The team

Richard Mayon-White

Richard Mayon-White – what's your background?

Before coming to Sentinel Consulting, I spent time developing several companies and managing teams. I have worked with a wide range of organisations, from multi-national corporates to small charities.

That all sounds great – but what qualifications do you have?

I am the Director of a number of companies in the Adventure Travel and Training sectors. I am a Fellow of both the Royal Geographical Society and the Zoological Society of London and have a BA (Hons) in Geography. I am also a commercially endorsed RYA Yachtmaster, and I have used my sea-faring skills to bring personal development opportunities to a number of organisations and companies.

So – what do you do exactly?

I help organisations develop and optimise performance. I work alongside companies offering Change Management training, helping them to re-structure and offering any additional training they may need. I also advise companies on employee selection and retention. In addition, I organise and facilitate a number of corporate events.

Anything different about you we should know about?

In 2005 I competed in the Trans-Atlantic Rowing Race from La Gomera to Antigua with my wife. We arrived in 6th place and set a record time for a couple! In 2009 I cycled the route of the Tour de France to raise money for a cancer charity.

Vicky Garnett

Vicky Garnett – what's your background?

I have spent time travelling around Mexico, Australia and South East Asia – now definitely got the traveling bug! On my return I was fortunate in winning a placement working for a small charity as part of the Vodafone World of Difference scheme. I then moved on and joined the team at Sentinel.

That all sounds great – but what qualifications do you have?

I have a BSc in Geography from The University of Nottingham. I also have a Remote outdoor first aid certificate, and have taken part in several outdoor challenges, such the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, UK 3 peaks and summited Mt Kenya.

So – what do you do exactly?

I am Sentinel's Project Coordinator; I provide organisational support to the consultants, making sure that everything's working smoothly. I also oversee our marketing activities, update the website and keep our online social networking fresh and lively.

Anything different about you we should know about?

I enjoy an outdoors and active lifestyle and most weekends I can be found on the hockey pitch. I have big (ambitious but hopefully achievable) plans to visit and explore lots of the world; this summer I am aiming to summit Mt Kilimanjaro!

Naomi Roberts

Naomi Roberts – what's your background?

As a veterinary surgeon I had a special interest in zoonoses (animal diseases that can infect people) and then the broader area of human-animal interactions and health. I switched to purely 2-legged medicine via working as a mountaineering instructor - a job that satisfied my itchy feet in the way that working in animal hospitals just couldn't. In wilderness medicine I saw a way to combine my love of medicine with my love of remote areas, and I've come to specialise in health issues for people working and playing in fun (but remote) places around the world. In the past I have run my own trekking company and training organisation.

That all sounds great – but what qualifications do you have?

I'm a qualified veterinary surgeon, and I also have a masters degree in social psychology. I am a Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician and International and Winter Mountain Leader. I'm currently studying for a postgraduate diploma in infectious diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

So – what do you do exactly?

I provide medical consultancy and training for life and work in remote areas. This covers all aspects of health policy, emergency medical care, safety systems and incident management. I'm also particularly interested in trainer training and quality assurance. I love finding practical solutions that really work on the ground.

Anything different about you we should know about? 

I've got war stories from climbing mountains on seven continents and some very tall tales of surviving a South Atlantic storm. I can provide animal behaviour counselling for owners (or their pets). I've also recently discovered that the same techniques work on toddlers.

Dr Matt Ladbrook

Matt Ladbrook – what's your background?

I'm a doctor who loves remote environments. I've planned, led, supported and participated in remote expeditions all over the world, including living, working and providing care in the arctic, deserts, jungles and at high altitude.

That all sounds great – but what qualifications do you have?

I'm a qualified General Practitioner and I also have a PhD. I'm a qualified Wilderness Physician and a Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine. I'm also a member of the faculty of the Wilderness Emergency Medical Services Institute International.

So – what do you do exactly?

I provide medical support to about 50 expeditions each year and advice to companies operating all over the world. I combine this role with a career as a General Practioner.

Anything different about you we should know about? 

I was an officer in the Territorial Army for 16 years where I earned my Commando beret. I've got plenty of stories to tell about sticky situations in remarkable places, and how we got ourselves out!

Ed Westergaard

Edwin Westergaard – what's your background?

An outdoor enthusiast from an early age, I decided to pursue a degree in geology when I discovered it would require long periods of time camping, traveling to remote locales, and exploring. Through the years I have continued to combine work and play by obtaining assignments in places like Alaska and Scotland and doing fieldwork on five continents.

That all sounds great – but what qualifications do you have?

I have a Bachelors and Masters of Science degree in geology. I am a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with a wilderness upgrade. I volunteer as an EMT with Highland Rescue Team in Colorado and have been pursuing further education in disaster management and response, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Weapons of Mass Destruction first responders course for nuclear events (!) and the American Medical Association’s Basic Disaster Life Saving course for mass causalty events.

So – what do you do exactly?

I provide training in remote first aid and outdoor leadership. As well as support to field leaders with field planning, risk assessments and emergency response planning. On the ground I also specialize in logistical support, geological training, HSE advice and emergency response for groups in the field.

Anything different about you we should know about?

I have recently started to explore a remote a 120 km by 65 km area of Utah called the San Rafael Swell. My intent is to string together a couple of traverses across this rugged and mostly waterless feature while learning about its geology and archeology, as well as documenting its spectacular scenery.

Evelyn (Evie) Kemp MBBS MSc MFOM

Evie is the Lead Consultant Occupational Health Physician for Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust. The team is based on three sites giving OH care to around 10,000 Trust employees. She also provides teaching and seminars within the Trust on OH topics.

Jonathan Ayrton

Jonathan is an experienced expedition logistician. He has worked on projects in Africa, South America and Asia. He is also a highly-qualified expedition leader, specialising in mountain and jungle environments.

Issy Howells RGN

Issy is a qualified and experienced nurse with formal training in infectious diseases from the London Hospital for Tropical Diseases. She has extensive experience in both corporate project management and training. Issy is also a skilled facilitator and a practitioner in both MBTI and NLP.

Dr Dick Mayon-White MBBS FRCP FFPH

Dick currently works at the Oxford University Division of Public Health and Primary Health Care, specialising in global health and infection and immunology research projects. He has over 30 years experience as an infectious disease epidemiologist in the National Health Service and the Health Protection Agency. He also chairs the Oxford Tropical Research Ethics Committee.

Fay Cox – Associate Researcher and Analyst

Fay Cox – what's your background?

I spent several years working at the Royal Geographical Society's Expedition Advisory Centre where I ran training courses and events for aspiring explorers, covering expedition logistics, health and safety, funding and field research techniques, among many other aspects involved in planning a successful expedition. I went on to organise expeditions for school groups with a large schools expeditions company, with particular responsibility for in-country operations, overseeing expedition research, reconnaissance and planning, as well as pioneering new destinations.

That all sounds great – but what qualifications do you have?

I have a BSc in Geography from University College London and hold an Off-site Safety Management Certificate. I have also led a small field research team in Malaysia and have led expeditions to Iceland and Kenya.

So – what do you do exactly?

I work as a researcher for Sentinel Consulting, which involves applying my destination and expedition knowledge to a range of areas, including country research and analysis, risk assessments and emergency response plans. I am also the Director of Operations for an adventure travel company.

Anything different about you we should know about?

My earliest memories include being a little too close to a curious grizzly bear in Canada and a night sleeping in a traditional Iban longhouse in the jungles of Borneo. I have since gained a lot of experience of dealing with casualty evacuations from obscure and far-flung places, although rather too much first hand, including a high altitude drama in the Himalayas.