Who's who
Marcus Watts FRGS MD, Managing Director
I set up Greenforce following section 3c’s requirement of the Rio Earth Summit. Our first project in Uganda had three scientists and two volunteers. The owner of the first Land Rover we bought was smiling so much when we drove off into the bush, in a cloud of smoke! Three years later we had completed the biodiversity survey of the Reserve, helped implement the first sustainable management plan and created a Warden Training Program. Equally satisfying was that original Land Rover was still going strong!
Creating Gapforce ensure we still have that personal touch, meeting you before you go at our Briefing Day and BBQ, our own staff in country. On your return the reunion party all ensure we get feedback and can continue to improve the programmes, for both you and our host country partners.
Daniella Noykova, Director of Operations
Daniella joined Greenforce shortly after arriving in the UK, and worked for a number of years on our financial controls and new project location planning. In 2004 she moved into Operations, first to assist Alan the previous Operations Manager. Following his move in 2005 to Quito to head up our South America Programme, Daniella now uses her extensive overseas travel experience and dive skills combined with her organisational management training to supervise all aspects of the Volunteers experience, following their arrival in country.
Nadia Daer, Universities Adviser
It all started for Nadia when she heard about Gapforce and our Amazon expedition. Despite finishing her degree at Leeds University, it was the amazing time she had with Trekforce as a Trekker out in South America that drew her here.
Having been a Trekker, Nadia knows how difficult it is to select which one to go on. Give her a call to give you the low down on all the locations and different types of activity.
Nadia loves speaking about all of our projects so call her now.
Melanie Hutton, Universities Adviser
Melanie is an expedition's adviser on our Universities team. Before Gapforce Melanie worked for several years in travel and promotions, so she is an expert on overseas projects.
Melanie has spent lots of time travelling herself, back packing around Europe, Thailand and Egypt.
Melanie is always happy to meet students either at our London office or the open days, she also visits many universities giving talks to groups of students or advising about gap year opportunities at graduate fairs.
Call Melanie to chat about your options during your year out or holiday period.
David Sheldon, Universities Adviser
David is a Universities Adviser specialising in group trips. David has a degree in BA Tourism Management and has vast experience in travelling having been to America, Europe and taking a gap year in Australia.
David's role is to advise groups of students and lecturers about our varied projects. Whether it be sports coaching, marine biology, conservation, zoological field trips or teaching programmes and elective placements for nurses, David will work with you to find the perfect project.
David is always happy to chat to lecturers about possible field trips so give him a call.
The Uni Team
James Catterall, Schools team leader
James heads up our Schools team advising teachers and students about the range of adventures available with Gapforce.
Teachers will typically contact James to launch an overseas group expedition or to provide a motivational Gap Year talk
James' favourite country is Tanzania and his most memorable travel achievement to date is reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro on his honeymoon!
Call James today for an informal chat or to arrange a visit to your school.
Victoria Rouse, Schools Adviser
Victoria is a Senior Advisor in the Schools Team and is here to help you decide what to do with your Gap Year. As a Mathematics graduate from Warwick University she was destined for a career in the city before she discovered her love of travelling during her first trip around the world.
Victoria's passion for worldwide adventure has seen her travel extensively as well as spend a year living and working in South America, learning Spanish running pub crawls in Buenos Aires! Her enthusiasm for travelling and lifelong ambition to join the Century Club (to visit 100 countries before you die) has given her a comprehensive understanding of the destinations in which Gapforce work.
Give Victoria a call to ask more about the projects we run or alternatively ask for her to pop into your school to give a talk about the benefits of taking a Gap Year and how to plan them.
James & Vicky
Rebecca Clarkson: Ozforce Manager
After a stint in our London office managing Skiforce, Rebecca has now jetted out to sunny Australia to look after Ozforce.
She will make sure you get picked up from the airport, take you to the welcome dinner and help you get a job. As well as that she also makes sure everyone who travels with Ozforce has lots of fun and creates several happy memories.
Sid Clarke Corporate Manager for Greenforce SR
Greenforce SR the not for profit arm of Gapforce specializes in CSR projects and programs for UK businesses.
Originally from South Africa where he achieved his BSC. Sid has spent his time in the UK working in the Commercial and industrial sales Sectors.
You can be guaranteed that when working with Sid and Greenforce SR, your company and its employees will be in safe hands.
Other team members:
Volunteer coordinators: Ashley Perman & Christina Tinley
Once you sign up for a Gapforce Expedition, Ashley and Christina will be your main point of contact. They will assist you with flight details, insurance, medical forms and more.
Sam Bosanquet: Assistant Operations Manager
Sam assists Daniella on our operations team. Specialising in health & safety Sam ensures everything on the projects runs smoothly.
Adam Pembrey: Marketing Coordinator
Adam looks after our marketing activities. Always making sure our Facebook and Twitter is up to date and the website content, Adam is responsible for making sure everyone knows what Gapforce have to offer.
