Management

Lyndsay Simpkin - Trust Director

Lyndsay Simpkin is the Director of Adventure Specialties Trust, and has been since its inception in 1984.

He is a member of the New Zealand Outdoor Instructors Association (NZOIA) and holds NZOIA stage one awards in rockclimbing, kayaking, caving and a Stage Two Alpine award. He is an assessor for the NZOIA Alpine I, Abseil and Kayak Flatwater awards.

Lyndsay is a qualified Senior Raft Guide Grade 5 and member of the New Zealand Rafting Association. He has over 15 years experience guiding on the Tongariro, Wairoa, Rangitaiki, Motu and Clarence Rivers.

He is a keen kayaker, both white-water and coastal, and has had considerable experience in leading groups on rivers and in the coastal environment. His personal mountain experience includes 20 ascents of Southern Alps peaks and ascents of all the major North Island peaks.

Other experience also includes leading groups in such activities such as snorkelling, treks along rugged sections of Northland coastline, rockclimbing, tramping and bushcraft, caving, orienteering and the use of games and initiatives for personal development. He holds a certificate in “Pre-hospital Emergency Care for Ski Patrollers and Outdoor Recreational Personnel”, the nationally recognised first-aid qualification for ski patrollers.

Lyndsay is qualified to deliver New Zealand Outdoor Instructors Association Risk Management Courses. He has had two years experience as a part-time tutor in the Outdoor Recreation Leadership Course at Manukau Institute of Technology, and now tutors part of the Christian Outdoor Recreation Instructor Programme.

In 1997 Lyndsay was awarded the New Zealand Outdoors Instructors Association “Tall Totara” award – Instructor of the Year.

Prior to becoming an Outdoor Instructor Lyndsay trained and worked as a Youth Worker. He has worked for Youth for Christ and in church based youth ministry. He has had considerable experience in leading church based ministry to the community.

Lyndsay Simpkin - Trust Director

Tim Wills - Training Co-ordinator

Tim is responsible for co-ordinating the Christian Outdoor Recreation Instructor Programme. Previously Tim has been Auckland Programme Manager and has worked with the Trust since 1993.

Prior to joining the Trust Tim had extensive experience in the outdoors while at school and university and as a Youth Worker with the Te Hou Ora programme in Christchurch and then as an Instructor with ACTS Institute in Wellington.

Tim has a BA in Geography and is a trained secondary school teacher. Tim spent two years in Japan teaching English.

Tims kayaking experience includes descents of many Grade 4 runs including the Wairoa, Kaituna and Rangitikei Rivers in the North Island and the Kawerau in the South Island. His sea kayaking experience also includes a circumnavigation of Great Barrier Island beginning from the Coromandel Peninsula. His rockclimbing experience includes most of the major areas in New Zealand and his mountaineering experience includes an ascent of Mt Cook via Zurbriggens Ridge. During the two winters in Japan Tim did a number of lengthy alpine traverses and waterfall iceclimbs.

Tim is a member of the New Zealand Outdoor Instructors Association and holds a Stage I award in kayaking and holds a Stage II Rock award. He is an assessor for the New Zealand Outdoor Instructors Association for Rock 1, Abseil and Flatwater Kayak Awards. Tim is a member of the New Zealand Rafting Association and is a Grade 5 Raft Guide and Grade 3 Trip Leader. He is also qualified in “Pre-hospital Emergency Care for Ski Patrollers and Outdoor Recreational Personnel”.

As Programme Director Tim has made a very positive impact for the Trust with his excellent instruction skills, technical competency and commitment to the development of the staff for whom he is responsible.

 

Tim Wills - Training Co-ordinator

Mark Johnston – Programme Manager, Christchurch

Mark worked with Adventure Specialties Trust from March 1996 to December 1998 and rejoined the staff in July 2003.

Prior to his involvement with the Trust Mark had extensive involvement in the Scout Association, both as a participant and as a Leader and also leadership experience in a number of Christian youth camps.

Marks previous work experience has been in the horticultural field where he completed an apprenticeship in Horticulture and Amenity Turf Management with the Christchurch Botanic Gardens.

Mark is a member of the New Zealand Outdoor Instructor Association and holds Stage 1 awards in Kayaking and Rock. He is also qualified in Pre-hospital Emergency Care for Ski Patrollers and Outdoor Recreational Personnel. Mark holds a certificate in Conflict Resolution which he gained from the Couper Group.

Mark is a keen tramper, skier, rock climber, mountain biker and kayaker. He has kayaked many rivers in both the North and South Islands and his sea kayaking experience includes the Marlborough Sounds, Abel Tasman National Park, Bay of Islands and Great Barrier Island.

 

Mark Johnston - Programme Manager, Christchurch

Steven Parker - Programme Manager

Steve first joined the Trust in March 2002 having completed a year long Certificate in Outdoor Recreation Leadership with the Sir Edmund Hilary Outdoor Pursuits Center. He worked for three years developing a keen interest in working with at-risk youth and gaining the NZOIA Rock 1, Sea Kayak 1 and Alpine 1 awards. He has since travelled the globe with his wife (Melanie Parker) for two years adding sea kayaking in Turkey, dingy sailing in Scotland and back country skiing in Canada to his outdoor experience.

Steve enjoys working with people in a development focused environment and as senior instructor will be striving to bring out the best of the Adventure Specialties team. He is also looking forward to being bossed about some more by his wife in her role as the Programme Manager!

Steve is a keen adventurer and in particular thrives on trips that are a journey and will demand some amount of “digging deep”. At the moment he is focusing on mountaineering, skiing, sea kayaking and sailing! He is a keen photographer. Steve also enjoys the involvement he has with his local church.

Steve’s other qualifications include a Bachelor of Social Sciences, a Certificate in Leadership (Ministry), Pre Hospital Emergency Care for Ski Patrollers and Outdoor Recreational Personnel and Royal Yachting Association Dingy Instructor.

Steve Parker - Senior Instructor