Mountain Training England

About us

Staff team

Council of members

• Association of Heads of Outdoor Centres
• Association of British Climbing Walls Training Trust
• Association of Mountaineering Instructors
• Association for Physical Education
• British Association of International Mountain Leaders
• British Association of Mountain Guides
• British Mountaineering Council
• Duke of Edinburgh's Award
• Institute for Outdoor Learning
• Joint Services Mountain Training Centre
• Mountain Rescue England and Wales
• Outdoor Education Advisors Panel
• Plas y Brenin
• Scout Association
• Girlguiding

Directors

Peter Stacey - Chair

Peter is a Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor and also holds the Winter Mountain Leader and International Mountain Leader Awards. He was until 2019 a course provider for many of the Mountain Training climbing and walking qualifications. Before retiring in 2022 Pete was self-employed and worked as a Technical Adviser for a range of activity providers, including activity centres, ropes courses and climbing walls. He also was employed as the Chief Officer for the British Activity Providers Association.

His outdoor career started in the late 1970’s at a small activity centre in the Lake District. Roles at YMCA Lakeside and Outward Bound Wales then led him to move sideways into working with young people at risk including young offender work and later managing the fostering and residential services in Telford.

Then a ten-year spell followed working for the national charity Fairbridge as the West Midlands Regional Manager. Since 2005, Pete has been self-employed as a Mountaineering Instructor and International Mountain Leader leading treks in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, the Pyrenees and India.

Pete is a past Chair of both Mountain Training UK&I and of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors. He enjoys days in any mountains and has explored many mountains in the USA including the Wind Rivers and Sawtooth ranges as well as many days in Colorado’s Rockies.

David Kim Parry - Treasurer

I am an ICAEW qualified Chartered Accountant, Finance Director and Charity Trustee with over thirty years’ experience in senior leadership roles and teams within the outdoor learning sector; at The Outward Bound Trust, the Bendrigg Trust and PGL Travel. I hold an MBA from the University of Lancaster and was awarded LVO in 2015 for services to Outward Bound.

Alongside this professional finance background I have been going into the hills and mountains in the UK, Europe and further afield from an early age. I’m an active hill walker, climber and skier, and hold the International Mountain Leader, Rock Climbing Instructor and Mountain Leader qualifications.

I finished full time work in January 2025 and am now doing some part-time paid work and looking forward to supporting Mountain Training England in addition to my ongoing work with Bendrigg, as well as spending as much time climbing and on my skis as possible!

Kelvyn James

Kelvyn is an International Mountain Leader and Rock Climbing Instructor; he specifically cites climbing and getting out into nature as giving him the resilience and confidence to survive a challenging childhood. His 20's were spent combining a career in senior management (team building, governance and problem solving) with climbing competitions and expeditions. In his 30's he built his own large successful manufacturing business and in his 40's he sold it to return to where it all began - the Great Outdoors - you can find him out walking in the hills on a crag or in a lake most days.

Kelvyn is now a provider of Mountain Training courses and specialises in the mental health sector where he sits on several advisory committees to promote engagement with the natural world as a therapeutic benefit. Having held several roles in the outdoor sector Kelvyn says, " I'd like to give something back to a sector that has given me so much - I'm very pleased to join MTE and look forward to supporting the work they do."

Sharon Kennedy

Sharon works for the Environment Agency where she is the Area Environment Manager for Cumbria, her teams assess compliance with environmental regulations across all activities which impact on air, land and water. She also oversees a large number of environmental, habitat, river and upland restoration projects.

On her days off Sharon works as a freelance outdoor instructor, holding the Mountain Leader and Rock Climbing Instructor qualifications, working on Mountain Leader and Hill and Moorland Leader courses.

She has recently become a Tutor for Hill Skills and Mountain Skills courses. She is a trainee Rock Climbing Development Instructor. Her hobbies include walking, climbing and running, anything which gets her into the mountains. Sharon is also a member of her local Mountain Rescue Team.

“My personal passions are the outdoors, the environment and teaching others to love and respect these. I am really keen all three are accessible to all.”

Sharon lives in the Lake District with her partner and their dogs.

