Belinda Kirk - An International Expedition Leader and Founder of Explorers Connect. Was a member of the 1st all female team to row around Great Britain setting a new Guinness World Record.

Belinda has worked on numerous major international expeditions over the last 22 years; as a diver, field biologist, expedition leader, expedition manager, and award winning adventure film-maker. 

She founded Explorers Connect with the belief, “there is an explorer in everyone and adventure is one of the best things in life”. Her goals are to; inspire and support the adventure community through collaboration and connections.

Show notes

• Having a wild childhood and growing up feral on a small island
• How the Duke of Edinburgh Award changed the direction of her life
• Making the decision when she was 18 years old to spend a year working and traveling in Africa
• Dealing with the challenges that Africa threw her way and why she decided to continue travelling
• Why heading off to Africa on her own was the best decision she ever made
• Leadership skills and what makes a good leader
• Her rowing challenge around Great Britain and getting a Guinness World Record at the same time
• Why she decided on this rowing challenge and why she needed to do something that she could fail at
• Why she set up Explorers Connect
• Advice about money and funding for expeditions
• The adventure industry and how it has changed over the years 
• Why women are changing the adventure industry slowly and what you can do to help to keep the momentum going
• Final words of advice to inspire you to go on your own adventure and why you need to start now!!!

Links

• Wild Night Out
• Britain’s first adventure festival for grown-ups “Base Camp Festival”. 
• Explorers Connect
• Belinda’s Website

 

Say hi to Belinda on twitter @ExplorersTweet - I’m also on twitter @_TOUGH_GIRL

 

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