Elaine’s career began with a spell in the RAF as a photographer although the majority of her time was taken up by her athletics. As a competing track athlete Elaine experienced success and inspiration later becoming an athletics coach working with inner city youths in Manchester. Through this work Elaine became a passionate supporter of Manchester’s bid for the 2000 Olympics. The air force career as a photographer did have it’s own impact however and Elaine continued to earn a living as a photographer and later as an Operations Manager of a fleet of photographers for several national companies.
Elaine’s career progressed into Key Accounts Management and sales for Fuji Film UK after she earned her degree in Psychology at Manchester University. This promotion also saw Elaine relocate south to the beautiful Wiltshire borders where she still lives today . A high flying corporate career came with pressures, however, and inadvertently introduced Elqaine to Rock Climbing as a form of stress relief! The sport soon became her passion and a momentous decision was made to leave the trappings of a corporate life and to focus once again on developing youths through sport, this time using outdoor education as a medium.
This decision was made eight years ago and Elaine has been a lively and positive facilitator in many different youth settings since. She is equally at home in a class room or lecture theatre delivering learning models or in the forest delivering survival skills.
Elaine’s newest appointment ia as trainer liaison with the Wilderness Expertise team. This role will see her supporting the professional development of the freelance trainers who work at the coal face of Wilderness Expertise; but will by no means see her reducing her participation in youth development programmes.