Meet the Educating Adventures Team

FOUNDER / DIRECTOR

Jonathon Beckingsale

Jonny’s love of travel began at an early age, undertaking many adventures with his family. While studying towards an accounting and finance degree at University Jonny completed his first ski instructing qualification. He then spent time becoming a chartered accountant while combining working for Deloitte and teaching skiing in North and South America. Although Jonny is now primarily office based he loves getting out and about with his young family and visiting the resorts and destination where we run our tours and instructor programs.

Jonny loves getting out and about with his family and visiting the resorts and destinations where we run our tours and instructor programs.

FOUNDER / DIRECTOR

Eryn Cutler

Eryn grew up in New Zealand and has a strong connection with the outdoors - his father Steve one of New Zealand’s Outdoor Education Pioneers. Eryn completed a BSc and MSc at Otago University. He has worked as a qualified ski instructor, kayak instructor, outdoor guide, assessor, and manager for most of his life. He is now most passionate about sharing outdoor learning experiences with his family and friends, and ensuring Educating Adventures continues to develop and provide great experiences around the World.

Eryn is passionate about sharing outdoor learning experiences, and ensuring Educating Adventures continues to develop and provide great experiences around the World.

director - EA Australia

James Whiteley

James’s love of travel began early, undertaking many sailing and caravanning adventures with his family. James has visited over 70 countries and a couple of his favourite travel experiences include sailing across the Atlantic and cycling from Tibet to Nepal. James is passionate about educational travel and the benefits it brings to students’ lives and education. He can’t wait to help you organise the trip of a lifetime for your students.

James is passionate about educational travel and the benefits it brings to students’ lives and education. He can’t wait to help you organise the trip of a lifetime for your students.

Operations MANAGER

Sahnya Shiels

Sahnya has a background in outdoor education, travel and trip logistics, with experience both working in the field and behind the scenes. She spent two years managing a watersports centre in the UK planning and operating a variety of school activity trips. After hopping across the pond to New Zealand she worked as a Program Manager in the Gap Year Travel industry before joining EA. Sahnya is an avid traveller and has lived in seven countries. When she is not at work she can be found hiking, climbing, biking and skiing.

Sahnya has a background in outdoor education, travel and trip logistics, with experience both working in the field and behind the scenes.

Operations Coordinator

Thomas Merkus

With a bachelor’s degree in Tourism Management under his belt, Thomas spent the first five years of his career working for a travel agency, booking leisure travel and being a travel consultant for the Dutch Ministry of Defence. Thomas originally travelled to New Zealand as an exchange student in 2009; and always wanted to return longer term which he has now been fortunate to do. Experiencing firsthand what an international experience can add to the life for a young person, he takes great pride in making our school tours a reality.

Experiencing firsthand what an international experience can add to the life for a young person, Thomas takes great pride in making our school tours a reality.

Operations Coordinator

Sophie Horsfall

For the last 10 years, Sophie has been developing and running experiential and syllabus-based school trips for International Schools in Southeast Asia. She has intermittently strayed from this path to undertake a Masters in Disaster Risk and Resilience, complete disaster risk research projects for the New Zealand Government, and even work in luxury and adventure tourism in NZ and Canada. However, the enjoyment of working with schools on educational travel kept sucking her back in. Now based in Queenstown, she is excited to be working for EA to provide a top-quality experience for schools venturing further afield. After work, you’ll find Sophie enjoying the mountains or spurting out random marine and rainforest facts she used to try and impress students with.

For the last 10 years, Sophie has been developing and running experiential and syllabus-based school trips for International Schools in Southeast Asia.

SALEs - EA Australia

Jessica Pini

When Jess told her high school career councillor she wanted a job on the TV show ‘Getaway’ she never realised how close she would get! Jess worked for a youth travel company as a Tour Manager, leading groups through Europe and Asia. After seven years of nomadic life “on the road”, she packed up the suitcase to pursue a career in teaching. Jess completed her Master of Teaching (Secondary) at the Australian Catholic University through the Teach for Australia Leadership Development Program. Committed to improving educational inequity, she spent four years teaching Psychology and Mathematics in regional Western Australia. Jess’ passion lies at the intersection of education and travel, firmly believing in the transformative power of experiences beyond the constraints of formal classroom learning.

Jess’ passion lies at the intersection of education and travel, firmly believing in the transformative power of experiences beyond the constraints of formal classroom learning.

on-tour managers

Our Tour Managers

Our local Tour Managers are on hand 24/7 and their exceptional service on-tour sets Educating Adventures apart from other travel providers. They are committed to delivering a personalised service on every tour. Having a tour guide makes the trip more enjoyable and relaxing. It is reassuring to know that there is somebody on hand to help you.

Meet our tour managers and find out about the benefits of having a local, on-tour manager.

Our local Tour Managers are on hand 24/7 and their exceptional service on-tour sets Educating Adventures apart from other travel providers.

Marketing Manager

Denise Houlihan

After graduating with a degree in Business (Tourism Management) Dee has built her career in the tourism industry. Dee has spent the last 18 years since graduating dipping her toes in all aspects of travel and tourism and has found her passion is for adventure and education, even better when the two can be combined. Dee is a mum to a little girl so there's not much spare time these days. Prior to having kids Dee spent her holidays trekking places like Kokoda, the Tour Du Mont Blanc, and The Kepler Track and enjoyed competing in triathlons every chance she got. When Dee does have some leisure time these days, you can find her swimming in the open water, attempting to write her own novel, or just simply enjoying peace and quiet.

After graduating with a degree in Business (Tourism Management) Dee has built her career in the tourism industry.

Digital Marketing COORDINATOR

Simon Hankins

Simon is a 6th Generation New Zealander
with ties to some great family history. He
loves all things geeky and tech and is passionate about marketing on the world wide web!