Chris Breen, Director

Chris was lucky enough to visit Zambia on a number of occasions in the early 1980's and it was this that entrenched within him a love of wildlife, wilderness, photography and travel. Chris managed two small bush camps in the heart of Zambia's South Luangwa National Park and after prising himself away returned to the UK to work in one of the UK's leading travel agencies tailor-making round-the-world holidays.

The draw of wildlife was too much and after leading numerous trips for another UK tour operator he has since established Wildlife Worldwide in conjunction with David Mills in 1993 and in 1998 jointly set up Walks Worldwide with David Mills and Mike Wynne. Chris has travelled through South and Central America, much of North America, Asia, Australasia and the Pacific however his greatest love is for East and Southern Africa which he knows in depth and returns to frequently.

Mike Wynne, Director

Mike has led treks to all four corners of the world since 1983 with a special affiliation for Morocco, having set up many of the original treks there. He launched Walks Worldwide (as a division of Wildlife Worldwide) in 1998, operating from his attic room in Derby! Now he manages all aspects of the company from our spacious offices in the heart of Ingleton.

Mike has keenly developed our Family and Schools Expedition business, and as a traveller, father and an ex-teacher is well qualified to do it! Despite family and office commitments he still dons his boots every so often with a group in tow to 'keep his hand in', preferring the more arduous backpacking trek to the full service trek.

David Mills, Director

David Mills established Wildlife Worldwide in partnership with Chris Breen in 1993. Although trained as a solicitor, David has a passion for travel, walking, mountains and wildlife. He has a wealth of experience in Africa and still more in India and the Himalaya, plus an extensive knowledge of their natural history. For two years he trekked independently through every region of the Himalaya, studying and photographing its wildlife. Since then he has written articles, contributed to books, and led and organised many treks there and in Africa. Other travels have taken him throughout south-east Asia, Australia and Europe, as well as to parts of the Middle East.

His interests focus on birds and mammals, and the history and culture of the Himalaya. These days, however, with middle age now approaching (as mounting skiing injuries confirm), David is more likely to be found cheering on his sons on a rugby field, or coaching the children of Hambledon Cricket Club (for whom he still gets the odd call-up to the 3rd XI)!

Alison Bembridge, Senior Travel Consultant

From an early age Alison was dragged around the UK countryside and Europe by her keen hill walking parents, which inspired her to study Geography and extend her walking to various parts of the world after leaving home. Having trekked in Canada, Alaska, US and Costa Rica Alison returned to fall on her feet with a job at Walks Worldwide.

Since starting in the company she has snapped up several opportunities to research and test the itineraries. She has led a successful recce trip to Cuba, snowshoed in Switzerland, accompanied the Easter Families trip to Morocco and returned to Corsica to complete the GR20. She has also been on the Camino de Santiago with a group, researched the Madagascar itinerary and climbed Mt Toubkal. However, her position mainly involves talking about walking and travel on the telephone, organisation of flights, reservations and setting up new and exciting trips for the company.

Helene Cooper, Senior Travel Consultant

After graduating from university Helene donned her rucksack and made her way around the world finding herself flung in at the deep end trekking the Inca Trail in Peru, the Abel Tasman and Kepler Tracks in New Zealand, wandering amidst the billabongs of central Australia, exploring the hill tribes of Thailand and the hill stations of Northern India and onto the heights of Kilimanjaro. She has in turn worked for a specialist South American outfit, a well-known upmarket African Safari company and a polar expedition voyage operation. During her five years in Canada she successfully led sales of the country's top adventure company and also got used to braving -40 temperatures!

Since then she has trekked across the Kalimantan rainforest in Borneo with thousands of leeches as cohorts, sailed to Antarctica and kayaked with the whales there, experienced the breathtaking wilderness of Alaska and Patagonia and discovered a love of mountaineering with a successful ascent of Aconcagua in Argentina, the highest mountain outside the Himalayas. Recent expeditions include Mt Blanc, the volcanoes of Ecuador and Island Peak in Nepal on route from Everest Base Camp. She has also accompanied groups to Chile and the Indian Himalaya. Her most recent ventures have been recceing trips in Finland, the Rif Mountains of Morocco, the fabulous Falkland Islands, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Liz Noakes, Senior Travel Consultant

Liz 'suffered' going on family camping trips every summer with her family from the age of 4. Initially in a mini, they expanded into a campervan and since then she's never looked back. Being brought up in a household where taking as many holidays as you could afford was the norm it was inevitable that she'd take to the road with a rucksack as soon as she could.

So, from University onwards she has travelled way beyond her means and trekked in many parts of the world as part of her travels. After years of taking time out - how many gap years can you have?! - she realised that a job being paid to travel and trek was the answer. From then on she didn't look back as for 6 years she worked as a trek leader around the world.

Her favourite places are hard to pin down, but they definitely include the Himalayas, Patagonia, Swiss Alps, and New Zealand.......... one could go on............ Now she has decided to take a break and look behind the ticket to ride. Bringing years of travel and leading experience with her she has settled in Ingleton to join the Walks Worldwide team.

Erin Dilger, Ticketer

Erin joined our team in December 2006 after recently finishing a degree in Zoology at Durham University. Erin has always been interested in travel and embarked on a trip round Eastern Europe where she walked in the Tatras. During summer in 2004 she worked in a childrens summer camp in USA.

Felicity Hey, Finance Manager

Felicity looks after all our financial administration - quite a daunting task with our worldwide network of suppliers. A caterer in a previous life, she is also responsible for our social and corporate entertaining, a role she still greatly enjoys. Felicity has a great love for travel, and whenever there is a spare moment she if off overseas, often with her teenage children and her husband, all of whom share her delight in foreign travel. Recently she has developed the new Oman and India trips, and is looking to Central Asia as a next possible destination for our clients.