Meet the Team

After a longish career in local government; in outdoor access, community development and youth work, I set up this company to pursue my passion the outdoors.

I have been climbing mountains and exploring wild places all my life and began working in the outdoors 30 years ago, up in Svalbard, leading treks in the high Arctic. Since then I have been working as a mountain leader in Scotland and overseas. Here’s some information about me:

• Skied across Svalbard in the winter, from Longyearbyen to Ny-Alesund, April 2000
• Mountain Leader Award, 2004
• Guide with About Argyll Walking Holidays for 18 years.
• Completed the Scottish munros in 2013
• Winter Mountain Leader award, 2014
• International Mountain Leader Award, 2015
• Trekking, skitouring and snowshoeing all over the place: Pyrenees, Alps, Norway, Sweden, Poland, Iceland and Svalbard
• Bushcraft Competency Certificate, 2016
• Keen hill runner, often found in the hills above Luss. See this 3 min video guide to hill running made by my running club, Bellahouston Road Runners.
• Primary School Teacher

I have extensive experience in running the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. I was the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award manager for Renfrewshire, responsible for the management and development of 15 award centres across the authority. My involvement in Dofe includes Leader training and support, direct delivery, expedition supervision and assessment and the review and development of safety systems.

See my Mountain Training Association profile for more informations on my qualifications and Mountain training.

I joined Aspen Outdoors Ltd in 2021 as Manager, to help coordinate, plan and deliver activities, particularly DofE Expeditions.

Having grown up with the Scottish hills through family walking and camping trips, I have been lucky enough to be able to pursue a passion for the outdoors that includes walking, climbing, kayaking and geology. I have a keen interest in engaging young people with the natural environment and previously worked for GeoBus, a Scottish Earth Science education project, delivering workshops and field courses.

I am a qualified Mountain Leader, hold the NNAS Tutor Award and am working towards my Rock Climbing Instructor Qualification. I have a PhD in Geology.

Some of my outdoor adventure highlights include:

• Hiking the John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevada
• Trekking in the Langtang Valley, Nepal
• Geology expeditions to Iceland and SW Greenland
• Solo walking and camping trips in the Scottish hills
• Sea kayaking around the Scottish coast

I am originally from Japan but grew up in England. Although I grew up on a horse farm, my love for the outdoors really started when I moved to Scotland 12 years ago.

I joined an outdoor activities club in Glasgow and discovered a love for the mountains, bagging munros, rock climbing and running.

Initially I volunteered for DofE. I am now a qualified Summer Mountain Leader.

In my spare time I like spending time with my dog and I am usually training or racing ultra distance running events, finding adventure here and there.

I joined Aspen in February 2023, as a Senior Instructor. My journey is a lifelong love of the outdoors developed via school and scouts in the early days leading to huge amounts of skiing, climbing, trekking and winter adventures.

I am a qualified Mountain Leader, hold the NNAS Tutor Award and I am in the consolidation period for the Winter Mountain Leader award.

Some of my outdoor adventure highlights:

• Trekking long distance routes the length and breadth of Scotland
• Former ski instructor at Glenshee ski resort
• Support crew for outdoor film on Ben Nevis
• Winter expeditions into the remotest areas of Scotland

My love of the outdoors started by playing in the allotments of south London and grew at school through trips to the Brecon Beacons. While doing a geography degree at Sheffield University, I spent most of my time as a voluntary ranger for the Peak District National Park, before working for over thirty years in logistics which included director level roles in both the private and public sectors.

A change of direction saw me gain my Mountain Leader qualification, then volunteering for several charities which led to working with young people and adults in the outdoors, which is reflected in my role with Aspen.

In addition to working with Alastair and the Aspen Team I am an Event Leader for Blackdog Outdoors, president of my local mountaineering club as well as a director of the Clyde Valley Orchard Group.

I joined Aspen Outdoors Ltd in 2017 as an Associate Instructor, transferring to Senior Instructor in 2024. I mostly supervise and assess Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions. I particularly enjoy working with young people and helping others to gain new skills.

Education and Awards:

• Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor
• British Cycling Mountain Bike Leader Level 2, Bikeability Tutor and Cycle Leader
• Paddlesport Instructor
• NNAS Tutor
• PGDE in Primary Education
• PhD in Molecular Genetics

My personal outdoor adventures have spanned several decades with friends, family, colleagues and anyone I meet in the outdoors. I have three children and we have explored the Spanish Pyrenees on family holidays. We have also been out with our children while they complete their Munro rounds. My latest challenge has been learning to kayak.

I was brought up in the North East of England and learned a love of the outdoors from an early age with family camping holidays and long walks over the hills. Since then I have had many outdoor adventures, passing on my passion to my five daughters with family holidays, including hiking the Cape Wrath Trail and canoeing the Great Glen.

I have a PhD in the aerodynamics of Wind Turbines and worked for ten years in experimental fluid dynamics. Having had a family I became a supervisor and assessor for Duke of Edinburgh expeditions. I believe nature has a positive effect on wellbeing and mental health, I want to pass on my joy of the outdoors to others, teach how to be comfortable in this environment so to empower young people to follow their own adventures.

In addition to working for Aspen Outdoors I volunteer with charities Venture Scotland and Awards Plus. In my spare time I will be found on my Edinburgh allotment.

I joined Aspen Ltd in December 2025 as a Tour Coordinator. I enjoy working with people and I look forward to helping customers to arrange their adventures in the Highlands and Islands.

I have spent the last 4 years studying Marketing and Tourism at the University of Strathclyde so I will be able to apply the lessons I have learned into a real life context.

I grew up camping and love spending time outdoors. I am also very passionate about travelling and wildlife and have been lucky enough to travel to some amazing places.

Some personal highlights have been going on safaris everyday when volunteering in Kruger National Park, as well as spotting orcas and visiting huskies in Norway.

In my free time I like to be out and about with my dogs, friends and family and enjoy getting to escape to the Highlands whenever I can.