The Young Adventurers' Club
Ask Roger Chao...
Expedition Consulting and Mentoring
Whether you are a large well experienced team of professional expeditioners or a first time young aspirant, all expeditions rely on the same skills and techniques for planning and executing them, regardless of if they are focused on high altitude, polar, desert, river, rock, jungle or other regions.
Anything from a first crossing or circumnavigation of a geographic landform in extreme conditions, a first descent of a huge volume river in a war-zone, a first ascent of a major peak, running a research study/survey deep in an untouched rainforest, to delivering aid and assistance to a remote mountain tribe. Expeditioning is not the sole domain of the elite; they all had to start from somewhere - like you.
If you've ever wondered if you have what it takes to plan and execute your own expedition, well I’m betting you do – albeit a little help along the way wouldn’t go astray.
Using my experience in consulting and advising expedition teams and leaders on numerous expeditions (from exploration, to scientific, to humanitarian), as well as planning and executing my own numerous large scale international expeditions, I have a wide ranging background in all elements of expedition planning, management and consulting.
The difference between a trip and an expedition is primarily the difference in scale, as well as the incorporation of other stakeholders, and thus the higher stakes associated with others such as sponsors. Therefore you cannot just plan and execute an expedition as you would any other typical “trip” - expeditioning requires a unique skill set of its own, with much higher consequences (and for more people/parties too) if anything goes wrong.
What I can help with:
• Planning, organising and managing expedition resources which may be constrained by scope, time, quality and budget.
• Expedition structure, logistics, support teams, emergency/evacuation plans, and transport.
• How to select & brief expedition team members to ensure healthy group dynamics and implement the right conflict resolution processes.
• Strategies for garnering media publicity for the expedition, as well as techniques for media relations and marketing yourself and the project.
• Contractual relationships with the media, publishers, suppliers, sponsors, team members, partner organisations and other key stakeholders.
• Leadership styles and techniques whilst out on the expedition, as well as team building skills and strategies.
• Gaining sponsorship and funding for the expedition, and negotiating and maintaining agreements with them.
• Gear, food, and medical kit selection for the expedition.
• Filming, videoing, and maintenance of electronic equipment whilst out on expedition.
• Dealing with government departments regarding permits, visas, and licenses.
• Expedition risk management and route planning.
• Post-expedition plan for once the expedition is over/completed, media, talks, documentaries, books, public relations.
• Pre-expedition training, re-skilling, and physical training.
Email Roger by clicking here.
"There are those people today who live the same life, day in day out, predictable, risk free, dreamless, they are the harshest critics of those who strive to break free from this mundane existence. In this world, too many people are afraid to pursue the life they truly desire, too afraid of being criticised by others, too afraid of failing, too afraid of not knowing the way. However there are also those who choose to follow their dreams, those who choose to rebel, those who strive to be free, those who live. Stay true to yourself; break free from the chains of society and live and may you too have the strength and courage to pursue your dreams."
Whether you are a large well experienced team of professional expeditioners or a first time young aspirant, all expeditions rely on the same skills and techniques for planning and executing them, regardless of if they are focused on high altitude, polar, desert, river, rock, jungle or other regions.
Anything from a first crossing or circumnavigation of a geographic landform in extreme conditions, a first descent of a huge volume river in a war-zone, a first ascent of a major peak, running a research study/survey deep in an untouched rainforest, to delivering aid and assistance to a remote mountain tribe. Expeditioning is not the sole domain of the elite; they all had to start from somewhere - like you.
If you've ever wondered if you have what it takes to plan and execute your own expedition, well I’m betting you do – albeit a little help along the way wouldn’t go astray.
Using my experience in consulting and advising expedition teams and leaders on numerous expeditions (from exploration, to scientific, to humanitarian), as well as planning and executing my own numerous large scale international expeditions, I have a wide ranging background in all elements of expedition planning, management and consulting.
The difference between a trip and an expedition is primarily the difference in scale, as well as the incorporation of other stakeholders, and thus the higher stakes associated with others such as sponsors. Therefore you cannot just plan and execute an expedition as you would any other typical “trip” - expeditioning requires a unique skill set of its own, with much higher consequences (and for more people/parties too) if anything goes wrong.
What I can help with:
• Planning, organising and managing expedition resources which may be constrained by scope, time, quality and budget.
• Expedition structure, logistics, support teams, emergency/evacuation plans, and transport.
• How to select & brief expedition team members to ensure healthy group dynamics and implement the right conflict resolution processes.
• Strategies for garnering media publicity for the expedition, as well as techniques for media relations and marketing yourself and the project.
• Contractual relationships with the media, publishers, suppliers, sponsors, team members, partner organisations and other key stakeholders.
• Leadership styles and techniques whilst out on the expedition, as well as team building skills and strategies.
• Gaining sponsorship and funding for the expedition, and negotiating and maintaining agreements with them.
• Gear, food, and medical kit selection for the expedition.
• Filming, videoing, and maintenance of electronic equipment whilst out on expedition.
• Dealing with government departments regarding permits, visas, and licenses.
• Expedition risk management and route planning.
• Post-expedition plan for once the expedition is over/completed, media, talks, documentaries, books, public relations.
• Pre-expedition training, re-skilling, and physical training.
Email Roger by clicking here.
"There are those people today who live the same life, day in day out, predictable, risk free, dreamless, they are the harshest critics of those who strive to break free from this mundane existence. In this world, too many people are afraid to pursue the life they truly desire, too afraid of being criticised by others, too afraid of failing, too afraid of not knowing the way. However there are also those who choose to follow their dreams, those who choose to rebel, those who strive to be free, those who live. Stay true to yourself; break free from the chains of society and live and may you too have the strength and courage to pursue your dreams."
