Create Your Madventure
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BUILDING, TEACHING, SPORTS, ADVENTURES & EXPERIENCES WORLDWIDE - YOU CHOOSE. Work hard, give back, have fun and go Mad!
The MAD Team
Welcome to Mad HQ in Newcastle upon Tyne!
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Here in the ‘toon’ we are a happy team of staff who all embody the Mad spirit of adventure. We have all travelled extensively in the world and spend our days spreading the Mad word and swelling the numbers of Madventurers across the globe. We are always on hand to talk about our adventures and help give you the chance to make your own through volunteering and exploring worldwide. Work hard, give back, have fun and Go Mad!
Spot amongst our team our chief’s good lady wife, Elaine and Mike from BBC programme ‘Grumpy old Holidays’.
Meet The Mad Team
John Lawler
Chief
Torgbui Mottey I
(or Chief Pioneering Pathfinder of the Forest I)
Founder and Chief of the Mad Tribe, John was the original Gap Year student, setting off with his back pack on his back to Ghana, in 1998. After working in a rural village for the whole summer, helping them to set up a new Secondary school, and after being made Chief of Development of the village he taught in, John returned home and decided to recruit more students. They returned the following year to finish the project and so Madventurer was born.
John says ‘Through responsible travel, volunteering and development we all have the opportunity to give back to the fantastic regions we travel to. In our own small way by visiting some of these places and spending time with people, whether its rural Ghana or mountainous Peru, we can learn so much more than just watching Palin and co. on the BBC. So this year, make it happen and step out of your comfort zone. Take a gap and don’t look back.’
Top Travel Tip:
The best way to get to know a new culture is to work alongside the local people. Stop staring out of the window and Go Mad!
Unforgettable Mad Moment:
When Madventurer’s first ever official venturer Will Roberts arrived in Ghana, I picked him up in a Mad Landy that I had just acquired from the British High Commission that day. On the way to the project site he asked ‘How long has Madventurer been going?’ to which I replied ‘about 15 minutes’. The colour drained from his face but I'm happy to report that he had an amazing time and I still see him at reunions every year!
E-mail: chief@madventurer.com
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Elaine Lawler
Chiefs better halve
Mama Ama Wu Sika
(or people are more important than gold)
Elaine married John in the Summer of 2006, the ceremonies was followed by ITV in Newcastle and then overseas in Ghana. Seeing many Ghanian tribal cheifs arriving at Newcastle Central train station for the wedding is a indelible memory that will always stay with me. Back in Ghana I was enthroned as the original African Queen.
I am also a qualified nutritionist and previously a licensee, in the office I answer the phones and talk about the projects.
Unforgettable MAD moment:
In front of 100s of people in Ghana getting married to John and then dancing the night away African style.
Top travel tip:
Leave the diffuser at home you really can do without it!!
Email : elainel@madventurer.com
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Tim Guinan
Director of Operations
I’m now in my fourth year working at Madventurer and am responsible for all aspects of Madventurer’s Operations overseas as well as all Crew recruitment and training here in the UK. I’ve travelled across 6 continents including current MAD destinations such as Fiji, India, Uganda, Kenya and personal favourite Tanzania. When I’m not at work I love playing football, eating potatoes and working on my tan!!
Unforgettable MAD moment:
Leading building projects on the slopes of Kilimanjaro
Top travel tip:
Travel light and always wear a smile!
Email: tim@madventurer.com
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Joanne Oldham
Expert in Thailand, Ghana and the rest of the Mad World!
What I do in the office?
I am Jo and I love to talk to people who are thinking about traveling and gving them have lots of information so they can make their minds up about where to go and what to do. I also organised some projects and at the moment I am helping to organise the Madventurer ball that we have every year and our new launch into Canada. When I get back, the next project I want to get involved in is to find new ways to offset the carbon impact of travelling.
Top travel tip
I don’t pack too many clothes, I only take the things that I love because otherwise I take a lot of things that I don’t want to have with me.
Best mad moment
Going to Thailand I loved being part of a group of nice people and I even enjoyed eating red hot chilli for breakfast in the morning.
Email: jo@madventurer.com
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Dan Robinson
Expert in Fiji, Ghana, Peru and East Africa!
After graduating from Aston University, I decided I wanted to travel the world! My adventures began at the beginning of 2005 with a Madventurer project in Peru.
My biggest challenge that year was a snow climb up Mt. Pisco. When I got home I couldn’t wait to get started leading my own projects and good old Mad sent me off to the heart of Ghana to cause as much havoc as possible in a landy. Fiji was my next stop, where I ran and ran on the beach. Now I’m back in Newcastle and even though it’s a lot colder than Ghana and Fiji, I love it. Occasionally they let me out so I went to Kenya this summer to run another project and I also learnt to milk a cow! I know all Madventurer destinations well but am currently the official expert on West Africa, call me for a chat and advice.
