Monday 24th November
9.30am Arrive & registration
10.00am Welcome and housekeeping
10.15am Sport NI commitment to Adventure Activities
Eamonn McCartan (CE Sport NI)
10.30am “The beginnings (and goings-on) of adventure”
Dermott Somers
11.00am Qualifications v experience
John Cousins
11.30am Coffee / tea
12.00pm Legal Perspective – Adventure and challenge
Peter Boeuf CBE.
12.30pm The ultimate risk or adventure – High altitude guiding
Iain Peter
1.00pm Lunch
2.00pm Workshops
3.00pm Coffee / Tea
3.30pm Workshops
4.30pm Final plenary session
4.45pm Close of day 1
7.00pm Optional Dinner and slide show
Cost £25.00
Adventures in Borneo and Guyana – Tim Fogg
Tuesday 25th November
9.00am Arrive & registration
9.30am Overcoming challenge
Karen Darke
10.30am Research into barriers to participation in countryside recreation
Dr Olive Brown
11.00am Coffee / tea
11.30pm Workshops
Accepting risk as part of challenge – getting the message out
Increasing participation among under-represented groups – what can we all do?
Increasing participation for young people – how can voluntary clubs be encouraged / supported.
Should there be revalidation for all outdoor qualifications.
1.00pm Final plenary and conference close
1.30pm Buffet lunch
Download Programme (.pdf)
Biography of Speakers
Eamonn McCartan is the Chief Executive of Sport NI.
Dermot Somers started climbing in 1974 at the age of 27, and became one of the leading rock-climbers in Ireland in the 1970's. In 1983, he became the first Irishman to have climbed the six great north faces of the Alps. He has also climbed extensively in the Himalaya. He has written several books in both Irish and English, documenting his travels and fictional short stories including Endurance: Heroic Journeys in Ireland, a collection of epic journeys from Irish history and mythology.
John Cousins is the director of training at Plas y Brenin and President of UIAA’s Training Standard Group. He is an active climber and open canoeist.
Peter Boeuf CBE has now retired but was formerly head of the Crown Prosecution Service in London and was also the chief Prosecutor for the Lyme Bay Case. Peter subsequently became an active sea kayaker and has paddled in Scotland and Canada.
Iain Peter is a director of Adventure Activity Associates. As an International Mountain Guide he has climbed and led numerous mountaineering expeditions with significant ascents in North and South America, Argentina, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Tibet.
Michael McGeehin is originally from Donegal and is now director of Coaching Ireland based in Limerick.
Peter Thompson is a native of Portstewart, and is now the UK regional manager for the outdoor industry with Skills Active.
Beverley Pierson – Beverley works for the Countryside Access and Activity Network and administers the Leave No Trace programme for all of Ireland.
Robin Ruddock – Robin is an active paddler, sailor and general maritime guru. He is an accredited provider of training for WiSe.
Gavin Howat works for the Health and Safety Executive and is responsible for supporting the Adventure Activity Licensing Service and Authority in GB. He has been involved with the activities sector since Lyme Bay. He is a Level 3 Kayak coach, open boat paddler and keen skier.
Terry Eakin is unique – an active cross country runner and a tremendous advocate for walking and exercise in the countryside. Terry is the Access Officer with NI Environment Agency.
Tim Fogg is the Managing Director of Rope Access Specialists and has been recently involved in providing access and climbing support to the BBC for the “Planet Earth and Guyana” films.
Karen Darke has touched the lives of many through her spirit for adventure. She was paralysed in a rock-climbing accident at the age of twenty one and since then has pursued a dramatic life of adventure by finding alternative ways to access the outdoors. Karen has overcome many physical and mental barriers, completing many trips in some of the most inhospitable places on the planet, including a 600 kilometre traverse of the Greenland ice cap.
Dr Olive Brown is a consultant in physical activity and health. She is currently a member of the Council for Sport Northern Ireland and a Director of Countryside Recreation Northern Ireland and SINI (Sports Institute Northern Ireland). For many years Olive was a voluntary instructor at Tollymore Mountain Centre.
