More about Educating Adventures

Jonathon Beckingsale

Founder / Director

Jonny’s love of travel began at an early age, undertaking many adventures with his family. While studying towards an accounting and finance degree at University Jonny completed his first ski instructing qualification. He then spent time becoming a chartered accountant while combining working for Deloitte and teaching skiing in North and South America. Although Jonny is now primarily office based he loves getting out and about with his young family and visiting the resorts and destination where we run our tours and instructor programs.

Eryn Cutler

Founder / Director

Eryn grew up in New Zealand and has a strong connection with the outdoors - his father Steve one of New Zealand’s Outdoor Education Pioneers. After school Eryn completed a BSc and MSc at Otago University. His Masters Research involved a 6 week climate and snow investigation based at the head of the Tasman Glacier in the Mount Cook National Park. He has worked as a Qualified ski instructor, kayak instructor, outdoor guide, assessor, and manager for most of his life. He is now most passionate about sharing outdoor learning experiences with his family and friends, and ensuring Educating Adventures continues to develop and provide great experiences around the World.  

James Whiteley

Managing Director EA School Tours Australia

James’s love of travel began early, undertaking many sailing and caravanning adventures with his family. James has visited over 70 countries and a couple of his favourite travel experiences include sailing across the Atlantic and cycling from Tibet to Nepal. James is passionate about educational travel and the benefits it brings to students’ lives and education. He can’t wait to help you organise the trip of a lifetime for your students. 

Louisa Hadfield

School Travel Advisor

Louisa grew up a country bumpkin in the UK and first got a taste for adventure on a school expedition to Thailand & Cambodia at the age of 16. Last year, Louisa decided to swap hectic London city life for New Zealand, to make it her home and is loving the adventures that Queenstown and the South Island has to offer.  Having started off teaching in Spain for a couple of years, she moved into the world of Educational publishing, spending 3 years making her way around the African continent and Caribbean islands working with international schools.  Her favourite place she has spent time in is Zimbabwe – it’s got this raw, unspoilt beauty and the most warm-hearted people, that I’ve not experienced anywhere else.  In her spare time Louisa can be found exploring the outdoors, hiking, trying not to fall off her mountain bike and stand-up paddle boarding! Always looking to try new things, she’s now learning to ride motorbikes!

Julie Frazier

School Group Travel Manager

With a background in events and logistics and a passion for travel Jules has been with EA for four years and now heads up the team. She loves the mixture of history, politics, culture and art that the cities of Washington and New York offer for schools and is passionate about creating the perfect itinerary for each client. In her free time Jules can be found in the great outdoors – hiking, paddle boarding, mountain-biking and enjoying winter sports.

Laura Milner

Operations

Laura is from Huddersfield, UK but has been travelling doing seasonal work for the last 15 years. She started off in chalets, then became a ski and snowboard instructor, before moving on to a more organisational role at Queenstown’s local mountain of Coronet Peak. Laura has recently joined Educating Adventures and is looking to make New Zealand her home. She loves travelling and has been to Europe, Switzerland, USA, Japan, New Zealand, Thailand and Sri Lanka. Her favourite winter destination is Hakuba, Japan – the powder is amazing! Summer and surfing favourite is Sri Lanka.

Tracey Savory

Operations

Tracey is from Leeds, UK and has worked in the Travel Industry for over 15 years specialising in group travel for UK Sports Teams around the world. Having worked in the travel industry she has been lucky enough to visit some amazing destinations, with Singapore being one of her favourites. Tracey has lived in Queenstown for 4 years and is looking to make this her permanent home as she loves everything New Zealand has to offer.

Nate Shaw

Finance

Nate is the Accountant and works with Jonny to ensure EA’s books are kept up-to-date.  Nate Joined EA at the beginning of 2017 after moving down from Canterbury where he got his Commerce degree and subsequent Chartered designations. He enjoys skiing during the winter and fishing and cricket in summer.  He is probably the least travelled person around here having skimmed Eastern Australia, looped Japan and visited a few pie shops in the North Island.  He can be found reconciling piles of 1YEN coins or muttering about spreadsheets.

Hannah Stuart

Marketing

Hannah grew up in Wellington, New Zealand and caught the travel bug very early at the age of 13 when she first travelled to Europe on a family holiday. Hannah joined EA after living abroad in Japan and Canada, working as a ski instructor. Hannah’s favourite travel destination is Japan. It has a lot to offer, and is full of culture, adventure and history. 

Maddy Stumbles

Marketing

Maddy always considered herself a beach girl, and never imagined she’d swap her surfboard for skis until she moved to Queenstown in 2017 and fell madly in love with the snow.

In her spare time, Maddy loves to explore the outdoors, plan adventures with friends, and practice yoga.