Meet Secret Compass’s UK-based staff and the industry-leading expedition professionals who lead our adventurous projects in the world’s wildest places. For current job vacancies, visit our jobs page.

Tom Bodkin
Director and Co-founder
Tom co-founded Secret Compass and is its Managing Director. Tom has extensive experience in providing innovative and creative risk and location management

Ben Major
Director
Ben is an adventurer, explorer and survival expert who has led over 40 expeditions and projects throughout the world in all environments.

Sally Fitton
Director TV & Film Projects
Sally joined Secret Compass from the BBC. She was the BBC High Risk Advisor for Current Affairs and the World Service and deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan

lachlan bucknall
Director TV & Film Projects
Lachlan served for 11 years as an infantry officer in the British Army where he trained and led people in some the harshest of operating environments.

louise watson
Operations Director
Having tried her hand at a number of different sports, from skeleton to skydiving, ultra running to open water swimming, Louise is happiest when

cat vincent
Adventure Consultant
After several years spent at sea, living aboard sailing yachts, Catherine has traded in her sea legs to join the Secret Compass team.

anya keatley
Project Manager
Anya has discovered that the skills gained in academic research are also applicable to the fast paced world of expedition planning.

charlie newman
Project Manager
Charlie joined Secret Compass in 2020 and her passion for epic panoramas and locations as remote as possible means that she is well suited to the

LIZ GRAY
Project Manager
Liz joined the Secret Compass team in 2021 after 20 years planning and leading multiple expeditions all over the world, and most latterly working as a risk

Jamie Emmerson
Project Manager
As a humanitarian security advisor, James spent three years providing risk advice and situational awareness to NGOs operating in conflict zones.

trevor smith
Expedition Leader
Trevor has a passion for adventure which has been with him throughout his life. Having served in the Royal Marines during the early part of his career, he

james ross
Expedition Leader
James has extensive experience providing risk management solutions on a wide range of projects, including exploratory mining, anti-poaching

dave lucas
Expedition Leader
Dave has spent over 65 months on expeditions in 85 countries from Europe and Asia to Africa and Latin America. He thrives on exploring for unclimbed areas

cat cameron
Expedition Leader
Cat has been leading expeditions since 2009, from the mountains and savannas of East Africa to the jungles of Borneo and Costa Rica, and the high

rick morales
Expedition Leader
Skilled naturalist Rick Morales has done what very few trekkers would even dare to attempt. He’s mapped out a new hiking trail across the length of his

rebecca coles
Expedition Leader
Rebecca has been leading expeditions for 15 years. She works as a full-time climbing instructor and leader in the UK

rich gentry
Expedition Leader
Like many, Rich was introduced to the outdoors at a young age through Scouts, although it was when he discovered rock climbing a few years later that things

luca alfatti
Expedition Leader
Luca is the overall winner of Wanderlust Magazine’s World Guide Award 2012. He has travelled extensively, has his Mountain Leader qualification

Tom mclay
Expedition Leader
As a teenager living in North Wales Tom McLay learnt to push his kayaking abilities to become a river guide and hone his mountain biking and hill skills.

dave luke
Expedition Leader
Dave fled the Emerald Isle as a teenager and a travelling obsession ensued. He has led expeditions and supported TV productions in the Himalayas,

alex bigwood
Expedition Leader
Alex has 15 years of military expertise, partly in Special Forces. He has been leading expeditions and instructing wilderness related courses for

paul spackman
Expedition Leader
Paul is a highly professional and experienced mountain leader, alpinist, ultra-runner and former British Army Officer who is happiest

paul taylor
Expedition Leader
Paul is a former soldier with 26 years of service around the world. He is a jungle warfare instructor and has trained soldiers in Borneo,

jan bakker
Expedition Leader
Jan hikes, climbs, bikes and surfs whenever he can. His love for expeditions has taken him to remote mountain ranges on six continents.

phil de beger
Expedition Leader
Phil has first ascents of extreme grade rock routes on five continents. In 2009 he was part of the first team ever to ski between the two most

pat barrow
Expedition Leader
Pat Barrow has been involved with Secret Compass since 2015 when he pioneered an exploratory Single Track MTB expedition in Kyrgyzstan’s Talas Range.

robert molnar
Expedition Leader
Growing up in Soviet era Hungary, Robert developed a love for outdoor sports from young age. His main sport

chris shirley
Expedition Leader
Chris’ love affair with high, cold and remote places started as a Royal Marines Commando officer working in some very challenging environments:

rob kenning
Expedition Leader
Rob has worked in expeditions since 2008. He loves connecting with people, nature and getting out in the world, and these interests have taken him from a film