Report Summary 2007: THE EXPEDITION TEAM

Our team included scouts, wildlife officers, young people for whom this was a career move, experienced field workers and adults on a first expedition experience. For some the priority was scientific success. Others were seeking challenge and adventure in this Central African wilderness, whilst making a useful contribution to wildlife conservation in this developing country. Below the leader and in no particular order, we describe the full team. We are very grateful to Quincy Connell, who took most of the portraits whilst on expedition. This can be a very challenging job, since not everyone is easy to photograph when pre-occupied with other things


C. Peter Overton BSc (Hons)

Project Director of Biosearch. Peter joined the Wye College Nyika Expedition (1972) to the northern extension of the Park (as it now is). He has long experience in project organisation and management in the UK , including nearly 30 years involvement with the wild game industry. For the British Trust for Ornithology, he co-ordinates a regional team of voluntary researchers, contributing to national records. "I believe we were very lucky to have brought together such an outstanding team in 2007 which has taken us a step forward in assisting the Department of National Parks and Wildlife in monitoring this exceptional area."

Marianne J. OVERTON BSc ( Hons) PGCE CBiol MIBiol FRGS

Marianne, our science co-ordinator, was raised in East and South Africa and enjoyed leading field research expeditions in the Amazonas, Kenya , Arctic Norway, Yukon , Queensland and a series of expeditions to Malawi with Biosearch Nyika. Each expedition involved a wide range of ecological surveys with various sized teams, the largest being 81 in the field! She is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and has twice been regional chairman for the Institute of Biology in the U.K.

Quincy Connell FSSDip FRGS MLC

Quincy led previous Biosearch teams but in 2007 took the role of photographer. He previously led expeditions to Iceland , Indonesia , India , Guyana , Thailand , Malaysia and Honduras . He has had considerable input into the training and design of expeditions through the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and the Young Explorers' Trust and he is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. Quincy spent twenty-one years as Scenes of Crime Officer with the Metropolitan Police, examining scenes for forensic evidence, preparing and presenting that evidence in courts of law. Recently he has added to his world travels by assisting with projects in Vietnam , Laos , China and Lapland .

ANDREW ALLEN

Andrew has recently graduated from Imperial College with a master of engineering. Being a British/Australian, born in Hong Kong and raised between Hong Kong and the U.K. Andrew has always had a passion for travel and adventure and, with an engineering/science background; expeditions seemed the perfect way to merge the two. He is now pursing further postgraduate studies at Sydney University, Australia.

KIT CLAYTON

Kit is currently a second year student at the University of Leicester studying Zoology. After university he hopes to take part in field research. This was his first expedition as well as the first camping trip and first time he has been outside Europe . "I found the whole experience to be very enjoyable and hope to return to Malawi soon."

FRED GLYN

Fred had just completed his second year at Imperial College , London , studying for a degree in Biology. He was one of the fittest members of the team, managing the steep climb up to the escarpment from the Mondwe Valley with relative ease.

JAMES HEBRON

James is currently a final year student at Nottingham Trent University , studying ecology and environmental management. His interest in science is more in the direct application in conservation and environmental protection as opposed to pure academia. He aims to become a secondary science teacher, with the hope of encouraging children to focus their minds to the increasing environmental problems facing this planet.

JAMES HERBERT

James is currently in his third year at Nottingham Trent University  studying BSc (Hons) Environmental Science for Business. This is his first trip to Malawi , mainly to study the African Ecology and Botany. He hopes to gain knowledge from identifying Malawi 's rare and secluded plant life, maybe even identifying new species along the way.      

VIKKI HILL

"I am 20 years old. I left school after completing my A-levels and decided to explore the world. I wanted to live in the bush and experience a different lifestyle. I would recommend it to anyone. One tip: leave your phones at home!"

HELEN HITCHCOCK BSc

Helen recently graduated from the University of Greenwich with a degree in Environmental Science and aims to work in this field. Helen lives in Kent and is on the committee of the Society of Young Freemen of the City of London .

AMANDA K. JONES BSc (Hons)

Amanda was born and raised in North Devon , and attended Nottingham Trent University to study Ecology and Environmental Management. Biosearch Nyika was the first expedition embarked upon, in which her main focus was poaching activity in the National Park. Hopefully there'll be many more expeditions to come!

SYDNEY KAUNDA

Sydney has wide experience in many skills, including as a carpenter, screen printer and tailor. He now works with Ray Murphy and has become accomplished as an entomologist, being able to identify a large range of species.

ADAM LEE BA (Hons)

Graduating in Media and Cultural studies, Adam has a love of photography and travel; with a wealth of trekking and climbing experience already, this expedition was an opportunity to combine them all with a conservation project.

