The Team - Wilderness Expertise

Georgia Yurkwich-Spink

Director of Expeditions and Programmes

Georgia started life at WE as an Assistant Expedition Manager in 2007. Originally (and proudly!) from Whitby in North Yorkshire, she defected to the south due to a job in the bar industry and gradually moved across into the wine trade. Whilst in this role, Georgia was able to pursue her interest in water sports and joined a local Dragon Boat Team. One year later she was representing Great Britain and had become a World Champion! 4 years later and she had 11 medals to her name. This life-changing experience made Georgia re-think what she wanted from her work life and so she went back to university to study Sports Leadership. This led to Georgia discovering Wilderness Expertise and she spent a hectic summer in 2006 getting to know the company. It wasn’t long before she’d worked her way in permanently and is now a very happy and experienced member of the team. Georgia’s skill is in relationship development and she delights in meeting clients and extoling the virtues of the myriad opportunities that WE offers. She’s a skilled public speaker with a breadth of experience managing expeditions and always places customer care and quality at the forefront of what she does. Georgia’s travels have taken her to Armenia, Mexico, Hong Kong, China, Australia, Indonesia, Venezuela, Morocco, numerous places in Europe and now, thanks to her role at WE, has finally been to several sub-Saharan African countries which she’ll readily confess to being obsessed with. Georgia is passionate about travel and sport and knows only too well about the fulfillment, excitement and challenges that both can provide. She hopes to venture to yet more new places whilst working for WE and continues to be fill her spare time with sporting pursuits. She can be found most evenings of the week lifting weights and testing her physical and mental ability participating in CrossFit.

Charlotte Dyson

Head of Expeditions

Charlotte started at Wilderness Expertise in October 2016. Charlotte has previously worked in a variety of events and logistics positions across the education and charity sector, but was keen to put this experience into practice in a role that ties in with her belief in the benefits of travel, the outdoors and challenge on personal development. Spending four months travelling and volunteering in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2011 changed her outlook on life, and she’s been on a quest to explore as much of the world ever since! Whilst somewhat unable to resist the lure of far-flung destinations including Myanmar, Cuba and South America, she’s also keen to explore more of the UK and has recently discovered the delights of wild camping! Her most recent challenges included Stand Up Paddleboarding across Scotland and climbing Kilimanjaro. She’s now training to go from novice sailor to ocean-racer to take part in a leg of the Clipper Round the World Sailing Race – a steep learning curve! In her spare time Charlotte enjoys walking her dog, pilates, yoga and also helps teach ballet.

Anneliese Appleton

Head of Programmes - Inspire Worldwide

While studying for a BSc in Environmental Geography and International Development, Anneliese specialised in conservation and human development, gender studies and protected areas. Since graduating, she has lead and participated in many overseas volunteer projects and travelled extensively. She has taught outdoor skills to young people, led biodiversity surveys and volunteer groups in the rainforest. After setting up and coordinating a community conservation project in Malaysia and seeing the incredible impact it had on the community and the international volunteers, she decided to move back home to the UK. Annie has since worked in the Houses of Parliament on similar international projects before joining the Wilderness team.

Jo Pender

Head of UK Programmes

Jo has travelled to Russia, Morocco, Southern Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Brazil, and across Europe. She spent time working in Japan, as a ski instructor in the winter and a canyoning and rafting guide in the summer, followed by a year living and working in the Swiss Alps. Following time spent in Nepal, living in a Nepali community, teaching sport to girls, Jo wanted to continue sharing her passion for the outdoors with young people, and started her career in the outdoors industry in the UK. At the moment she is getting into cycling, although her first sporting loves will always be skiing and snowboarding. The next travel dream is to learn to surf (outside of the UK) and one day Jo hopes to complete the Mongol Rally with her best friend.

Steve Gray

Freelance Liaison

Despite coming from SW London Steve has always been an explorer and was fascinated by wildlife! As a kid, he would ride his bike to any bit of open space like Wimbledon Common, Mitcham Common or Bushy Park to explore and search for frogs, newts or small mammals and watch the deer in the Royal Parks.

Nothing has changed, except that Steve has now gone a little further afield. He still goes exploring in many of the upland and countryside areas of the UK and as an International Mountain Leader he has been lucky enough to lead treks in very many parts of the world. He is truly passionate about getting young people to develop their potential and believes that the DofE Award is a great vehicle for them to use to realise this potential.

Something that most folk don’t know about Steve is that he has signed the “Official Secrets Act”. He would love to tell you why, but ……….