Unforgettable MAD moment:
Being made a chief of a Ghanaian village (I am the mini chief!)
Top travel tip:
Embrace the bucket shower! it'll change your life
E-mail: dan@Madventurer.com
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Sam Finn
Expert in all of East Africa!
I have worked for Madventurer for 2 years and have spent most of that time working in East Africa as a Crew Leader – I love it!! I started with Mad as a volunteer, went out to Kenya for 2 months and I was hooked.
Fortunately Madventurer were happy to give me a job and sent me right back. I’ve travelled in Europe and across America but my favourite part of the world is definitely East Africa. I am very happy getting dirty on a building site and talking Kiswahili to anyone who will listen. This year I challenged myself to climb all of East Africa’s highest peaks. So far I have climbed Mt Kenya, Mt Meru, Kilimanjaro and Mt Elgon in Uganda (4321m). I now only have Mt Stanley left in Rwanda to complete my challenge. I’m happy to be back in the office in my homeland the ‘toon’. I’m always on hand to chat and give advice to prospective venturers. Outside of work I climb things, run all over the shop, talk alot and I love fruit – especially mangoes!
Unforgettable MAD moment:
Falling off a giraffe in Kenya and still being fit the next day to complete a building I worked on from Foundation to finish. (The Giraffe wasn’t real!).
Top travel tip:
Try speaking the local tribal language it builds friendships and gets lots of laughs!
Email: sam@madventurer.com
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Mike Parker
Gaps For Grumpies
You may have seen Mike, our Director of Gaps for Grumpies, on Television recently.
He has had a number of cameo appearances as the Grumpy father or Grumpy husband on the TV series Grumpy Old Women and Grumpy Old Holidays.
He is married to Judith Holder who wrote and produced both the programmes and as such is a fully paid up grumpy.
Before he set up Gaps for Grumpies he was Director General of Nexus, the Passenger Transport Executive in the North East who among other things operate the Tyne and Wear Metro.
He threw care to the wind,sent his suits to Oxfam and started the Gaps for Grumpies venture claiming the concept of gaps for the over 40`s arose from grumpily wondering why should just the students have "the lifetime experiences" How come they get all the fun?
Unforgettable MAD/GRUMPY moment
Swimming under a huge water fall in the Volta region of Ghana.
Top travel tip
Always dress smart for the flight, you never see a scruffy dresser upgraded!!!
Email: grumpies@madventurer.com
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Adam Clark
Expert in Adventures and all Madventurer Projects
I am currently the Projects and Adventure sales executive. I use my past travel agency experience to advise on flights, insurance and adventure options.
I have travelled the world extensively, even spending 9 months in Alice Springs running a hostel!! Travel is my passion and i love piecing together travel plans and seeing a satisfied and happy venturer.
Unforgettable MAD moment
I have yet to do a Mad project, but i have seen all the pictures of past ones!!!!
Top travel tip
Scan all your documents (including your passport) and e-mail them to yourself before you leave and never forget your travel insurance!!
Email: adam@madventurer.com
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Hedi Salanki
Mad Accountant
So what do I do? I deal with Madventurers’ Mad accounts so that must make me the Mad accountant?!
I lived in Hungary, Russia, America and the last 16 years in the UK. I have a degree in teaching modern languages and as part of my Russian studies I traveled in several states of the old Soviet Union, and a little in Asia. Armenia among these is the most unforgettable experience with mountains made of semi precious stones and wonderfully friendly people. I also traveled a little in North America and the Caribbean. One of my best travel experiences is watching the sun drop off the sky in Montego Bay.
Unforgettable Mad moment
...is waiting to happen, hopefully one day I’ll travel as a venturer myself to one of “our countries”.
Top travel tip
Never hitchhike!
E-mail hedi@madventurer.com
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Luke Charles
E-mail luke.charles@madventurer.com
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Michael Gibson
Sales and Marketing Manager
I have over 12 years experience in the travel industry, previously working in retail and account management. I love to travel and have currently totted up over 60 countries on my passport. In one memorable travel moment i was an extra in a Hollywood movie for over four months!!! In 1998 when John booked up his first flights to Ghana he came to see me and I have followed Madventurer with interest ever since. I became a 'mad man' in December 2007.
Top travel tip
Always keep your injections passport (ask for it at the doctors) with your normal passport so you can easily see what needs doing for the next destination.
E-mail michaelg@madventurer.com
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Ben Keene
Non Executive Director
Ben started off leading groups in West Africa before heading back to the UK for a office role up in Newcastle. Then he had the big idea for Tribewanted and he set off for Fiji and Vorovoro. The recent BBC2 series charted the rise of the innovitative project. Ben hasnt looked back since and we are sure he will beome the new face for responsible tourism in the UK. We are proud he is on our board of directors.
Unforgettable Mad moment
Dealing with tribal chiefs in Ghana, always an eye opening experience.