Our Aims
To provide the opportunity to enhance the following skill set for young people from all backgrounds:- Planning, organisation and fundraising
- experience of personal challenge and adventure
- Awareness of strengths, weaknesses and potential
- Individual initiative and independent thought
- Broadened Outlook
- Effective teamwork and leadership
- Sense of community
- Practical exploration and fieldwork skills
- Balance enjoyment with preservation of wild environments
- Formal reporting processes
Meet the Team
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Lt Gen Peter Pearson CB CBE |
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Charlie Masding Charlie has a keen passion for travel, education and adventure, having studied, worked and travelled extensively in China and Russia, amongst others. She recently enjoyed the warmth of local hospitality in Uganda and the delights of safari, as well as trekking up a mammoth number of Scottish Munros. With a degree in Russian and German from the University of Cambridge, Charlie joined BSES in 2007 after several years working in not-for-profit and financial PR and marketing. She enjoys swimming, hiking and climbing. She is mad about planes but has to settle for commuting by bike. |
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Andrew Stokes-Rees Andrew has been leading mountain and river expeditions worldwide for over ten years. He qualified with the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides in 1999 and has climbed and guided extensively through the Alps, Rockies and Andes ever since. Andrew holds a Master of Science in outdoor education from the University of Edinburgh and a range of qualifications in alpine skiing, canoeing and sea kayaking. |
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Patrick O'Hara Before joining BSES, Patrick studied Sports Science and Physiology and was an Officer in the TA, due to join the regular Army before injuring his knee on a year out. After spending six months skiing / snowboarding, becoming a qualified skydiver, completing various European expeditions and a further five months coaching soccer in the USA, Patrick brings a love of the outdoors and experience of youth development to the BSES team. |
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Dorothy Tomalin Having had a passion for travel from a young age, Dorothy has in recent years backpacked through Europe, Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand, walked the Inca Trail in Peru, taught English in a Cambodian orphanage and helped build an animal refuge in Ecuador. After working for her university’s International Volunteering Society, Dorothy decided to follow her love of travel and working/volunteering overseas, and gained some valuable experience in the gap year industry before settling with BSES. |
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Jamie Abbey Jamie joined the BSES team as an intern in November 2008 and is now a full time Expeditions Coordinator. He went to school in Dorset and went on to study Business Management at the University of Surrey. He has backpacked around India and spent time in the Middle East and Europe. Jamie enjoys cycling, fishing, hill-walking and football. He is also the proud owner of the best bike in the office. |
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Les Mollison Les's interest in the outdoors began when he spent his early family holidays in the remote areas of the North of Scotland. In his business career he has travelled extensively in Europe, East Africa and North America. His interests are shared unequally between BSES, his wife, three children and one recent grandson, bridge and tennis. |
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Tor Hamer
Membership and Marketing Officer
Tor, a recent Geography graduate from the University of Southampton, initially joined BSES on a six month marketing internship. She has a keen interest in education and international development, combining both of these during her gap year volunteering in Zambia. Also featuring in Tor’s life are hockey and photography. |
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Suzanna Jerrard
Fundraising Assistant
At the impressionable age of 16 Suzanna was bitten by the travel bug whilst trekking through Israel. This developed into a deeper love of adventure, travel, the outdoors and culture. She has since taken any opportunity presented to her to embark on different journeys, for example, teaching lacrosse in America, and volunteering in Brazil. After graduating from The University of Birmingham with a Geography degree, and wondering what on earth to do with it, Suzanna flew to Madrid to learn Spanish and teach English for a development charity. Suzanna joined the BSES team on her return in September 2009. |
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Jackie Kerr Jackie joined BSES expeditions in November 2004 after her daughter completed an expedition to Svalbard. She travelled alone through South East Asia in 1979 but since her children were born she has enjoyed sailing holidays in the Mediterranean and city breaks. Jackie has plans for an expedition to Peru following her daughter’s footsteps after a second BSES expedition.
Jackie has worked for a variety of charities including: NSPCC, Macmillan, The Prince's Trust, MIND, Tommy's Campaign and Chichester Cathedral Restoration Trust. |