Richard Mayon-White

Director

Richard has many years experience in developing companies and managing teams, in both large organisations and smaller companies. He is the Director of a number of companies in the Adventure Travel, Expedition and Exploration sectors. Richard is a Fellow of both the Royal Geographical Society and the Zoological Society of London. He is also a commercially endorsed RYA Yachtmaster, and has used his sea-faring skills to bring personal development opportunities to a number of organisations and companies.

Beth Chapman

Founder - Inspire Worldwide

Beth founded Inspire in 2008 and has been managing operations in the expedition sector for over fifteen years. She has extensive experience of working and travelling across sub-Saharan Africa and has a long history of working with partner organisations; setting up numerous community projects for volunteers as well as working as a project leader in Kenya, Malawi and Swaziland. Her background is in geography and she is very passionate about supporting schools and teachers to enable them to offer new challenges to their students, to open their eyes to another way of thinking and break down cultural divides. Beth set-up the relationships with all of Inspire’s charity partners, maintaining Inspire’s ethical and community focused drive and getting to know some amazing and inspirational people along the way. She is Trustee for a charity in Malawi and loves any opportunity to talk about Africa generally! Beth is also a qualified Off-Site Safety Management Trainer and is a firm believer that safety and risk assessments should never be seen as a chore and should be as accessible and pain-free as possible.

Peter Harvey

Director & Founder

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!

Christine Cooper

Finance Manager

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!

Canada

With so much to offer, Canada is impossible to dislike! It is a wonderful blend of French, British and indigenous traditions, which give the country a fabulous three dimensional character. It has so much to see and do that you could spend a lifetime there!

Trek in the Appalachian foothills of Quebec or canoe on the Dumoine River.
After all the fresh air and activity, relax and unwind in local hot springs.
The team could get involved in conservation work with local Canadian rangers.
Head into the wilderness on a Re-Wild Expedition!

Contact us to find out more and to request a full destination brief.

Iceland

Iceland is situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, just south of the Arctic Circle. Its unique combination of glaciers and volcanic activity has made it renowned as the Land of Ice and Fire.

There are several active volcanoes in Iceland and roughly an eighth of the island is an ice field.
Climbing Mt Hekla (1,491m) is an interesting challenge as the track is ever-changing and fresh lava can be observed.
Relax in the soothing waters of the Blue Lagoon.

Contact us to find out more and to request a full destination brief.

Sweden

Sweden offers a truly prime location for wilderness exploration, into areas little visited by other tourists. Accompanied by expert local guides, the team can also learn about basic alpine and outdoor skills.

From Gäddede, paddle a canoe through a network of inland rivers and lakes, sleep under tarpaulins and cook on an open fire.
Trek into the Jämtland Mountains, sleeping overnight in mountain huts.
Learn about the indigenous nomadic reindeer herding Sami culture – try a traditional lunch (moose!) and activities with a Sami guide.

Or Contact us to find out more and to request a full destination brief.

Borneo

Borneo’s greatest single attraction is its vast tracts of unspoilt rainforest, amongst the oldest in the world and home to a bewildering variety of animal, bird and plant life. However this is not all that this amazing country has to offer.

Attempt to summit Mt Kinabalu, the tallest mountain in South-East Asia.
Relax on some of the picturesque, unspoilt and often near deserted beaches.
Take part in a conservation project within a National Park or with a coastal conservation organisation.

Contact us to find out more and to request a full destination brief.

Cambodia

It is no wonder that this fascinating country is experiencing a tourism explosion; it has almost everything!

Excite your senses at the colourful street stalls in Siem Reap selling an array of fresh and tasty food.
A team can get a real feel for this amazing country by spending a few days walking from rural village to village.
Previous expedition teams have built playgrounds in poor rural areas where the children have little other form of play.

Contact us to find out more and to request a full destination brief.

Vietnam

Vietnam has it all; a compelling history, a unique and diverse culture, magnificent scenery, welcoming people and culinary delights. Its history is littered with wars, colonisation and rebellion but this troubled past has lead to an enticing country with a fascinating blend of cultural elements.

Vietnamese food is some of the best in South-East Asia and each region has numerous culinary delights which will stimulate your senses.
Visit one of the many floating markets in the Mekong Delta and see how the locals buy their fruit and veg.
trek through rice fields near Sapa and rest your weary head in the Vietnamese stilt houses.

Contact us to find out more and request a full destination brief.

Laos

Lao is Southeast Asia’s most unspoiled environment. Renowned for its intact cultures, and relaxed, chilled-out approach to everyday life. For the most part Laos remains untouched by the western world and is the perfect destination in which to really lose yourself.

