Pioneer Expeditions Field Staff

Adrian Gray

Managing Director & Expedition Leader Adrian Gray

A veteran of over 45 tours and expeditions.

He has led more than 400 people in 20 different countries, including the jungles of Sulawesi, Sumatra, Madagascar, northern Vietnam and the Mollucas to name a few (getting every single traveller home safely).

He is also an experienced mountain trekker, having worked in the Indian Himalayas, the volcanoes of Indonesia and the ranges of Alaska.

Always on the lookout for new adventures and challenges, Adrian loves his job as an expedition leader. His years of experience, combined with his sense of humour and love of adventure, mean he's made of the "right stuff" for this demanding role.

Born in Bristol, he now spends his time at home by the sea in Dorset and in remote parts of the world leading groups and designing new expeditions.

A good water-skier, paraglider, snowboarder and recreational surfer, he also has a passion for nature, an interest in geology, loves kite flying and has a bit of a liking for Somerset cider.

You can contact Adrian by emailing adrian.gray@pioneerexpeditions.com

Phil Beale

Phillip Beale
Co-Director Phil BealePhil is co-director of Pioneer Expeditions and works with Adrian to create fascinating trips in unusual locations. He has recently returned from Tanzania and completed the final recce for the Rufiji river safari expedition.

He read Politics at university and joined the Royal Navy to pursue his interest in maritime exploration. He is a keen adventurer and traveller with a special interest in historic “Kon Tiki” type expeditions.

In 2003/04 Phil undertook his longstanding personal goal of building a replica of an ancient Indonesian ship and sailing it across the Indian Ocean, around the Cape of Good Hope to West Africa. This project, known as the Borobudur Ship Expedition (www.borobudurshipexpedition.com) was successfully directed & completed in March 2004. Following the successful conclusion of the expedition Phil was awarded a state medal for Services to Indonesian Culture by the President of the Republic of Indonesia. He has also completed a film, a report for the Royal Geographical Society and is currently writing a book about the expedition.

When he is not in some remote location he focuses on providing marketing and business support for Pioneer Expeditions. He lives near Lulworth Cove, Dorset where the Pioneer offices are based.

You can contact Phil by emailing phil.beale@pioneerexpeditions.com

Jim Bond

Pioneer Expeditions Image
Expedition Leader Jim Bond

Jim was born and brought up in Zambia and is very much an African at heart.

After a spell in the safari business in Botswana, Jim went to train as a doctor in the UK. He took an MSc in Botany and went on to forge a parallel career as an ethnobotanical researcher.

He has helped to set up a number of community health and conservation projects in Madagascar and Mozambique.

He has always had a 'soft spot' for Mozambique, and regards the North of this country as one of Africa's best, hidden jewels.

Gilles Gautier

Expedition Leader
Gilles Gautier

Born in Marseille, Gilles spent 20 years between the French coast and the Alps on the sea, rivers and mountains with incursions in the Dolomites, Chamonix and Zermatt. He claims this made him ‘hooked on travelling, its mysteries, beauties, pains too’. Gilles then spent 5 years travelling around North America (mainly between Yosemite and Big Sur Area), central America, and around Africa. He lived in Comoros for some years then, in 1991, settled in Antananarivo where he still lives with his wife, son and three daughters.

Gilles' interests include Photography, outdoors, reforestation, human relationships.

Read more about Gilles in your expedition leader profile

David Gordon

Pioneer Expeditions Cameraman, David Gordon
Expedition Cameraman
David Gordon

Dave studied PE and Sports Science at Loughborough University and competed internationally in the pole vault for a decade before turning to expedition involvement.

In 2002 he filmed an elite team run non-stop the length of Qatar, 200km of desert in 84 hours! In 2004 he was an active member of a Gurkha expedition which crossed Greenland on foot, all back-to-back and unsupported.

He films, edits and produces his own work which has been shown on various TV channels.

Accompanying some expeditions, Dave will make a 20 minute film of some Pioneer Expeditions with complimentary copies going to all members of the team.

He enjoys snowboarding, paragliding and rugby, and trained to be a stuntman for two years. He has just discovered the joys of sea kayaking. He loves the concept of Pioneer and "enjoys helping to make each trip a great experience for every single member of the team".

You can get in touch with Dave by emailing dave.gordon@pioneerexpeditions.com

Eric Hebert

Expedition Leader
Eric Hebert

Eric was born in Ontario, Canada and studied Marine Engineering. He sailed ships lakes and oceans of the U.S. and Canada in his spare time and, after university, spent three years working full time on ships. Eric was ambitious to see more of the world and, since Canada had no deep sea fleet, he bought a backpack and set off on his own to travel round the world.

Eric’s first destination was Kenya, where he fell in love with Africa. His ‘round the world’ trip turned into a 20 month African odyssey below the equator. One of the highlights of his trip was rafting the Zambezi River and on his return home, Eric trained as a rafting guide.

Eric has guided rafting trips worldwide, including the rivers of Canada, India, the U.S. and Australia and has worked as a teacher, draughtsman and engineer in the marine field.

Read more about Eric in your expedition leader profile

Simon Jordan

Expedition Leader, Simon Jordan
Expedition Leader
Simon Jordan

Simon has led 250 tours, safaris and expeditions in more than 35 countries over 15 years. Some of the more challenging destinations have included Eastern Kalimantan, Central Sulawesi, Uganda, Tibet, Oman and Eritrea.

He has always felt completely at home working with local crews in remote corners of the world and speaks Turkish, French, Italian and Bahasa Indonesia.

An accomplished lecturer with a History of Art degree, he has lived on Mediterranean coast of south west Turkey for a decade and enjoys cooking and scuba diving.

You can contact Simon by emailing simon.jordan@pioneerexpeditions.com

Leisa Lavender

Leisa spent 19 years in the Army where she developed a lasting passion and interest in adventure travel. A former rock climber, mountain expedition leader and international runner she has travelled extensively throughout the world. Having left the Army as a Major with an MBE, she brings a wealth of experience to developing Pioneer. Leisa and her family continue to indulge their passion for the outdoor life in Devon and have travelled across Africa, New Zealand and Australia over the last 4 years.

You can email Leisa on leisa.lavender@pioneerexpeditions.com

Client Services Manager: Laurenne Mansbridge

Laurenne Mansbridge

Laurenne will be taking client enquiries and bookings for Pioneer Expeditions so if you call our offices you may well speak to her.

Laurenne is a keen sailor, hiker, birdwatcher and diver and has recently returned from a long term sailing adventure.

Please feel free to call into the office with any questions as she is always happy to offer expert advice and information on Pioneer trips.

You can email Laurenne on laurenne.mansbridge@pioneerexpeditions.com

Client Services : Alice Chutter

Alice will be taking client enquiries and bookings for Pioneer Expeditions so if you call our offices you may well speak to her. A keen traveller herself she has recently returned from trips to Thailand and India and hopes to take part in some of the forthcoming Pioneer Expeditions. Please feel free to call into the office with any questions as she is always happy to offer expert advice and information on Pioneer trips.

You can email Alice on alice.chutter@pioneerexpeditions.com