Alex Williams

Lecturer

Background

I discovered a taste for adventure in wild places through the Air Cadets.  I only left to discover more, travelling to Guyana, South America, on a Raleigh International Expedition, for my first experience outside the ‘western’ world.  After a degree in Adventure Tourism Management, I decided to explore the possibilities of making this my living.  I led small group tours all over the world, from The Inca Trail, Kilimanjaro and Everest Base Camp, to The Great Wall of China and Sahara crossings – and many other less well known destinations.  I also qualified as a teacher of Outdoor Education, and worked for many of the Local Education Authority Centres in Snowdonia, focussing on personal development for young people, through adventure.  Alongside this, I gained higher level qualifications, which allowed me to work on skills courses, and train and assess people through the National Mountain Centres, Plas y Brenin (England & Wales), and Glenmore Lodge (Scotland).

Teaching at The School of Adventure Studies was a great opportunity to bring all my experience together, and share it with motivated students, just starting out on their own journeys.  Of course, I also get to live on the spectacular West Coast.

Teaching Responsibilities

Introduction to Adventure Tourism (year 1)

Marine and Coastal Tourism in the UK (year 1)

Understanding Adventure (year 2)

Emergent Tourism Trends (year 4)

Dissertation Supervision

Academic Qualifications

BA (Hons) Adventure Tourism Management, Birmingham, 2000

PGCE Outdoor Education, University of Wales, Bangor, 2004

PG Cert. Ecotourism, University of the Highlands and Islands, 2018

Highest National Governing Body Awards held

Mountaineering Instructor Award

Winter Mountain Leader

International Mountain Leader

Level 2 Kayak and Canoe Coach

4* Sea Kayaker

Level 2 RYA Dinghy and Keel Boat Sailor

Level 2 Powerboat

PADI Open Water Diver

Memberships

Association of Mountaineering Instructors

Institute of Outdoor Learning (Accredited Practitioner)

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

What is your main outdoor interest?

Exploring!  For me, activities such as climbing, sea kayaking or horse riding are ways to access the remote, beautiful and challenging places of the world.   I love journeying in new places, sharing the experience, with close friends, or total strangers from another culture.  I climb less now, being a mother with draws on my time, but each year we travel somewhere new, for an expedition style journey.