Our Team

Everyone who knows Outward Bound, knows that there is something special about Outward Bound field crew! They are highly qualified outdoor education practitioners and skilled facilitators. Our crew is focused 100% on creating positive, impactful and safe experiences for participants.

Few people leave an Outward Bound program without a sense of awe and gratitude to the Group Leaders that have guided their Outward Bound journey.

Yanni
Group Leader
Yanni is a North Canberra local and is a keen rock climber and snowboarder. His love for the outdoors developed at school through his year 11 and 12 outdoor education teachers, where he later returned to complete his Outdoor education traineeship. Yanni worked a snow season at Thredbo and is now loving his role as a Group Leader with Outward Bound!
Lily
Trainee
Ewan
Group Leader
Aidan
Group Leader
A Canadian local, Aidan began his outdoor career with Outward Bound Canada and has now been group leading for over 5 years. His passion for the outdoors was fostered through studying outdoor recreation and natural sciences at university and representing his country in sprint kayaking. While on program, it’s possible that you’ll find Aidan snapping some epic shots with his camera or with his head in a bush cook pot (and loving it).
Emily
Group Leader
Emily is originally from the UK, having spent the last 2 years as a trainee instructor in the Lake District. She has decided to combine her passion for the outdoors and travelling and join the OBA team. Emily loves to spend her days off by the sea and is a keen sailor who will happily teach you all there is to know! When she’s not sailing, she enjoys hiking, climbing and photography.
Thao
Group Leader
(she/her)
Coming from Vietnam - a beautiful country in South East Asia, Thao started her outdoor journey with Outward Bound 8 year ago as a trainee. Since then, she has built up her skills and knowledge as an outdoor educator. She feels passionate about helping others and wants to create the best experience possible for her participants. She loves sport climbing and abseiling in her spare time
Gus
Group Leader
(he/him)
Gus grew up around the bush and finds it to be a fantastic teacher for nearly any life skill. He loves both the thrill and peace of being out in the wild. He has worked as a guide in many places across Australia, but always comes back to Tharwa. When he's not out with a group, he enjoys easy-going mountain scrambles and rock climbs.
Wren
Group Leader
(they/them)
Wren grew up at the base of the Watagan Mountains. Spending their childhood in the valley, they built a deep passion for all things Flaura and fauna. Wren's current passion is birds and they're always keen to point them out along your journey. Before coming to OBA, Wren found a love for alternative farming and yoga teaching, and being non-binary, they are passionate about creating a space for queer and trans people in the outdoors. Their next goal is to ride a push bike around the world!
Catherine
Trainee
Catherine is a trying new things enthusiast. With a particular penchant for all things aquatic, you can be sure she'll always be up for a swim, dive or kayak. Having done a degree in natural sciences, she's keen to share her passion for the outdoors with others and inspire them to find their inner adventurer.
Emilia
Trainee
Emilia took an unexpected route to Outward Bound, starting her career as a classical flute player in the UK. After teaching piano at a school in the Lake District, she realised she much preferred being covered from mud from head to toe, mountain biking, climbing crags, and running up mountains than being stuck inside studying Mozart. Her special skill is walking while reading.
Pace
Trainee
Pace is Canberra raised and always looking for adventure. Looking for new caves to crawl through or scuba diving below the ocean Pace is seeking a unique place to find himself in and then looking to share that with others. On his days off he plays Ultimate Frisbee for a couple different teams and can talk you ear off about it. Pace is always happy to pass on his knowledge and show off his passions.
Tom
Trainee
Tom grew up just outside the city of Brisbane in his parent's jungle-like plant nursery. It was tradition for him and his siblings to go through a rite of passage camp when they came of age, and Tom kept going back to help! He loves to hear about all your weird and niche interests, and harbours some of his own. Insects, metalwork, drawing, whittling. Ask Tom about these and he'll happily ramble on about them.
Taylor
Trainee
Taylor is a local from the bush capital. She is an animal lover at heart who loves traveling, abseiling, high ropes and playing sport. Taylor is always on the lookout for new adventures and spent the last year living in the Whitsundays swimming with the sea creatures. Studying outdoor education throughout high school and college opened her eyes to the endless adventures to be found in the great outdoors and she soon knew this was the career path for her.
Lauren
Trainee
Lauren grew up on the Gold Coast, recently working as a paramedic. She loves bouldering, reading and exploring the Queensland rainforests. She has a passion for self-development and is super excited to help others grow through the great outdoors. On her days off, Lauren can be found under a tree tucking into a bowl of potato salad.
Laura
Trainee
Laura grew up on a farm in the middle of Woop woops, New Zealand. She participated in a 21-day outward bound course, in 2021, which started her outdoor journey. She loves hiking, water skiing, horse riding and wants to develop her skills in rock climbing, kayaking, and sailing. When she is not in the outdoors she loves knitting, crocheting, and sewing clothes.
Mike
Logistics Coordinator
(he/him)
Mike grew up in the Southeastern United States and enjoys hiking, rock climbing and running. After completing a bachelor’s degree, he’s spent time working and traveling through parts of Asia, Europe and South America. Mike’s background includes work in conservation and land management, via ferrata guiding and teaching. He couldn’t be more stoked to work at Outward Bound!
Andrew
Group Leader
(he/him)
Andrew is a PE and Science teacher by trade. He loves to see people pushing themselves outside of their comfort zone to achieve amazing things in the outdoors while having a fun time doing so. He loves games, running, climbing, and dancing a bit of salsa whenever he gets a chance.
Helene de Lagillardaie
Head of Operations
(she/her)