LAURA MILLER BSc (Hons) Assistant Leader

Laura, from Northampton , graduated from Nottingham University with a 2(1) in Environmental Science. A fun loving wild child of the 90's, who likes everything pink, that decided to take a couple of gap years before going to university where I gained a 2:1 in Environmental Biology.  Travelling and living off the land are in my blood.  Malawi  brings out the best in me, hence this my third visit.

STEVEN MPHAMBA

Steven is a herbarium assistant at Zomba for the Forestry Research Institute of Malawi (FRIM). Since 2003 he has been collecting seed for the International Seed Bank and worked with the Darwin Initiative in Mo z ambique .

CHRIS NEAL

Chris, whose young heart is trapped inside an ageing body, was a valued member of the tough 2004 expedition, where he was a hit with both Malawians and students alike. He has a passion for politics and is blue to the core. A keen gardener, he has won many accolades for his skills, including second at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show. He loved everything about the expedition especially seeing so many animals.

MICHAEL OVERTON

Michael has been on eight expeditions to the Nyika National Park . He is especially interested in herpetology and would welcome the opportunity to work alongside a Malawian herpetologist when possible. He hopes 2008 will provide this chance. He is currently studying for exams in the UK , with Design being his strongest forte.

BILL RENWICK

Bill describes himself as an 'old codger', still learning. He certainly taught the team a lot during his month of study in the bush! He has a part time job with a large store overseeing security. Over his long career he has travelled far in difficult conditions. His ability to record practically everything was immensely valuable to the expedition. Being the first person out of bed in the morning to get the fire going might have gone unnoticed by some but made him an outstanding expeditioner.

Adam Rollitt

Adam is currently in his third year at the University of Lincoln studying Animal Behaviour Science. Combining interests in wildlife conservation and travel, the expedition provided precious memories and experience in coordinating and carrying out ecological fieldwork, survival skills and of life in general!

HILS STRICKLAND BA (Hons)

A Fine Art graduate of Kingston Polytechnic, who now lives and works in Bath , as a designer/illustrator. With a love of travel, outdoors and wildlife, "I thoroughly enjoyed the expedition experience!" Hilary was sponsored by the Percy Sladen Memorial Fund.

KATH THOMAS BA (Econ) Hons

Kath took a Geography and Sociology degree at Sheffield University and has taught in a number of primary and secondary schools throughout England and Wales . She has a keen interest in the physical world and in environmental issues and works, on a voluntary basis, for the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. Kath has visited Kenya and Nepal and has trekked in the Himalayas .

LEWIS MTUMBUKA Senior Parks and Wildlife Scout

Lewis worked on the Nyika (8yrs), Kasungu (7yrs), Nkhota kota (1yr), Kasungu (1½yrs) and Vwasa (8yrs), where he is currently working on wildlife monitoring using aerial and roadside counts and transect walks 2km apart. He is interested in using the Biosearch monitoring techniques in other areas. He has now accompanied our team on three consecutive years and has proved an invaluable source of experience.

DANIEL ZYGAMBO

Daniel is a Senior Parks and Wildlife Scout from Nchena Nchena, where he is responsible for education and extension. He supports Wildlife Club visits to the Park and law enforcement in the communities. He has spent 8 years in the Nyika NP where he is involved with bee keeping project support.

RICHARD NYIRENDA Parks and Wildlife Scout

This was Richard's seventh expedition with us. This is a remarkable achievement and shows great enthusiasm by him to join the teams. His interest in birds is of significant, since it is of great importance in his role of supporting visitors to the Park and elsewhere in Malawi , which is noted for its abundance of bird life. His intimate knowledge of the northern valleys was put to good use to take the "A team" to Uledi from Jalawi in the final week.

FASTON PHIRI

Faston is a Parks and Wildlife Assistant from Munga. He has been educating the local community on the importance of conservation. His introduction to the expedition was to join the 'midwinter team' to the Nganda region in our first week as a sub group. Quite a baptism of fire, which he came through very well!

ALFAYO KUMWELA

A Parks and Wildlife Assistant based in Mzuzu Conservation Area. He has been helping with the bee keeping project.

ADAMSON BANDA

Has spent four years at Chilinda and worked for four years as a scout. He helped man our base camp for a week when the whole team was away and walked much of the way from Chilinda to get there! We much appreciate the support he gave Daniel to avoid a very lonely week for him.

DONIOUS CHAYERA

Donious was our intrepid bus driver throughout the expedition. In common with his predecessors, he had no idea what it would be like living and camping on the high Nyika for three weeks. After much persuasion we got him to take a blanket but it was not long before a second one was required. He came through his challenge well and managed to keep smiling.

Summary Report 2007

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