Rich is the big cheese of all things tech. He keeps GeoCultura’s business operations running smoothly, whether it’s communications, website, training or behind-the-scenes programming.  He’s also in charge of the purse strings and makes sure our suppliers are all paid on time.  Basically, everything we’re able to do is thanks to Rich’s know-how.  

Rich Cobb

Julie brings her wealth of experience and efficiency to organising all our tours.  She is GeoCultura’s friendly voice liaising over every element of every tour, from accommodation, to restaurant and coach bookings, making sure numbers are right and that everything’s in place, bringing to life the excellent ideas of our guides and planners.  She’s also at the end of the phone for travellers wanting more information or simply to talk through options.

Julie Kirby

Henry is busy assessing every detail of our tour itineraries to ensure the well-being of everyone who travels with us.  As a qualified mountain leader and first aider, Henry is adept at managing groups who have varied abilities, in a variety of settings.  As well as being involved in pre-planning, you may also meet him as Tour Manager on our Lake District tour and our Jurassic Coast short break.

Henry Mellors

Pam has a massive amount of experience in leadership and working in tourism.  She is hot on expectations being met and is full of ideas about how to ensure the very best for our travellers. Pam looks after our partnerships with travel advisors and picks up the phone to answer enquiries, if Julie is busy.  

Pam Foden

Staff

An Emeritus Professor at The School of Earth and Environment, Leeds University, Rob was the founder, CEO and Chairman of Rock Deformation Research Ltd, a global, premier structural geology business. Rob has published more than 150 scientific papers, supervised more than 30 PhDs and has been awarded honours from the Geological Society of London, including the President’s Award, the Wollaston Fund and the William Smith Medal. Rob is now involved in promoting and planning the Energy Transition and geological aspects of Carbon Sequestration, as well as enhancing awareness of the historical impact and future role of the Earth Sciences.

Rob Knipe

A former Senior Lecturer at University of London, Sedimentology Masters Degree Director, Neil was the founder of Nautilus – the industry’s premier training business, working with over 80 companies world-wide. He is currently involved in diverse business activities but with GeoCultura he is returning to an area of particular passion – geoscience tours.

Neil Harbury

A visiting professor at Canterbury Christchurch University and a visiting Fellow at the University of Bath, Mark has an MA in history from Cambridge University and an honorary doctorate from Canterbury. He is currently a non-executive Board Director for the Crown Prosecution Service and for the General Pharmaceutical Council. Mark previously worked as Chief Executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission for 5 years and of West Sussex County Council for 6 years. He also served as a diplomat in the British Embassy, Washington, and helped to negotiate the Climate Change Convention.

Mark Hammond

Pam has broad experience in tourism, hospitality and communication. Upon graduation from Kings College London with a BA (Hons) in French, she taught French for a few years. An interest in hospitality and tourism led to setting up a catering company, followed by a small hotel with restaurant, which then led to an executive role running a Destination Management organisation.  After several years working with tourism businesses at county level, she joined the national tourist board, VisitBritain, in a mainly industry-facing role, supporting accommodation providers and visitor attractions, developing quality assurance schemes, training and quality-raising initiatives. 

Pam currently runs her own tourism consultancy company, Pam Foden & Associates Ltd., working with destinations and tourism, hospitality and retail businesses to help them thrive. Interests include sailing and cooking.

Having worked numerous projects in the Americas, Middle East, Europe, Africa, SE Asia and Australia, Bob has more than 20 years’ experience working with US majors in both domestic and international roles. He was Technical Manager at Nautilus for 15 years and, as such, was responsible for developing, administering and overseeing a portfolio of several hundred geoscience and engineering courses. In this role he also developed the first robust and integrated training program for the exploration and exploitation of unconventional resources.

Bob Petty

Currently a Global Structural Geology Advisor at Schlumberger, Russell has over 30 years’ experience working in the oil and gas industry on projects worldwide with Shell, Arco and Rock Deformation Research before joining Schlumberger. He has had the opportunity to do field work on several continents, but has been a field trip leader on over 50 trips in and around Moab, Utah where he developed an interest and passion for the landscapes and history of the desert Southwest.

Russell Davies

Board

Jonathan has over 30 years of experience working in geoscience and leadership roles in the oil and gas industry.

Following a geoscience degree (Cambridge University, UK), PhD (Reading University, UK) and Post-doctoral research (Centre du Geochimie de la Surface CNRS, Strasbourg, France), Jonathan joined BP in 1990 and spent his early career in technical geoscience roles. Later Jonathan led BP’s upstream businesses in India, Pakistan and Oman before being given responsibility for Global Access where he oversaw the identification and delivery of all new exploration opportunities globally. This was followed by business leadership roles focused on the Middle East and sub-saharan Africa before he elected to retire from BP in December 2020 to pursue other interests.

Jonathan Evans

With 35 years in the oil and gas industry with major and independents in both domestic and international roles, Henry is a proven oil finder in multiple basins world-wide with expertise in deep water systems, risk analysis, portfolio management, exploration and development. With significant Senior Leadership roles under his belt, as well as teaching, mentoring and staff development responsibilities, he is responsible for over 50 publications and conference talks, and is an AAPG and SEG Trustee Associate.

Henry Pettingill

An honorary professor at University of Durham, Richard is Founder and MD of GeoPressure Technology, a subsurface pressure prediction business. He has published some 100 scientific papers and supervised 20 research students.  Awarded with the Geological Society of London’s Petroleum Group Medal in 2018, Richard is now semi-retired and increasingly involved in GeoEnergy Transition – with interests in energy conservation and sustainable energy sources.

Richard Swarbrick

With a passion for geoscience and the outdoors, Simon is fortunate to have visited some amazing and little-travelled parts of the world in the course of his work and leisure. After completing his PhD with the SE Asia Research Group at the University of London, he worked at a global training company for 20 years before leaving to set up GeoLogica – a forward-looking business dedicated to delivering the best in geoscience training. 

Simon has always wanted to share with geoscientists and non-geoscientists alike the beautiful and fascinating locations he has been lucky enough to experience and GeoCultura was set up to do this.

Simon Baker

Advisors

Meet the team behind the scenes at GeoCultura