Our regional and mobile operations and field crew are managed by Helene. Helene brings a breadth of international expertise and has established a reputation as one of OBs most respected, hard-working leaders, inspiring and mentoring a dedicated field crew.
Zali
Group Leader
(she/her)
Zali grew up living in a rural town called Coober Pedy in South Australia, and experienced living underground. She spent time working as an aquatic’s instructor, teaching a variety of activities including kayaking, canoeing, sailing, windsurfing, and snorkelling. When Zali is not in the outdoors she loves to draw or expand her knowledge through books and study, and believes that kindness is everything.
Laura
Group Leader
(she/her)
Laura is a northern rivers rainforest resident - a playful bush kid at heart, always on the hunt for new random animal facts or fun new games. She loves hiking and kayaking and is an aspiring sailor!
Alkira
Group Leader
(she/her)
Alkira grew up in the lush rainforests of the Northern Rivers and spent most of her time as a child playing outside. This fostered her appreciation for the natural world and made her eager to explore. She is a lover of community and outdoors. Alkira has experienced the outdoors through bushwalking, rock climbing and camping. You can always find her in a crowd, just look for the curly fro.
Adele
Program Coordinator (Campus)
(she/her)
Adele has a love for mountain biking, hiking and skiing. She grew up in New Zealand but travelled and worked in America, Canada and Japan before settling in Jindabyne Australia seven years ago. Studied a Bachelor of Physical Education (Hons) majoring in teaching as well as a cert IV in Outdoor Recreation, so she is excited to bring her skills and experience to Outward Bound.
Dakota
Program Coordinator (Bush Craft)
(she/her)
Dakota is from the United States, Florida to be specific. She loves hiking and trying any new outdoor activities. She has spent the last four years travelling around the world, after completing her bachelors degree in fine art. Settling in Australia to become her home and create a career sharing her passion for the outdoors.
Sam Hodder
Project Manager
(he/him)
Sam was one of the Whiskey interns in 2015. He had been working in the outdoors prior and has got over 10 years of experience in the industry. Sam has both led groups and coordinated in all of Outward Bound’s operational areas. His technical skills in roping, paddling and navigation and his knowledge of the industry are an asset in his coordinating and leading the team in the field.
Marita
Senior Group Leader
(she/her)
Marita grew up in Queensland and is a trained high school teacher. Her love of the outdoors encompasses solo hiking and snow sports. With her sister, Marita took part in a long-distance winter snowshoe expedition across the Australian Alps. Together they have completed the Larapinta Trail and Overland Track both in winter and are currently planning to do the Australian Alps Walking Track on skis. Marita also loves to capture beautiful scenery through her camera lens.
Forrest Perrin De Graff
Program Coordinator
Forrest’s interest in the outdoors was nurtured in him through the Scouts. On his off time, Forrest loves playing Dungeons and Dragons and having board games sessions. Forrest’s culinary specialty include a delicious Japanese Curry and fluffy pancakes.
Lucas Slater
Program Coordinator
(he/him)
Lucas is a Canberra local. His outdoor passions are varied but you can always find him riding his skateboard or surfing down the coast. Lucas likes starting his days with a run up the local hills and a strong coffee.
Jess Bulger
Co-Chair, Board of Directors
(she/her)
Jess Bulger is Wiradjuri from Tumut and Brungle in Country NSW and is Director, Engagement at CareerTrackers Indigenous Internship Program. Jess began her career as a teacher and has worked in the Higher Education and Non-Profit sectors for the past 12 years. Jess focuses on her passion to empower young people to build rewarding careers, leading fulfilling lives and enable change for their families and communities. Jess comes from a long line of strong Wiradjuri women and is driven by the belief that as Indigenous peoples we have the solutions for our communities and that our work must be informed by the teachings of our Elders.
Campbell Hudson
Deputy Chair, Board of Directors
(he/him)
In more than 30 years of legal practice, Campbell has acquired significant experience in insolvency, commercial litigation and restructuring. Through a number of initiatives, Campbell has worked to reduce the socio-economic gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and in 2014 was awarded the CareerTrackers Business Supervisor of the Year. In 2016 Campbell participated in an Outward Bound program with CareerTracker interns, that led him to join the Outward Bound Australia Board in 2019.
Dr Simon Crisp
Board of Directors
(he/him)
Dr. Simon Crisp describes his OBA Standard Course in 1980 (aged 17), as the single most formative experience of his life. Working as an OBA instructor provided the foundation to his career in psychology in wilderness adventure therapy and hospital mental health settings. With over 30 years of practicing psychology, Simon brings critical expertise to Outward Bound, supporting the Board and the training and development of our crew.
Simon Lewis
Chair AOBDF
(he/him)
From the vantage of his advisory firm, GoodWolf Partners, Simon helps clients such as family and corporate Foundations and NFPs to co-design strategy and develop innovative 'for purpose' models of service and capital towards social value. Simon has been involved with Outward Bound in both Zimbabwe and Australia, and he believes there has never been a more important and exciting time to reimagine the possibilities to make a difference, to leave the world a better place, to leave a legacy
Jon Bradshaw
Director AOBDF
(he/him)
Jon Bradshaw comes to OBA with over 25 years of global sales, marketing, strategy and organisational development experience gained with the Mars Group, Diageo PLC, Virgin Group, Lion Pty and D roga S. Nowadays he runs a successful marketing and strategy consultancy, Brand Traction. With an alarming lack of grace and skill he has spent his life outside work mountaineering, kayaking, diving, climbing and snowboarding his way around the world's adventure capitals . Over 40 years of experience in the field has given Jon an unshakeable belief that time spent being challenged in the outdoors should be an integral part of everyone's personal growth journey.
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