Name:

Ben Gilbert

Countries:

Pyrenees, UK, Thailand, Nepal, Chile, Japan, Australia and Mallorca

Profile:

Canyoning and Bushwalking Guide and Instructor.

Ben has worked as a guide in the UK, Thailand, Nepal (8 years), Chile, Japan and Mallorca. Co-Founder of TheBlueSpace (alongside Ian Thurlby) and World Peace Trekking Nepal.

Worldwide third party liability insurance for remote adventurey type things-exploration, etc.

Fellow of The Royal Geographical Society.

Full Time Co-operative Member

Links:

The Royal Geographical Society
World Peace Trekking Nepal

Name:

Ian Thurlby

Countries:

Latin America, India

Profile:

The Blue Space Co-Founder. Extensive travels throughout Latin america and also in Europe and Africa.

Our Latin American, India and technical gear and equipment specialist.

The Blue Space certified bush walking and trekking guide.

Full time Co-operative Member

Links:

Name:

Tasi Lama

Countries:

Nepal, India, Tibet, Darjeeling, Sikkim

Profile:

Director of Operations for TheBlueSpace in Nepal.

From a Tibetan family living in Nepal, Tasi has been directly involved in travel and tourism since 1998 and is particularly concerned with reforming tourism. He began his career as an Office Manager of Ramdung "Go" Treks and Expedition Ltd followed by tour operator and various other positions. Currently he is an instructor at the Himalayan Tourism School and runs Blue Space Nepal (P) Ltd.

Involved in Nepal Social Change Projects.

Nepal Guide License No: 1482

Full time Co-operative Member

Links:

Nepal
Tibet
Tamang Radio and Social Projects

Name:

Adam Frampton

Countries:

Virtual

Profile:

The Blue space buisiness manager and accountant.

Enjoys hiking, abseiling and holidays in the sun.

It is Adam you have to blame when those invoices and long overdue payments somehow get stuck in cyberspace as he daydreams of canyons and mountains.

It will be worth it Adam!!

Links:

Name:

Tessa McGregor

Countries:

India, Bangladesh, Altai Republic, Mallorca

Profile:

TheBlueSpace Wildlife Conservation Consultant

Tessa born in France and brought up in the UK. She is equally at ease in both languages. She read biology at university, specializing in animal behaviour and ecology. Her life-long passion for wildlife and wild places has motivated her personal and professional life.
She has worked in remote places, including the Sundarban forests of Bangladesh and India, the South African bush and the mountains of Central Asia, where she undertook valuable scientific research and brought back accounts of her experiences in film programmes and radio features. She works as a wildlife biologist, environmentalist in TV and Radio (BBC, Animal Planet and Discovery) and has written and presented several programmes.

Tessa is a recognised expert on the tigers of the Sundarbans having spent months in the field, undertaking research and advising documentary crews. She has a long standing interest in finding ways of minimising human-wildlife conflict.

Works with Biosphere Expeditions on conservation projects.

Fellow of The Royal Geographical Society
Scientific Fellow of the Zoological Society
Winston Churchill Fellow and Explorer

Links:

The Royal Geographical Society
The Zoological Society
Winston Churchil Memorial Trust
Biosphere Expeditions

Name:

Scott Hall

Countries:

Australia, Austria, Canada, Italy, Switzerland, The Pyrenees, Japan.

Profile:

Canyoning, Caving and Via Ferrata Guide. Extensive canyoning in Australia (The Blue Mountains, Kanangra Boyd, Wollemi), Switzerland, Austria, The Pyrenees, Italy and Japan.

Canadian caving guide (British Columbia Parks)

Full time Co-operative Member

Fully trained and certified by The Blue Space as a canyoning and rescue guide.

Was fresh faced and eager till we got our hands on him. Now older, wiser but still scarily enthusiastic!

Links:

Name:

Alex Schuchter

Countries:

Austria, Dominican Republic, Spain, Japan and Nepal

Profile:

Our organiser/guide in Austria. Rafting, canyoning, trekking, he does it all!
Rafting since 1994 in Austria, Dominican Republic, Spain, Japan
Canyoning since 1996 in Austria, Dominican Republic, Spain, Nepal
Austrian rafting licence 1994
Austrian canyoning licence 2002
Austrian ski- and snowboard instructor 2001

Links:

Nepal Canyoning
Austria

Name:

Rob Hinds

Countries:

Austria, Nepal

Profile:

Expert white water rafting and kyack guide. Rob is hugely experienced and has worked on and explored the world's toughest and most remote rivers.

Many first descents and an impressive list of worked countries, he has experience in Nepal, Tibet, India, Bhutan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Iran, Australia, New Zealand, Papau New Guinea, USA, Zambia, Corsica, France Switzerland, Germany and Austria where he now works.

