Mark O'Shea - Reptile Expert with television presenting on Channel 5, Sky and the BBC

  

"Expedition preparation and research are extremely important.

People ask me how I can just jump into a swamp in Louisiana or Papua New Guinea without worrying about what is in there. My response is I can do it because I know what is not in there. I am familiar with the wildlife of the swamp, from parasites to predators, long before I get my feet wet. That's because I have done my research.

Not everyone wants to jump into swamps but plunging into adventurous travel without doing your research is rather like diving into murky water. There are plenty of ways to get bitten or stung and not all involve swamp denizens. Any adventurous project, by its very definition, can be hazardous but it is much more hazardous for the person who is not prepared and does not know what to expect.

There can be no substitute for good planning."

Russ Parke - Technical Advisor

Russ brings to the company a wealth of experience. He served 30 years in the Hampshire Constabulary, taking a leading role in personal protection and recruit training.

With over 20 expeditions under his belt he has set foot on every continent. Currently he is the director of an expedition that plans to summit on Everest in the spring of 2007. In preparation the climb team summited on Mt McKinley in June of 2003.

He has been responsible for assisting nearly 500 young people to experience the excitement of taking part in an expedition to a developing country. During these expeditions the young people have undertaken numerous community development projects, including building schools and health clinics and refurbishing hospitals in remote areas. And most notably painting a Buddhist monastery called Tengboche in the foothills of the Nepalli Himalayas, enroute to Everest Base Camp.

He manages at least one International expedition every year but is more than prepared to take