Stuart divides his time as a director of Planet Wise with running Fire Events Ltd., a corporate events and management development company. Past clients include Mitchells and Butlers, Arla Foods plc, AT Kearney Ltd, Linpac Plastics Ltd, British Telecom plc, Asda plc, Bass Brewers, The European Bank for Reconstruction, British Waterways and Development and Guinness UDV.

Stuart graduated in geological sciences from the University of Leeds in 1994. Following University Stuart began a career in the oil and gas industry working as a geologist on various Shell, BP, Total and Lasmo rigs throughout the North Sea and Europe. Needless to say travelling was, and still is, a way of life.

As well as working off shore he still managed to lead various expedition to the far-flung reaches of the globe. In 1995 he was the joint leader of a community expedition to the jungles of Belize and also the leader of the first British ascent of the North Face of Kussum Kanguru (6367m) in the Everest region of Nepal. He and the team reached the summit in five days.

He returned to the Himalayas in 1996, 1998 and 2001 leading further treks and expeditions to other challenging 6000m peaks.