Lee Pritchard

Lee is a Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor, also holding a range of kayaking and canoeing coaching awards and an MSc in Coaching. He is a course director for Mountain Training. From 2004 to 2025 Lee was the course leader for the BSc. Outdoor Adventure Leadership based at the University of Worcester.

His outdoor career started in the 1980s as an instructor in a small activity centre in the Mid Wales. Roles at the Ackers Trust, Ogwen Cottage and Outward Bound Aberdovey followed before a 5-year stint as manager of a large privately owned outdoor centre in Devon.

Since 2004, Lee has balanced a full-time role in Further & Higher education with work as a Technical Advisor, Overseas Expedition Leader and DofE assessor.

Lee has climbed extensively in the UK and overseas and enjoys all aspects of climbing and mountaineering.

Johnathan Akinyemi

My name is Johny Akinyemi, I am an ACCA-qualified accountant and Chartered Governance Professional with a background in governance, finance, and sport.

I represented Nigeria in the sport of canoe slalom at the London 2012 Olympics and Rio 2016 Olympics, and I remain passionate about sport, the outdoors, and creating more inclusive opportunities for people from all backgrounds. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time outdoors with my wife, eight year old daughter, and four-year-old son.

Rebecca Smith

I have over 16 years of senior leadership experience in the NHS, where I’ve specialised in research, innovation, and transforming services to make healthcare more accessible and meaningful for local communities. My career began in academia and I hold a PhD in Virology.

Alongside my NHS career, I’m an experienced mentor and executive coach, supporting people across professions through leadership development and career transitions. I’ve previously served as a Charity Trustee and strategic lead of a charitable fund.

I also hold the Mountain Leader and Rock Climbing Instructor qualifications, with experience across climbing walls, activity centres, and freelance. I’ve climbed, mountaineered, kayaked, mountain biked and swum throughout the UK and overseas. I can normally be found outside on the rock or in the water (and mud!) with my spaniels.

I’m excited to bring my passion for the outdoors and my leadership experience to support Mountain Training England.

Dan Stowers

I’m a Partner in a national firm of solicitors, where I lead the Corporate Defence & Compliance team, specialising in financial crime, compliance, investigations and regulatory matters. Having qualified in 1997, I’ve spent nearly three decades working on complex financial crime cases involving some of the UK’s leading law enforcement and regulatory bodies, developing a thorough understanding of governance, compliance and operating within highly regulated environments.

Away from the law, I’m a Mountain Leader and founder of a small Sheffield based provider of guided hill and mountain experiences. As a passionate fell runner I spend as much time as possible in the UK’s hills and mountains. I’m currently working toward other outdoor qualifications.

I hope to bring to Mountain Training England a combination of senior professional experience in governance, strategy and compliance with a genuine, personal commitment to the outdoors, both as a provider and as someone who simply loves our wild spaces.

Hilary Fraser Watchman

Hilary Fraser Watchman is a board-level adviser and executive coach bringing experience in governance, organisational transformation, leadership development and high-stakes communication.

As Chair of Ramble Worldwide from 2021 to 2025, she strengthened board effectiveness and governance, led leadership succession, supported a significant corporate rebrand, and helped align the business more closely with its charitable purpose.

Hilary has supported the development of senior leaders and teams in the UK and internationally since 2004.

She also advises a leading private equity firm on people development, communication and executive messaging. Her earlier career included commercial, sales and communication roles in IT and consulting. Values-led, collaborative and pragmatic, Hilary is known for combining sound judgement, ethical leadership and business acumen with a deep commitment to helping people and organisations thrive. She is particularly motivated by opportunities to connect people, lead with purpose and contribute to positive societal change.

Hilary is a keen hiker. She has completed the Munros with her husband, although they live in London. She qualified as a Mountain Leader in 2021. Her favourite piece of kit is probably her sit-mat, which aids the enjoyment of views.

Documents

Company information

Company Name: Mountain Training England
Company number: 03061504
Place of registration: England & Wales
Registered office address: 177-179 Burton Road, West Didsbury, Manchester. M20 2BB
Email address: info@mountain-training.org
VAT no: 603629945
Registered charity number: 1047124