Chris Minty
Chris Minty has spent most of his life living and working in some of the most remote parts of the World. There are few things that he enjoys more than being with a group of like-minded adventurers, preferably exploring the bio-diversity of some unspoilt place where their discoveries will help with its conservation. To date, Chris has been involved in over 30 expeditions - these have taken him around the world from the remote rainforests of Belize to the Three Gorges of China.
Following a spell in the British Forces, Chris left to pursue a career in science, starting by completing a Masters Degree in Natural Resource Management at the University of Edinburgh. His love of fieldwork was clear from the outset as he led and worked on a series of expeditions there whilst also heading up ‘Exped’ – the University’s Expedition Planning and Advisory Society. In this role he organised 5 Expedition Planning Symposiums attended by over 5000 delegates.
Not content with this, Chris then joined London’s Natural History Museum as the resident Research Station Manager at Las Cuevas in Belize. For 7 years Chris basically lived in the bush – either at the Station in its remote setting in the Chiquibul Forest or actually in the forests on expeditions. He has supported literally hundreds of science projects ranging from student study groups to the re-introduction into the wild of Harpy Eagles. He pioneered live-webcasts from the jungle and appeared in a National Geographic documentary. His outstanding achievements at Las Cuevas led to his being awarded the MBE in 2007 for services to the conservation of the Central American rainforest.
Chris loves travelling with people who share his three main enthusiasms: adventure, a greater understanding of the natural world and a few beers in the evening! He is one of our most experienced leaders, a great communicator and highly amusing companion.
When not leading our expeditions Chris now works at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh as Head of Project Management, where he remains closely involved in their overseas botanical collecting and research expeditions.