Meet our growing team of First Aid Training Co-operative Associates.
Tom Durham
Co-founder and Director
I’ve been teaching various outdoor sports over 25 years now and have been extremely lucky with this career taking me all over the world; living and working in various places in Europe as well as Canada.
Having trained 1000’s of students in first aid over more than 12 years, I am now the Managing Director of the First Aid Training Co-operative, where I help support our team and our clients.
I am lucky enough to call the Alps home where I am lead guide and co-owner of Aosta Valley Freeride – a Mountain Bike guiding business. So I spend a lot of time guiding groups on alpine trails during the summer. I also run my other business in Mountain Bike Facility Development worldwide.
Lorna Keighren
Office Manager
I am the person at the other end of the telephone or email, helping you arrange your First Aid Course.
I bring over a decade’s experience as Operations Manager for a large international training company into the First Aid Training Co-operative.  Prior to that I spent time living and working in the Italian Alps, a place I still spend a lot of time in.
When I’m not at work I enjoy spending time with family and friends, especially if a good meal is involved!  I really enjoy cycling and skiing and being out in the fresh air, as well as flower arranging which I’ve done for several friend’s weddings.
Cory Jones
Co-founder and Director
I’ve worked in the outdoor industry for over 30 years, and ran first aid training courses twenty years ago initially with the Red Cross and then ITC First Aid.Â
In 2012 I passed my Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician course and I now run courses globally. I helped First Aid Training Co-operative develop their first set of digital first aid manuals and videos and am now a Non-Exec Director.Â
I have been working in Rwanda with Kingfisher Journeys  to develop a first aid trainer network following on from nearly a decade of first aid trainer development in Kenya.Â
When not teaching first aid I run Highland Experiences which is a kayak based adventure company. I also like to take off on adventures worldwide, including a 1500KM unsupported canoe journey through the Canadian Artic wilderness.
Isla Myles
Course Co-ordinator & IQA
Isla started out working in the Arts as a Professional Dancer, Teacher and Development Officer for Dance and Drama. During this time she discovered a passion for Event Management and went on to use these skills in the Wedding, Environmental and Sports industries.Â
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She now has her own business working at Mountain Biking Events and is a qualified Massage Therapist.
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Isla works part-time with us and is a crucial member of our office team, where she coordinates the public courses and does Internal Quality Assurance. Â
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Outside of work, Isla enjoys having adventures with her young family and spending time swimming, cycling, meeting up with good friends and eating cake!Â
Mike Smith
Training & IQA Manager
Mike has a history of working as a business advisor in the corporate world, developing the social purpose of many diverse businesses. Mike is also a Trustee and advisor to several NGO’s in the UK and overseas and has worked in a number of countries, including India.
Mike lives in the Western Lake District and is a qualified Remote Rescue Medical Technician with Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team.
Travel, skiing and mountaineering are very important to Mike and he will often travel to course venues a day ahead of time if it means visiting a new hill!
Steve Welsh
Senior Trainer & Clinical Advisor
Steve Welsh is our pre-hospital care expert and as well as his responsibilities for FATC, is the Training & Development Manager for the Scottish Ambulance Service Special Operations Teams.  He is also a swift water & flood rescue trainer and is responsible for setting up this training for the emergency services nationally.
When he’s not saving lives or training others to do so, he’s a keen kayaker and skier, so is invariably to be found somewhere wet or cold!
Paul Sharman
Communications Officer
With a second career as an outdoor writer and photographer which started while living in Southern California for a while at the turn of the millennia, Paul moved up to Inverness from his native Sussex in 2018 to be closer to the Highlands and Islands with its wonderful landscapes, fishing and wildlife.
His professional career started at the dawn of personal computing, where he transited through accounting, international banking, software support, and IT project management. Returning from the USA in 2007, he then moved into website management, writing and editing, business administration, and from there, marketing and communications.
Living along the Moray Firth, his passion is to head down to the beach whenever he can to photograph wildlife and watch for the local dolphins. He also plans to restart his freelance career, and work on some book and video ideas.
Sam Hillcox
Senior Trainer
A trained science teacher and ecologist, Sam has plenty of hands-on experience dealing with outdoor first aid incident management in the UK, and overseas on remote expeditions from Namibia to the jungles of Borneo.
Sam is a skilled and enthusiastic teacher, and occasional rider, having spent her teens grooming for two Prix St George Hanoverian horses in a small yard, then later volunteering with Riding for the Disabled.
Sam is our school’s expedition specialist as well as one of our trainers for the equestrian sector.
