Our Team

After graduating from York University, Jo travelled extensively, exploring mountains across Asia, Africa and Europe, working as a ski instructor, canyoning guide, rafting guide, and summer camp manager.Jo joined Wilderness Expertise in 2017, and is passionate about providing opportunities for people to experience the magic that comes from achieving more than they thought possible. These days Jo splits her time between running Wilderness Expertise, and getting out and about in the outdoors as much as possible. She is a member of the BMC and Mountain Training.

Mark is a qualified Summer and Winter Mountain Leader and has a strong belief in using the outdoors as a vehicle for personal development. Mark has been exploring the outdoors since childhood and has amassed a wealth of experience leading and supporting teams of adults and young people in the mountains of the UK and overseas. He has been working in the outdoor industry since completing a Degree in Outdoor Studies in 2002.Having been lucky enough to lead and support teams of young people and adults in the outdoors throughout the UK and further afield, he has a particular passion for teaching others the skills they need to go off and have their own adventures!

Peter is passionate about youth expeditions and a believer in the personal development benefits of outdoor education. In 1994 he set up Wilderness Expertise and has been involved ever since. His expertise in remote travel has led him to work with a number of different companies including BP, Rio Tinto, EarthWatch and the Royal Geographical Society. His wider work in the youth expedition industry includes founding the Expedition Providers’ Association and supporting the Young Explorers’ Trust. He is also involved in the industry’s work on standards, including the technical committee for the British Standard for overseas expeditions (BS 8848), the Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) expedition badge and as the co-chair of the ISO for Adventure Tourism. From a field perspective he is a qualified mountaineer and has run personal development expeditions for young adults all over the world. He has also worked as a remote medical practitioner and still gets out on triathlons when he can. Peter lives in Andover with his wife Claudia and their two children, along with their dog Talisker, when he is not off travelling!

Karen joined Wilderness Expertise in 2024, bringing a wealth of experience from her previous role as an Assistant Headteacher in a secondary school. Alongside her work with Wilderness Expertise, Karen continues to work as a part-time School Educational Visits Coordinator (EVC) and Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) coordinator.Her deep passion lies in blending her extensive knowledge of the educational sector with her love for the outdoors. Karen has led numerous expeditions across the UK and overseas, and she is a firm believer in the power of outdoor experiences to enhance the mental and physical well-being of young people. She is dedicated to ensuring that every young person has the opportunity to discover the joy and transformative impact of the natural world.

Jamie is a qualified Summer Mountain Leader and MIAS qualified mountain bike leader.Following an extensive period in the corporate industry Jamie pursued his longing for the outdoors 13 years ago.Since then he has led both adults and young people to many different destinations in both the UK and overseas. Thanks to the opportunities given him during his corporate time Jamie has wanted to give something back and believes heavily in personal development through the mechanism of the outdoors and programs such as the Duke of Edinburgh award. Gaining an extensive knowledge of the Duke of Edinburgh program during that time being a leader in several schools, to freelancing as an instructor and assessor and also a field officer supporting the running of the program in over 15 schools.

Dave has always had a love of the outdoors, feeling more at home in wild open spaces than anywhere else. In his early years he participated in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and sought out quieter places to climb and walk.Now, 30+ years later, he has turned his passion into a job; he is a DofE assessor up to Gold standard, qualified Mountain Leader, Rock Climbing Instructor and Bushcraft Instructor. Dave enjoys low level walks through fields and woodland but also bigger expeditions and adventures in the Peak District, Snowdonia, Lakeland Fells and the Scottish mountains. When he can, he likes to walk and wild camp with friends on the fells - sometimes near a pub :o)Six years ago, he decided to share his passion for wild places by starting a non-profit making, outdoor adventure youth group in his home town. The group aims to equip young people with the skills and confidence to walk and climb in the great outdoors.Dave has rock climbed extensively in UK (trad, sport & bouldering) as well as trips to other parts of Europe. He mountain bikes, has participated in Mountain Marathons and has dabbled in triathlon up to Half Ironman. He also holds a karate black belt, so watch out!

Andy joined the mountaineering club when he went to university, and quickly discovered that he preferred the views from mountain tops to the view down a microscope. Since then he has worked throughout the outdoor industry, taking groups skiing, trekking, climbing, and on adventurous explorations. He particularly likes D of E work, helping young people appreciate the world around them, helping them develop and grow, and helping them gain confidence in their own abilities.

In a former life I travelled the world in my role as cabin crew, exploring and discovering many different cultures as well as meeting lots of interesting people and living my best life! I moved into Training for BA when I had my first child and absolutely loved it, thriving on the satisfaction of teaching new recruits new skills and helping them to develop the ones they already had. This included communication and leadership skills as well as how to integrate and appreciate the diverse personalities and cultures of others.I am now really enjoying transferring my skills and experience to my role with WE, teaching young people the same skills in the outdoors and showing them how they can use them, both at school as well as moving on into the big wide world as they move into adulthood.Hobbies include walking , skiing and enjoying good times with family and friends.

Anna started off working on sail training boats, and was one of the youngest female skippers. After university she worked for social services providing outdoor activities for people with disabilities, prior to setting up her own outdoor business. Having sold this in 2010 after the birth of her son, Anna began freelancing.She now focuses on DofE, overseas expeditions and cycle guiding, using DofE expeditions to travel around the country visiting friends. Anna also appreciates being able to stay close to home in the Brecon Beacons. The Brecons are a truly beautiful area, with stunning ridges, beautiful valleys and lots of waterfalls.

Chris joined Provident Life in 1973 for what she believed to be a stopgap.Little was she to know that she was going to spend the next 27 years helping the business evolve and progress. Eventually the time came to make a break and Chris joined the team in 2000 to become the finance manager. Be nice to her – she pays all our bills!

Maryam is an undergraduate student at the University of Reading, pursuing a degree in Business and Management with a focus on Entrepreneurship. When she's not hitting the books, she's out soaking up the sun, whether it's adventuring outdoors with friends, jet-setting around the globe, or scoring goals on the sports field.

Emmanuel, our Economics undergrad at the University of Reading, is not just all numbers and graphs - he's also a Rugby player and a keen table tennis player! His intern superpower? Dreaming of rocking the marketing world and spreading the word about the awesome personal development and Duke of Edinburgh programmes at Wilderness Expertise.