John Wells (Secretary)
Adventist Outdoors
John has more than 40 years experience in the outdoors, including bushwalking and abseiling, and enjoys sharing the outdoors with young people.

John, an ordained pastor, is currently involved with youth administration for the Adventist Church in the Sydney region. He organises rally field days and major camping events with young people, and has led in the curriculum development for Pathfinder leaders – a voluntary group like Scouts or Guides.

John chairs the Adventist Outdoors Greater Sydney Conference, and is secretary to the national body, Adventist Outdoors. He holds NORLS registration and is a Workplace Trainer and Assessor.

Geoff Archer (Committee Member)
Scouts Australia NSW
A volunteer member of Scouts Australia holding the position of State Commissioner Activities - the State Manager of Activities, and sitting on various in house committees including Scouts' Risk Management Committee (Scoutsafe), Geoff has been involved in the outdoors since he was 11.

All activities are vested in the Chief Commissioner of NSW, and operationally Geoff controls the policies and implementation within. Scouts offer a wide ranging program from Water Activities to General Aviation, are an RTO and supply accredited outcomes to our members and others. I am an assessor and an Assistant Leader Trainer.

Geoff's outdoor skills have been as instructor or higher in most of the Rock Sports, Abseiling Caving Canyoning; Water Sports in Kayaking on most of our NSW rivers, Ski Touring in the Snowy Mts and Victoria, with a little bit of 'walking around the place' including Tasmania.

He has interests in photography and exploration, and has been fortunate to travel to most parts of Australia, New Zealand and recently two trips to China, several to Bali and Thailand.

His business life keeps busy at a small phone company called Telstra, working to build the Next G phone network, and his academic achievements include Diploma in Engineering Surveying, Cert IV in Business & Leadership & Cert IV in Assessment and Workplace Training. He is also trying to find the time to upgrade to TAA soon.

Ross Bowey (Committee Member)
The Highlands School
Ross holds the position of Principal at The Highlands School, a Department of Education and Training facility that caters exclusively to students who are unable to access mainstream education as a result of severe behavioural issues.

Ross began his teaching career in the Mt Druitt area, where his fascination with teaching the most difficult of students began, often electing to take the most difficult classes within the school. Aware of his peculiar talents, the Education Department selected Ross to be the “set up” teacher at a specialised unit for conduct disordered adolescents, the North Harbour Unit.

During his 5 years there he developed an interest in wilderness programs as a means of addressing the needs of challenging students. Consequently he was deployed to establish The Backpack Project on the Central Coast, for secondary students with high level behavioural issues, followed by a posting as Head Teacher to the newly established Umina High School unit for emotionally disturbed students.

Sue Brereton (Committee Member)
NSW Australian Army Cadets

Dave Carter (Vice-President)
Adventuruous Training Wing, Department Defence
David has spent the last 26 years in the Army, and his current rank is Warrant Officer Class Two. Having been involved in the outdoor adventure industry since 1990 when he completed a top rope and abseiling course at the (then Called) 'Army Adventure Training Centre'. David has since added a number of other skills set course such as lead climbing, back country ski touring, caving and canyoning to instructor level as well as being a sea kayak leader.

David has spent six years instructing in outdoor pursuits for the Army at AATC and what is now called Adventure Training Wing (ATW). He is currently the Senior Instructor at ATW at Kapooka NSW, but has also experienced outdoor leadership for Defence personnel all over Australia.

David also brings some commercial experience. As well as his activity leadership qualifications, David also has current Associate Diploma in Training Development, Certificate IV workplace Trainer and Assessor. As the Senior Instructor for ATW, David's duties consist of advising Defence personnel on all matters of safety and technical matters of the outdoor pursuits that the Defence personnel conduct. David is also the ATW's OH&S representative for the Area Safety.

Stuart Clark (Committee Member)
All Aid First Aid / Wild Aid
Stuart began his career in outdoor education in 1995 as a trainee on the Hawkesbury River. Since then he has worked for a number of outdoor education companies and schools as a guide, and later as a qualified secondary school teacher.

His company All Aid First Aid was established with the ideal of offering first aid training that was both effective and fun for all people in all environments, with a particular focus on the provision of remote area and wilderness first aid training programs from two through to six days in length.

Stuart's passions are hiking, mountain bike riding and kayaking.

Kath Follers (Committee Member)
Guides NSW
Having been a volunteer member of Guides NSW & ACT for over 28 years, Kath currently holds the position of Chairman of RTS Tingira, Guides NSW & ACT’s Water Activities and Training Centre at Cabarita.

A certificated trainer for Guides Australia in outdoor skills, canoeing, kayaking, rowing and power boating, she is a qualified power boat instructor and examiner for Yachting Australia and on the Training Committee of Guides NSW & ACT, in particular representing the outdoors.

Past positions held include Outdoor Activities Consultant for Guides Australia and Water Activities Consultant for Guides NSW & ACT. Kath has been on the organising committees for State and National Jamborees and Leader in charge of a 2004 State Jamboree.

She holds a Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training, is passionate about the outdoors, and enjoys sharing her love of camping and boating with family and the wider community. 

Liz started to refer to the outdoors as "her office" in 1986.  She was a professional for the YMCA for 17 years, working in residential camping, environmental education and community recreation in the both the USA and Australia. 

Liz has spent some time in boarding schools and worked  for  Shackleton School an expedition based highschool just outside of Boston.

Throughout her career in outdoor education one of Liz's passions has been to provide innovative, relavent and fun training opportunities for the staff that she works with.  "We work in an environment that asks our staff to draw learning from experiences every day for our students.  It is important to help staff learn using fun and creativity."

Richard Withycombe
NSW Sport & Recreation Representative
Richard has worked in managerial positions for the NSW Department of Sport & Recreation for the past 9 years and is currently the General Manager of the Point Wolstoncroft Centre.

Prior to his current position, Rich managed the Broken Bay Centre for 6 years and spent nearly 10 years on camps in France, UK and America.

Rich returns to the ORIC Board after a 3 year break with a particular interest in the long term sustainability of ORIC and the continued development of a mutually beneficial relationship with the NSW Department of Sport & Recreation.