The Team
Founder
Benji was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and has travelled extensively around the world, living in Madrid for two years during his Bachelors Degree in Business Studies and Spanish at Bristol University.
He has a 25 year career working in the marketing and communication industry representing a wide range of businesses. In 2015, he won a global award for his work helping Rwanda update its perception and voice after the genocide. He is an NED, mentor, investor and has set up several schools for orphans in West Africa, Costa Rica and St Lucia.
He is a keen explorer, animal lover, passionate about philanthropy and the environment. In his free time, he has undertaken many expeditions around the world but is happiest under the water, freediving.
Head of Production
Mikey has spent the last 20+ years producing films and photography all around the world. He is the founder of the award winning creative agency MOJO, based in Manchester, dedicated to delivering positive influence in all the work it undertakes.
Outside of his work he has a long established love for adventure and exploration. Favourite activities include ultra distance cycling, sea kayaking and free diving.
Head of Player Relations
Alex has 20 years investment and fundraising experience in technology (data sharing to biodiversity) and financial services. He was a CF30 derivatives trader and venture capitalist and is now powered by a passion for conservation and biodiversity.
He currently works with a number of different companies including PlanetaryX, a biome conservation technology solution and Endeavour Ventures, an impact technology and software vehicle.
Alex is our head of player relations. He supports every player on their journey to and during their descent….when he is not sailing or eating.
Head of Technical, education, philosophy, environment and sustainability
Hanno is a barefoot explorer of the world. He’s been running and exploring the mountains and deserts of Southern Africa for the last 3 decades.
The Drakensberg is in his backyard and he loves losing himself in this beautiful wilderness. His first sporting love is running but he is adept at cycling and kayaking. Much earlier in his life he earned his national colours in Duathlons, but don’t expect anything nearly resembling that kind of youthful speed from him. These days you are more likely to find him middle-of-the-pack with an eye on completing 100 km and 100 mile races.
When he is not running and cycling himself he reads for his PhD in philosophy, linguistics and semiotics, organises events, dapples in being a coach to other intrepid endurance athletes and stirs the pot as an environmental activist.
Most notably; he already completed the expedition course in full in just over 12 hours.
Head of Physical
Freddie is a very fun loving and relaxed character who has been working in the fitness industry for over 12 years. Freddie ran a highly successful Personal Training business in Battersea for 5 years before setting up The exclusive 225 Club in 2017 to bring his experience and passion for fitness to Cobham, Surrey near Chelsea’s training ground.
Having enjoyed a wide variety of sports with different physical training demands over the years (rugby, skiing, squash) as well as appearing on the front cover of fitness magazines such as Men’s Health and Ultra Fit, Freddie has built up a wealth of knowledge in diverse training styles to help you reach both your desired performance and aesthetic results. Freddie has coached his clients for everything from postpartum and post surgery rehabilitations through to IronMan triathlons, white collar boxing fights, as well as a recent winner of The SAS Who Dares Wins TV show.
Head of Nutrition
Amanda is a registered Naturopathic Nutritional Therapist and passionate about good food and healthy living.
She graduated from the The College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM) in London and now practises as a Nutritional Therapist. She is registered with the UK Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) and a full member of the British Association for Applied Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT).
She dedicates her time to help clients understand what food and lifestyle habits are best suited to them. She supports individuals looking to support and improve their digestive issues, weight management, relationship to food, hormone imbalances, stress management and sleep patterns as well as the busy, ‘on-the-go’ individuals who are looking for some routine to get their health back on track.
Head of Medical
Danielle Buurman, Dan for short, is a young and energetic doctor and endurance weekend warrior. She completed an MB.ChB degree in 2014 and, after her community service years, she worked mainly in emergency care.
She currently works in a general practice (Mossel Bay, South Africa) and a private hospital’s emergency department (George, South Africa).
She is currently completing her masters degree in Sports Medicine. Through all this she beams as she says: “I am very lucky to be mom to a beautiful little baby girl.” She is married to an adventure lover, who also doubles as her swimming, mountain bike and triathlon coach. These days, however, she spends more races working in the medical tent than on the track
She grew up in a small bushveld town, Phalaborwa, on the border of the Kruger National Park, nature and holds South Africa’s beautiful wildlife very close to her heart. She can’t wait to welcome each and everyone to South Africa.
Expedition Physiotherapist
She has a keen love for adventure, sport and the outdoors. She calls Ballito, a small town on the north coast of KZN, a stone’s throw from King Shaka airport, home.
She studied at the University of Pretoria (TUKS); with a further diploma in Sports Physiotherapy (SPT1); which opened up many opportunities for her to work with a number of hockey; rugby and soccer teams; as well as cyclists and trail runners at various events over the last 7 years.
Some of these events include the demanding Sani2C and Joberg2C mountain bike races as well as the Three Cranes and Golden Gate Trail challenges; both 3 day stage trail runs in and around the Drakensberg.
She is delighted to join the expedition and look forward to keeping you in the adventure wherever needed!
ARE YOU GAME?
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST FOR THE NEXT SERIES
