Gavin Bate

 

Gavin founded Adventure Alternative Expeditions and the Moving Mountains Trust simultaneously in the early 90's, offering a range of adventurous activites which work in close connection with the development of local communities and providing full time careers in tourism. He is the winner of the Responsible Tourism Award (Best Personal Contribution) in 2009. He is also a mountaineer with 5 climbs of Everest to his name and a lifetime of travelling and climbing. He now invests in a number of tour companies in developing countries, and has set up several NGO's, with the intention always of creating self-governance and income through teaching management skills and providing continual investment. He also lectures widely on leadership and a successful tourism business model which has attempted to redress the balance which often unequal in the world of tourism.

Gavin lives in Northern Ireland and is commonly on climbing expeditions, or visiting the regional areas where he operates to continually meet with his staff. Many of the staff in Kenya were taught by Gavin during their school years, having been taken off the streets by his charity. They now run and manage the AA family of companies completely autonomously and self-sufficiently. The Moving Mountains Trust is a large concern and works to create independance while at the same time providing support, much like a family structure.