Ben Mathieson

I have a professional background in the outdoor industry and studied Outdoor Adventure Leadership at university. While I was completing my studies, I worked with primary and secondary schools along with the National Citizenship Service. After leaving university, I took the opportunity to work overseas, primarily focusing on and leading rafting, kayaking, and hiking trips in the Himalayas. Following this, I worked in southern Norway as a Senior Raft Guide on the River Otra, where I was primarily leading rafting trips and supporting world challenge expeditions. After my work overseas, I joined the Great Schools Trust at King’s Leadership Academy Liverpool in the 2022-23 academic year.

As a Personal Development Officer, I work as part of a larger team across the trust. I'm responsible for overseeing the school's specialism in Character and Leadership Education. Here at King’s Leadership Academy Liverpool, we have several programmes that deliver this specialism, such as The Combined Cadet Force, Character Residentials, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and the Leadership curriculum.

Being a Cadet as a teenager is where my interest in the outdoors began. I have been able to turn my interests into hobbies, before developing them into a skillset that has allowed me to travel and work overseas, providing adventure tourism and outdoor education. Because of this first-hand experience, I fully advocate for and aim to share the benefits of the outdoors with young people regardless of ability, experience, or background.