Holds Swift Water Rescue 3 certificate.

Links:

Austria
White Water Nepal

Name:

Raju Lama

Countries:

Nepal

Profile:

Born in the lap of the Langtang Himalayas, near Panch Pokhari. At 15 years old Raju became the star vocalist of the Mongolian Heart Band. Besides singing, he has been directly involved with tourism in Nepal since 1998 as a Trekking Guide and Mountain Guide. The combination of tourism and music has helped him collect indigenous melodies and rhythms and promote them in a new way through his band. He plans to perform a concert with his band on top of one of Nepal's Trekking Peaks - anyone willing to sponsor such an event please get in touch.

Nepal Guide License number: 1872

Links:

Nepal

Name:

Koen Viaene-Nelissen

Countries:

Spanish Pyrenees, Mallorca

Profile:

Moniteur and instructor within the EFC (French Canyoning School) as well as a canyon guide within the FAE (Caving federation of Aragon, Spain) and a mountain guide title for BLOSO (the Belgian government branch which gives out sports titles) Holds a Wilderness First Responder first aid title and is experienced to say the least!. Speaks Dutch, Spanish, French and English fluently with a bit of German.

Awarded the rather swanky PRO label from the EFC (French Canyoning School)which means his head is now too big to fit his hat!!

Links:

Spanish Pyrenees

Name:

Virginie 'Jones' Faure

Countries:

French Pyrenees

Profile:

French government qualified and licensed rock climbing and canyoning guide, arbor surfing specialist and instructor.

Keen mountain biker, climber and surfer.

Hatched the idea of The Blue Space with Ben somewhere in The Blue Mountains, Australia.

Links:

French Pyrenees

Name:

David Stuckey

Countries:

Australia

Profile:

Our man in Oz. Associate Diploma in Recreation Serving, Uni of NSW.

Certificate IV in Outdoor Recreation - Specialising in Abseiling, Bushwalking, Roping, Navigation, Canyoning.
Certificate IV in Advanced Canyoning
Certificate IV in Snow Sports
Qualified Fitness Leader
Level 1 Triathlon Coach

Did first canyon in 1988, started his business in 1996 and has personally guided over 300 trips in the Blue Mountains Canyons.

Licensed to operate in the National Parks of New South Wales.. David has trekked in Nepal to Everest Base camp, travelled around Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Portugal, England, skied in Canada, run with the bulls in Spain, married in Malaysia (to a Pom), adventure raced in New Zealand, backcountry skied, camped and climbed in the Snowy Mountains in Kosciusko Australia and climbed, canyoned, walked, mountain biked, abseiled through out a good part of the Blue Mountains. Very proud father of 2 beautiful 13 year old twin daughters.

Links:

The Blue Mountains

Name:

Toy Limjaroen

Countries:

Thailand

Profile:

Toy comes from Surat Thari and spent 3 years of his early life in a valley village now under Cheo Lan Lake. He spent much of his childhood camping in the jungle with his father and brothers and learnt a lot from a group of environmentalists trying to prevent the devastation of the area.
Toy has vast experience guiding in Thailand mainly in Phuket and Khao Sok but has also enjoyed travelling through Switzerland, England, Malayasia, Myanmar and Singapore.
Toy has formed an action group with other Khao Sok villagers to protect the area including working to prevent poaching. An officially licensed Thai government tourist guide Toy is one of the most experienced and professional guides in his field.

Links:

Thailand

Name:

Neale Dunstan

Countries:

Australia

Profile:

Blue space associate, i.e when we can tear him away from mending planes! Oz Canyon boffin and can also fix that long forgotten 747 jet engine project rusting in the garden shed.

Links:

Name:

Patrick O'Keefe

Countries:

Nepal, Burma, Hokkaido

Profile:

Hokkaido -Experienced Kayaker, Rafting Guide, Trekker, Mountain Climber. Managed Outdoor Projects in Nepal, Burma, Hokkaido, South America, part owner of The Last Resort Nepal.

Runs Rafting and Canyoning trips in Nepal and Hokkaido and hopefully soon in Burma.

Patrick runs all activities from his amazing rural base in The Hidaka Range Wilderness.

Links:

Hokkaido Japan
Canyoning in Nepal
The Hidaka Base Camp

Name:

Vikram Maira

Countries:

India and Ladakh

Profile:

Vikram owns the Sitla Estate on the edges of Corbett National Park, Uttranchal, India.

He runs nature tours, himalayan treks and of course will take you to see Tigers inside the Tiger Reserve. Runs trekking trips in Ladakh.

A fantastic cook and host and most recent addition to The Blue Space Co-Operative.

Links:

India
Sitla Orchard Estate

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