4. About The Team

 

 Trek Coordinator, Denis Griffin

Former captain of Gobi United, a group of volunteers that trekked 100miles in the Gobi Desert and raised vital funds for two Scottish charities. Denis has worked in the Printing trade for over 20 years and is an active member of his works Safety, Environmental, Improvement group and holds a Red Cross first aid certificate. A family man with a passion for hill walking and charity work, Denis sees these treks as a perfect opportunity to combine both. He has organized a host of charitable events for various charities in the past from cabaret and race nights to sponsored walks and a charity trek to the summit of Ben Nevis. He is a former volunteer driver for Contact The Elderly a volunteer group which takes elderly people on day trips to museums, art galleries etc. A relatively newcomer to the expedition scene but loves a challenge and sees this as a natural progression in his life since returning from the Gobi Desert.

 Expedition Leader, Phil Briggs

A former Royal Marines commando and member of the Special Forces, Phil serves as race director for the Indo Ultra marathon event and Sandbaggers Head of Safety, and Rescue whilst in the field. Away from ultra marathons, he divides his time between being an expedition leader having led many expeditions and charity treks throughout the world, and managing personal development courses in the outdoors. Amongst his many professional outdoor qualifications, he’s a qualified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and has spent many years serving on Mountain Rescue Teams. He holds vast experience and knowledge of working and operating and in desert, arctic & jungle environments. Phil has a passion and commitment for wildlife and conservation which has been recognised with him receiving several national conservation awards from organisations such as the World Wildlife Fund for nature, Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime and the Scottish Government

  Expedition Logistics Co-ordinater, David Scott

Dave is the founder of Sandbaggers Ltd and the Race Director of Gobi Challenge and Scottish Ultra. An experienced and passionate expedition organiser he has led trips across the Great Victoria Desert, Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, the jungles of northern Thailand and numerous trips closer to home. His lust for adventure has seen him involved in the ultra scene for many years both as an athlete and event organiser. A graduate physiologist, Dave has in the past been involved in a scientific capacity on a number of trips including an award winning study into the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on pregnant women. He is a qualified first aider and in 2000 was recognised by the Royal humane Society for actions relating to this. Dave has been active in supporting the under privileged and needy in the regions of Mongolia he visits on Gobi Challenge and in 2008 was instrumental in founding Yamaa Trust, a UK registered charity with a single aim – the reduction of poverty in South Gobi Province, Mongolia.

 In country liaison, Steven Oliver

A veteran of 200 plus expeditions Steve has planned and directed expeditions in Africa, Central America and the rainforests of South East Asia his adopted home. As a Royal Marine, Steve played an integral role in several adventure expeditions including aRound Britian Triathalon  with expertise gained from service expeditions and attachments to Operation Raleigh,(Honduras, Indonesia and Cameroon) he then assisted in the establishment of Swaletreks Expeditions, which went on to become Trekforce Worldwide In 1997 Steve joined Operation Wallacea and went on to hold the post of deputy director for the largest scientific expedition organization in the UK. Steve has retained his association with Operation Wallacea as a Strategy Advisor and is now permanently based in Indonesia, where in conjunction with the Unity Resources Group he runs an expedition advisory and support service designed to give logistic support for visiting conservation and adventure expeditions and set fixer services for visiting film crews.

 Samsul Hidayat Ujung Kulon Guide
Samsul joins the team for our Indo Ultra event and Indo Utd Trek. He brings with him over a decade of leading and organising treks and scientific expeditions in the Ujng Kulon national park and Krakatoa. Samsul comes highly recommended and has in the past worked for several TV and film making production companies including the BBC, channel 4 and the Discovery channel to mention but a few. He is also a trained ranger and has fantastic knowledge of the flora and fauna that the park has to offer. 

 For further information visit Samsul’s web site  http://www.krakatau-ecotour.com

 Team support and Yoga Instructor, Samantha Briggs

Samantha will be on hand to help stretch out those tired muscles with pre and post yoga workshops during the expedition. Sam has been with us as part of the support team on previous group expeditions both in the UK and overseas and her classes have been found to be extremely beneficial.  She is keen to promote Yoga as a form of cross training for athletes.   Samantha has over 9 years yoga experience and qualified as a yoga instructor after completing her 200 hr teacher training programme with Union Yoga (Edinburgh) and taught by Brian Cooper and Nawajyoti.    Samantha has fully insured and is first aid trained. Sam accompanied Phil and Samsul on the reccie of the area and was also blown away by the beauty and diversity of the park and is looking forward to returning to Indonesia with the Indo Utd team.

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