Who are we?

Honestly, it is about you. This is a community resource, full of suggestions from people who have found somewhere worth sharing. Alex, Ed, Sam, Tom and Zaza are just the 5 charged with making sense of it all.

It all began with Alex in the jungles of Ecuador and Ed in the French Alps. Incredible places, but things were not right with either. There had to be an answer...

Alex     

Joined us: When he realised he was too much of an idealist to hold down a normal job, and had bored himself silly thinking about it.

Role: Founder, managing director, editor-in-chief, guy who is meant to have answers, and the plans in order.

Favourite adventures (so far): Weekends surfing and climbing in Cornwall, hiding out the Ecuadorian jungle, mountaineering in the Andes, stepping out the front door.

Reason for being at MBA: Would it be a cliche to say 'because life is too short not to'? About sums it up from all angles.

muchbetter Aspirations: For it to become the adventure resource I have always wanted to find. If you want something done, sometimes you have to do it yourself. Only then will we have a chance of succeeding, and maybe I'll be allowed to hit the road again then.

Continent claimed for muchbetter research trip: Africa. Ummm, and the Middle East/Central Asia. It is time that area appeared on the adventure map by all accounts.

Ed     

Joined us: You don't join muchbetter, you realise it...

Role: Founder, quality controler, thought provoker and balancing force.

Favourite adventures (so far): Backcountry skiing and camping around Argentiere, Chamonix, France... Sports climbing in El Chorro, Adalucia, Spain ... Surfing the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica... Trekking in Jordan... Climbing and Walking the Peak District anytime...  Canoe tripping in Canada and France...

Reason for being at MBA: Much Better is a place where you can think in terms of ideals... Its not so much a case of 'that can't happen', more 'how can we make it so...'

muchbetter Aspirations: To provide a mainstream platform and technology that competes in a savage tourism market, allowing thousands of independant adventure sports providers to put their muchbetter product on the shelf alongside the rest.  

Continent claimed for muchbetter research trip:  Europe. Why? Awesome variety....

Sam     

Joined us: Summer 2010

Role: Members - finding them, making sure they are muchbetter, providing consultancy when they are not, organising us and designing things.

Favourite adventures (so far): Hitchhike racing across Europe, white water rafting in Nepal, trekking through rural Ghana and shooting poison arrows with Dayak headhunters in Malaysia

Reason for being at MBA: Having tried since 2008 to market a struggling grassroots football project in rural Africa with no budget, I sympathised with Alex's frustrations in Ecuador and the growing importance of MBA to provide a platform for deserving people and projects. Visiting places like Koh Samui has made me realise first hand how damaging our corporate-led tourism industry can be to a beautiful destination and local community. 

muchbetter Aspirations: Much Better Volunteers, develop football academy in Ghana, hit every continent before turning 30, get Tom's 'jazzy rap' song on radio meuh, learn to ski and a bit of French.

Continent claimed for muchbetter research trip: Central/South America!!

Tom     

Joined us: November 2010

Role: Currently running the show! He'll be the one answering your emails and questions, whether your a running a company or someone looking for a great adventure!

Favourite adventures (so far): Cycling around Iceland, Norway and New Zealand (separately!), hiking around Hokkaido, Japan and sea kayaking in Newfoundland, Canada.

Reason for being at MBA: The chance to combine my two interests of sustainability and travel made MBA an obvious choice when looking for job. Oh, and living in the Alps has its perks!

muchbetter Aspirations: Help build the definitive resource of locally owned and independently operated adventure operators from around the World. Who knows what else we can make 'muchbetter!'

Continent claimed for muchbetter research trip: Asia.

Sian

Joined us: January 2012

Role: Developing the muchbetter consultancy service and focusing on improving our SEO - so that you lovely folks can find us on the web.

Favourite adventures (so far): Sipping tea in the Himalayan teahouses, pitching a hammock in the Borneo Rainforest and getting a little taste of East Africa (plenty left to still explore though).

Reasons for being at MBA: I was looking to get involved with a company that was really working to bring the benefits of tourism to local people...and so here I am at MBA.

muchbetter Aspirations: Help bring sustainable travel to the forefront of the tourism industry...or at the very least get stuck in trying!

Continents claimed for muchbetter research trip: Its got to be Asia for me.

Fleur

Joined us: September 2011 as a wide-eyed ingénue fresh from university.

Role: Intern, AKA. Office idiot to be sucked into MBA world.

Favourite adventures (so far): Mountaineering in the French Alps during summer blizzards, staring over precipitous drops in Syria, living and teaching in rural Nepal.  

Reason for being at MBA: left university with no idea about my future but wished not to be a corporate drone and enjoyed travelling. Found MBA and the rest, as they say, is history…

muchbetter Aspirations: to find a job I enjoy with a company I believe in, so time will tell. Also to learn French. 

Continent claimed for muchbetter research trip: Africa, Antarctica, although I will steal bits I like from the others.  

We owe a lot to our community of experts and ambassadors  - very much part of the muchbetter team. 

We simply wouldn't be here without the fantastic services of Lisa and Tom of 18a productions web design in Bristol.