Get to Know Us

Meet Our Team

Our greatest asset is our team. Team members working with Southbound Adventures come from a variety of backgrounds and life experiences. Our professional team of passionate educators ensure that you maximise the opportunities created during your Outdoor Education program. Our team are qualified in a range of Outdoor Recreation activities and First Aid, complementing the most up to date equipment and policies available.

Ian Robinson

Managing Director

Ian began working in Outdoor Education whilst studying teaching at Wollongong University. Immediately he saw the potential to educate students in an outdoor environment and truly believes in the outcomes that can be achieved. Since founding Southbound Adventures in 1993, Ian has taken pride in exceeding client expectations. Ian’s inspired leadership has also seen the Southbound Adventures team give back to the community through support and participation in numerous charitable events.

Andrew Banner

General Manager

Andrew has worked in Outdoor Education since 1994. He has coordinated countless school expeditions both within Australia and for Australian schools internationally. His management skills, from a range of industry experiences, assist in the smooth running of the business and design of our bespoke programs.

Emma Easther

Operations Manager

Emma has been working in the outdoor education industry since 2013, with roles in a number of organisation’s in New Zealand and Australia. After working as the Outdoor Education Coordinator at a school on the Gold Coast, Emma returned back to NSW to take on the Operations Manager Role, updating and implementing a fresh approach to Southbound.

Duncan Twigg

Assistant Operations Manager

Andy Gwynne

Special Operations Manager

Andy combines his experience in the Australian Army with a career in Outdoor Education that began in 1992. Andy enjoys a challenge often designing and implementing high ropes courses, initiative activities and overseeing our Odyssey programs.

Saxon Mather

HR Manager

Saxon returned to the Southbound team as our HR Manager in January 2020. Prior to this he spent 3 years at Scots College – Glengarry Campus as an Outdoor Educator. Whilst at Glengarry Saxon managed the iconic “Long Journey Home” program on 3 occasions.                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Saxon is now responsible for managing our team of Outdoor Educators. This involves managing rosters, training and compliance. 

Katrina Wilkie

LOGISTICS COORDINATOR

Upholding a world of experience in retail sales and management combined with a passion for all outdoor persuits in particular her snowboarding, Kat takes great pride in ensuring that the gear, logistics and catering for your program is second to none.

Bec Bailey

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Bec is originally from Christchurch New Zealand. Bec studied a Bachelor of Sustainability and Outdoor Education for 3 years before moving over to Australia in 2018 working as a Full-time Group Leader in locations all over Australia. Bec has been a valued Southbound team member since September 2022.                                                                                                                                                Her key passions involve Mountain Biking, Parkrun’s, the beach and water activities. 

Sophie Bean

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Sophie grew up on the South Coast of NSW. During her studies at CSU, Sophie completed a Bachelor of Applied Science degree, and started her first program with Southbound in 2018 to then became a permanent Group Leader in 2020. In 2022, Sophie moved up into our management team to begin directing programs. Sophie is a valuable asset to the Southbound team.

Bec Wise

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Bec is originally from Melbourne and completed a Bachelor of Science before shifting into camping and Outdoor Education. After freelancing in Victoria for a few years, Bec moved to Sydney to take up a role with St Andrew’s Cathedral School, coordinating a range of programs including the iconic Kosi to Coast program. Bec enjoys spending her free time outside enjoying the warmer weather and beaches of the Illawarra and exploring new trails and locations.

Suellen McConnel

Office Manager & Assistant HR Manager

Suellen will assist you with making sure that the ‘behind the scenes’ preparation is complete to ensure for smooth flowing Program for all staff and clients.

Our Instructors

Outdoor Educators

Zoe and Ollie.                                                                                                                                                                                                            Trainees, Chloe, Emily, Rachel, Daniel and Matt.                                                                                                                                                  Our permanent team of instructors bring a wide variety of skills and knowledge to share with our clients. With their smiling faces on Programs you will know that you are in very good hands! 

Catherine

"I don’t know why I wanted to come. I hate camping, hiking and getting wet, but I’ve enjoyed the challenge, overcome all my hatred of these things and I’d do them a hundred times over for all the highlights and golden moments that came with them"

Our Philosophy

At Southbound Adventures, we believe outdoor education is a truly remarkable experience and each time our team witness students learning and growing in confidence, through the activities we provide, re-affirms to us the significance this experience will have upon their lives.

Our own philosophy is to, through a variety of adventure activities, encourage all students to develop a knowledge and acceptance of their own strengths and weaknesses and that of the participating group.

Students will be challenged by the uncertainty of the unknown, will be reliant upon the trust of others and will experience learning in an outdoor setting. All of which will help them grow in confidence, inner resources and personal strength. The philosophy of education and adventure Success in our programs is determined not by accomplishment, but by the willingness to try and the personal discovery that accompanies it.” Ian Robinson, co-founder and Managing Director.

Southbound Adventures is an organisation committed to providing high quality experiential opportunities for personal growth and development. We seek to provide a stimulating environment in which to grow individually and interpersonally through personal achievement and shared experience. Southbound Adventures is about learning to understand the limits that we have set for ourselves and learning to take responsibility for ourselves. At Southbound Adventures we adopt the Positive Education method to ensure students are learning to their maximum potential whilst at camp.

Join US!


Do you want to work with a great team, that share your positive adventurous values and support one another?

Join Southbound Adventures, we can create great opportunities to further your skills and grow whilst creating a positive, fun, educational experience for students.

To enquire about the job opportunities we have on offer, click on the link below:
My Southbound Career
Email: staff@southbound.com.au

We're about....

Change

and the risk that accompanies it

Growth

discovery and the empowerment that comes with finding inner resources of personal strength through a determination to accept challenges

Fun

 people coming together from many backgrounds, putting aside barriers and limitations to join together in cooperation, support, and enjoyment

Our Partners

Paddle & Portage

Paddle and Portage - supply us with our beautiful Wenonah Canoes and our Big Canoes.

Weatherzone

Weatherzone is a leading provider of meteorological services.

Strive Food

Strive food are a Tasmania supplier of dehydrated meals that concentrate on producing meals that are balanced, healthy & wholesome while maintaining a full flavour.

NARTA

As an accredited organisation with NARTA we are regularly audited to ensure that we meet or exceed industry standards.

Outdoors NSW

Outdoors NSW & ACT is the go-to place for all things outdoors in NSW & The ACT. The peak body for the outdoors in NSW & the ACT, the organisation, (formerly known as ORIC), represents the outdoor community, advances outdoor standards, safety and practices, and fosters greater participation in the outdoors.

NSW EcoPass

Our NSW EcoPass allows us to operate outdoor programmes in a wide variety of National Parks.

Pines Surfing Academy

Pines Surfing Academy is the Illawarra's number 1 surf school, offering lessons to suit all levels of surfers from beginner to advanced.

One Planet

One Planet produce world-class gear, specialising in rucksacks, sleeping bags and tents for the travel and outdoor adventure markets. Their philosophy is simple: make it good, make it work, make it last.

Premier Transport

Our Transport partner of choice, Premier provide luxury coaches and excellent service.

Holiak

Holiak has over 25 years experience in outdoor education equipment supply and have the largest quantity of hiking equipment stock for hire in Australia.

Forestry Corporation

Our Forests NSW Licence allows us to operate outdoor programmes in a wide variety of locations through out NSW.

Sea To Summit

Sea To Summit is a worldwide manufacturer of high quality outdoor, backpacking and travel products and accessories.

AB Phillips

Our insurance partner of choice.