Ann McKillop
Healthcare Course Coordinator & First Aid Blogger
Ann has been working in the Scottish countryside for more than 35 years and has an extensive knowledge of the world of Rangering, volunteering and conservation sectors. She is currently writing a book on the history of Countryside Rangers in Scotland.
Ann has been a trainer with us in the past and is now our chief content creator, keeping our blogs up to date and creating new ones. She also coordinates our GP, Dental and Healthcare courses from her office in Oban.
Ann keeps active volunteering with the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Scottish Charity Air Ambulance. She also plays percussion in a band so her lifestyle ranges from quiet outdoor pursuits to very very loud indoor ones!
Suzie Robinson
Trainer
Suzie is a Forest School Practitioner, working regularly with young people and their families in the woods to develop their connections with nature and skills to understand and enjoy our natural world. She is happiest in the wilderness, under the trees, finding beetles and bugs with the kids. Â
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With a background in hospital social work and language teaching, Suzie has experience of engaging with a wide variety of people and enjoys learning. She has a special interest in dementia care and intergenerational work. Â
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Suzie lives in Midlothian and is an active member of the Scottish Cave Rescue Organisation, loves caving, walking and keeping ferrets.Â
Gavin Bate
Trainer
Gavin is an international mountain leader and has been organising and leading expeditions to the mountains, polar regions, jungles and deserts all his adult life. His special interest is high altitude medicine having been on 12 expeditions to climb peaks over 8000 metres.
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Gavin also guides and leads young people as well as adults, running expeditions for schools and outdoor development courses. He regularly works in the corporate sector too, training clients in the outdoors. He has previously lived in Nepal, Kenya and Ireland and now lives in a forest in Somerset trying to manage a sustainable lifestyle!
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First aid on expeditions has always been a keen interest for Gavin, and he enjoys bringing all that experience to the training courses with the First Aid Training Co-operative.
Molly Stubbs
Trainer
Molly is a professional freelance equine groom. Bought up with having her own horse since a young age, Molly made her career with horses. She has worked in eventing and hunting but mainly in Racing, in UK and Japan. With a natural gift for training, she has spent most of her career working with youngstock, in pre training. With a passion for education and in order to diversify her skills, Molly joined us in 2021 as a first aid trainer. Â
When she’s not on the gallops leading a string or breaking in a pony, you’ll find Molly cooking up something healthy for the family. Keen on music, she also supports her partner when on tour with his band, selling merchandise and providing a spare pair of hands.
Will Manners
Trainer
Will Manners is a highly qualified outdoors instructor and until recently was in charge of outdoor education for Highlife Highland.  Previously he has worked variously as an expedition leader and operations manager at the highest level.
As well as First Aid Training, Will now runs his own outdoor instruction company: freewilloutdoors.co.uk, taking clients walking, mountaineering, climbing, mountain biking and skiing.Â
Will is also an active triathlon coach and competitive triathlete and spends much of his spare time training!
Heather Thomas-Smith
Trainer
Heather is an experienced Mountain Leader with a passion for wild food, nature and the great outdoors. Her love of exploration has taken her across the globe, with experiences ranging from self-supported backpacks across Scotland, to long distance treks in Asia, the Andes and Himalayas.
She holds a BSc Degree in Catering Management and Food Science & Nutrition stemming from her love of good healthy food, flavours from around the world and a lifelong interest in foraging. She is a Trainer and Assessor on the Walking Scheme for Girlguiding UK and trained and served in Mountain Rescue where knowledge of good First Aid is paramount.
Isa Mallick
Trainer
Isa is a Youth Work Project Manager at a Dundee-based local charity who blends his passion for outdoor activities into his role. He actively engages young people from ethnic minority communities in a range of outdoor pursuits, including hillwalking, cycling, bushcraft, and foraging to help foster confidence, skills, and a deeper connection with nature. In his capacity as the primary first aider for the local charity, Isa manages the Health and Safety protocol including being the First Aider during large community events and group expeditions.
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Beyond his professional endeavours, he extends his love for the outdoors to his wife and three children. His middle son is all about rock climbing, so Isa eagerly looks forward to the day when his son sprouts into belay partner status – serving as the cue for Isa to embrace a new outdoor hobby.Â
Duncan McNeill
Trainer
Duncan has spent more than a decade working as a Countryside Ranger and in land based industries. Having gained extensive experience in land management and outdoor education he worked his way to leading a small but effective ranger service. Duncan specialised in working with at risk groups, whether that be mental health support groups, children not engaged in mainstream education.