Four Thousand Islands – relax in a hammock where the mighty Mekong spreads out.
Northern Laos offers tranquil landscapes and the opportunity to explore remote hill tribes.
Teams could support eco tourism projects by working with local people to develop resources such as accommodation.

Contact us to find out more and to request a full destination brief.

Nepal

Nestled between two giants of Asia this breathtaking country has a unique and captivating culture. This coupled with the jaw dropping mountain vistas and the warm, friendly people make it an attractive destination for an expedition.

Nepal is home to 8 of the world’s 10 highest peaks. Trekking will involve following well trodden trails between rural villages and interacting with the local people.
A team could research child poverty and provide help for children who have been forced into begging at a young age.
Visit remote mountain villages and experience the Tibetan Buddhist culture in Namche Bazaar.

Contact us to find out more and to request a full destination brief.

India

India is a cacophony of sights, sounds, smells, and colours. This culturally dense country has so much to offer and you will experience a sensory overload as soon as you step off the plane!

Venture up the Hampta Pass or through the Har Ki Dun Valley in the Indian Himalaya
No visit to India would be complete without a visit to the Taj Mahal. Rise early to capture this awe-inspiring monument at its best before bartering for souvenirs in one of the many bazaars.
Befriend a camel and go on a desert safari in Jaisalmer.

Contact us to find out more and to request a full destination brief.

China: Sichuan & Gansu

China is vast, with an incredible mix of cultures, cuisines, landscapes and history. An expedition to the western provinces of Sichuan and Gansu will offer a glimpse of a more traditional way of life in this rapidly modernising country:

Experience Tibetan culture first hand on a project based in a remote mountain area where nomadic traditions still thrive;
Trek through alpine valleys surrounded by stunning snow-capped peaks, passing yak herders, carved buddhas and prayer flags along the way;
See giant pandas! The mountains and forests of central Sichuan are their only remaining natural habitat, with a breeding centre in Chengdu.

Contact us to find out more and to request a full destination brief.

Mongolia

Mongolia offers a true wilderness experience for the expedition team. Nomads still roam the grasslands, travelling where the grass is greenest and weathering the harsh winters before moving on in spring.

Hospitality is a way of life and spending time with a local family will be a real highlight.

Get to know the locals and spend some time amongst a community, sleeping in gers.
Travel along the Trans-Mongolian Railway.
Teams are welcomed in by the friendly Mongolian people and their help and support at an orphanage summer camp would be invaluable.

Contact us to find out more and to request a full destination brief.

Kyrgyzstan & Uzbekistan

Discover spectacular mountainous scenery, vast open steppes, stunning architecture and a friendly and welcoming nomadic culture as you follow part of the ancient Silk Route through the Central Asian Republics of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

Trek in the Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan where alpine valleys are surrounded by soaring snow-capped peaks.
Sleep in a yurt – enjoy a warm welcome from the famously hospitable nomads.
Explore the beautiful mosques and teeming bazaars of the famous cities of Samarkand, Khiva and Bukhara.
Work alongside local communities and get involved in helping with aid work or teaching.

Contact us to find out more and to request a full destination brief.

Romania

Romania is a captivating destination – from majestic castles, painted monasteries and medieval towns to the extensive Transylvanian Alps. It is a country of surreal contrasts as this former Eastern Bloc satellite state absorbs Western culture.

Explore the stunning medieval Saxon city of Brasov and visit the so-called Dracula’s castle nearby in Bran.
The Carpathian Mountains offer a varied landscape with soaring cliffs, deep, dramatic gorges, meandering rivers and lush alpine valleys.
Community work with local schools or orphanages could involve teaching or doing sports with the children.

Contact us to find out more and to request a full destination brief.

Albania

Emerging late last century from years of communist isolation, Albania is an exciting new destination on the edge of Europe, with a wealth of fascinating history, a distinctive culture and beautiful scenery, from the Ionian coast to a rugged mountainous interior.

Trek through the magnificent Albanian Alps, Albania’s wild and rustic northern frontier.
Work alongside local people in schools, orphanages or conservation projects.
Explore Albania’s rich culture and history, where classical sites and mountain citadels reveal its Greek, Roman and Ottoman heritage.

Contact us to find out more and to request a full destination brief.

Croatia

We’re just updating our destination profile, watch this space!

Or Contact us to find out more and to request a full destination brief.

Morocco

Morocco is one of the most colourful and culturally rich expedition destinations for any team. It is a blend of Africa and the Middle East and brings with it all the excitement and challenge of both.

We have a long term link with a rewarding project o