Sahara Dessert, Africa, Europe, China, Nepal and Scandinavia. Ceri's passion is Kayaking and as a Level 5 Kayak Coach he has worked at the cutting edge of paddlesport coaching for 20 years. He also holds the Mountain Instructor and Winter Mountain Leader awards.

He is also a senior instructor on the Expedition and Polar Medicine Courses

Luke Winsbury

Luke has been with Across the Divide from virtually the first day when he started to make videos of ATD challenges for our charity customers.

Now through Luke is part of the BBC news team and seems to constantly jetting off to some new trouble spot in the world.

Leon Wren

Leon has a broad love of sport including football (was once paid to play – calls it semi-professional) climbing, golf, trekking and generally being outdoors.

Travel requirements at work mean that Leon spends much of his time in a plane, taking advantage of this he always packs his trekking kit alongside his laptop to get away from the office when in other countries.

Leon is an ordained Reverend and can perform weddings in seven US States.

Simon Yates

Born in Leicestershire in 1963 Simon Yates studied Biochemistry before abandoning a conventional life to pursue climbing. In a career spanning twenty years Simon’s climbing and travelling has taken him from Alaska in the west to Australia in the east, from the Canadian Arctic in the north to the tip of South America.

During this time he has been fortunate enough to climb with some of Britain’s leading contemporary mountaineers including among many Andy Cave, Mick Fowler, Andy Parkin, Paul Pritchard, Doug Scott, Sean Smith and Steve Sustad.