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In 2022 Duncan made a career change joining the Scottish Ambulance Service, training and supporting volunteers and supporting communities in building resilience. He made this change after a number of years as a volunteer responder himself attending 999 calls in remote communities.
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In his spare time Duncan is a keen walker and paddler and, when his knees hold up, a climber. He can often be found strolling the countryside with his dogs or exploring the landscapes or wildlife around him.
Adrian Clark
Trainer
Based in the East Midlands, Adrian has had varied work experience from working in the military and the security industry as well as in pre-hospital care as an EMT both for the NHS and private sector. He also volunteers as an Emergency Responder for the ambulance service.
He has taught a variety of first aid courses including basic first aid, equestrian and pre-hospital training.
Adrian has recently started APC Medical providing medical cover from small events to large venues such as the National Woodland Trust and other high-profile events such as equestrian and motor sports competitions.
In his spare time Adrian can be found out on his motorbike, in his allotment or generally relaxing after a hard day’s work.
Dave Crosbie
Trainer
Dave runs Tree-ditions where he teaches indigenous skills courses in Bushcraft and Survival, Green Woodworking, Wildlife Tracking and Outdoor Cooking.
He recently put these skills to good use during a 6 week canoe trip in the Canadian wilderness with Cory Jones, our Director!
Marc Boswell
Trainer
Marc has been teaching a range of first aid courses with the First Aid Training Co-operative for a few
years now and has recently completed his Mental Health First Aid and Advanced Outdoor First Aid
courses. He is a keen learner, currently studying for his NEBOSH (National Examination Board in
Occupational Safety and Health) general certificate.
Outside work, Marc has been involved with American Football for around 10 years which he says
tends to lead to a fair few first aid incidents! When he is not training or patching people up on the
football pitch, you can find him reading or playing Chess.
Ali Cameron
Trainer
Ali Cameron was the first trainer to complete our Trainee Induction Programme. As well as delivering first aid courses for the First Aid Training Co-operative, he is the founder and senior instructor at Cameron’s school of Martial Arts teaching Kempo Ju Jitsu & Tang Soo Do, running classes across northern Scotland.
Ali also does freelance work as an outdoor pursuits/activity leader and in the past has worked in the manufacturing industry, forestry industry, and as a self employed wood cutter!
If not working, you’ll find him hill walking or cycling most commonly.
Lesley Crumlish
Trainer
Lesley has worked for the NHS since 1987 as an Auxiliary, Student Nurse, Assistant Nurse and Health Care Assistant both in the General side and Psychiatry.
She started her medical training as a volunteer with the St Andrews Ambulance First Aid during her teens and was later a Combat Medical Technician (TA) with the Ambulance Train Group.
She continues to volunteer her first aid skills with various local Scout groups and with St Andrews First Aid.
Outside of work, she is a keen Scout Leader and is heavily involved in her local church. On top of that, she also plays in the brass band scene where she and her 3 adult children currently play in the same brass band. Â
Cameron Wood
Trainer
Cameron has worked as an Outdoor Instructor since 2012. He leads and instructs a variety of adventurous activities and holds a range of qualifications including Winter Mountain Leader and Rock-Climbing Instructor. He is currently working towards his Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor qualification. Â
Cameron has also worked as a student technician in the emergency prehospital care environment for the Scottish Ambulance service, meaning he brings hands on casualty experience. Â
When not working Cameron enjoys climbing, mountaineering and road cycling. Â
Rachel Richards
Trainer
Rachel works as a freelance Ecologist, with over three years of experience in the field and with a background in environmental education. Having spent five years in outdoor and environmental education, Rachel has a passion for teaching about the environment and spending time outdoors.Â
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Rachel also has experience working abroad in remote locations as part of wildlife conservation teams and has dealt with outdoor first aid incident management both in the UK and overseas.
Karen Yearsley
Trainer
Karen has been working in the Scottish outdoors for over 30 years. Having started as an outdoor instructor, she then worked as a Ranger as well as doing freelance outdoor learning training. Karen’s main focus now is forest school and forest kindergarten training and wildlife field surveying. She also has a working knowledge of the forestry sector, through practical woodland management / chainsaw work. Â
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In her spare time, Karen is a keen skier, paddler and cyclist, who is also to be found hiding behind rocks and trees looking for wildlife.
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Caroline Patterson
Trainer & Equestrian Sector Liaison – Scotland
Caroline is moving to Aberdeenshire in the near future from Highland Perthshire. She has over 20 years as a Paramedic for the Scottish Ambulance Service and has been a First Aid Instructor since 2018. Also teaching First Response Emergency Care (FREC) 3 & 4 courses.
She has worked with & owned horses for all her adult life, competing in eventing, dressage & showjumping. She has also been involved in starting & schooling young horses & re-starting ex-racehorses for general riding.
As well as being a BHS riding instructor & coach, she also is an Equine Sports Massage therapist & bodyworker.
At home, she has 3 horses (2 x-racers & a fat warmblood!) & 2 dogs (deer hound lurchers).
Hannah Turnbull
Trainer
Hannah is a qualified sports and health teacher and former lifeguard who also has a lifelong passion for horses. This began in early childhood, leading to a successful competitive career in British Showjumping.
She has trained and owned her Oldenburg mare since she was four years old, and together they have achieved national-level competition, regularly traveling the country to compete. This experience has not only honed her horsemanship skills but also instilled in her a deep understanding of equine health and well-being.
Based in the South of England,
Hannah is dedicated to empowering others with the knowledge and confidence to respond effectively in emergency situations.
Jo Maidment
Trainer & Equestrian Sector Liaison – England
Jo is a registered paediatric nurse, with over 25yrs experience working within the health and social care sector. In 2024 Jo made the decision to set up her own training and consultancy business and she continues to provide training for the health and social care sector.
Alongside this Jo is a committed equestrian and when not at work she divides her time between her 2 dogs Skip (a neurotic collie) and Chief (a goofy rottweiler) and riding round Yorkshire on her beloved horse Monty.
Combining her nursing background with her love of horses, Jo offers a full range of first aid courses including equestrian focused first aid training at various levels, from riders just wanting to know the basics to registered instructors who require a higher level in order to teach in their discipline.
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And our trusted freelance trainers:
Could This Be You?
Trainer
We’re always on the look out for potential new trainers. Check our page on Becoming a First Aid Trainer to find out more.
Ingrid Petrie
Trainer
Ingrid has worked in event first aid since 2015 and frequently provides cover at large events in the Glasgow area. She has previously worked with Disability Snowsports UK, first as a volunteer helper and then as a paid instructor. She has additionally spent some years coordinating English classes for asylum seekers and refugees, which gave her expertise in teaching people with mental and physical challenges and those with English as a second language. She now volunteers for the emergency services, frequently assisting those in mental health crises. In her spare time she very much enjoys growing tasty fruit and veg and going for long walks in the countryside to take care of her own mental health.
Paul MacFarlane
Trainer
Paul is part of the Public Health Scotland training team for Scottish Mental Health First Aid and continues to deliver SMHFA adult courses to a range of organisations and charities. Paul also advises organisations in the private and government sector on their Mental Health Training Strategies.
Working alongside Scottish Cycling, Paul has developed a unique form of therapy designed to improve people’s mental health and wellbeing using adventure sports as the motivator for positive change. Interest has been global and the course has had independent evaluation from Edinburgh Napier University evidencing positive results in participants health.Â
During his spare time Paul enjoys snowboarding, skiing, mountain biking and spending as much time as possible in the wilderness with his wife and 2 sons.Â
Marc Russell
Trainer
Based in Glasgow, Marc comes from a background in the private security industry, working as a door supervisor for 29 years. He has been a trainer for 8 years, delivering courses in security topics as well as first aid and mental health first aid courses.
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In his spare time, he is usually found outdoors with his family – or just with his dog! Marc is a keen cyclist and enjoys martial arts. He has recently started kayaking with his family and tries to get on the water as often as possible.
Could This Be You?
Trainer
We’re always on the look out for potential new trainers. Check our page on Becoming a First Aid Trainer to find out more.
Matt Bull
Trainer
Matt is an instructor in Pre Hospital Care, First Aid, Health and Safety as well as Mental Health. He has worked with a private school PE department for almost 14 years as well as Glasgow and Scotland rugby pathway groups.
Matt also works as a First Responder at many events which have included the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2018 European Championships.
While not working, Matt can often be found competing in Canicross events across UK and Europe for Scotland (whilst volunteering as a responder for the events in very remote areas, which has helped him enhance his skill set in pre hospital care). Matt has a keen interest in Health and Safety which helps prepare many risk assessments for large events and organisations.
Could This Be You?
Are you a first aid trainer with an established business who’s looking for a better way of working?
We are always on the look out for existing businesses to join the Co-operative.  We can provide all of the benefits of a larger organisation, while allowing you to retain your own business and clients.  Enjoy being a trainer again with other like minded and skilled trainers in our network.
Check out the information and download the document on the Join the Co-operative page, then get in touch to discuss your options.