Who We Are
Adventure Oban is a charity and is led by a volunteer board of directors from the local area. We come from a wide variety of backgrounds.
The Board are assisted by a selection of sub-groups. The sub-groups are led by a director from the Board and are made up of volunteers from the local area.
Find out more about who everyone is and why they’re interested in Adventure Oban by reading the profiles below:
The Team
Dave Bleazard
Chairman
Dave is a keen diver , kayaker and skier who moved to Oban 35 years ago and the outdoor opportunities in Argyll have kept him here since. He has taught many people in the area to kayak and dive over the years.
Dave owns and runs the outdoor shop Outside Edge and has been involved with many club committees and was on the board of Atlantis Leisure for 25 years.
Ben Sunderland
Company Secretary
Ben is a musician and film-maker, working all over the country via his Oban based company Forss Creative. Following university, work in the music industry took him throughout the world before returning to Oban. Being able to contribute to a project like Adventure Oban that gives back to the community he grew up in is a wonderful privilege. A keen boater, Ben loves any chance to get out on the water - rain or shine!
Jane Churchill
Treasurer
Jane is passionate about community development & social enterprise and has been working in the third sector in Scotland for 20 years. Jane is responsible for supporting and setting up many community-led projects and bringing in millions of pounds to the sector. Jane works with projects representing health, arts and the outdoors. Jane loves nothing more than swimming in the sea, being on her bike or away in her van on an adventure!
Isla McCulloch
Director
Isla works for the Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS), supporting community enterprises to set up, grow and raise finance, specialising in community buyout and community shares.
She loves surfing on the islands, sea swimming or SUPing in all seasons, biking round the bay and getting lost in the hills and woods around the town.
Neil Matheson
Director
Neil is a local businessman, having run a number of businesses throughout Argyll for more than 30 years. A passionate social entrepreneur, Neil is the current Chairman of Atlantis Leisure - having served as a founding Director since the organisation started over 27 years ago. Neil’s a very keen boater, cyclist and FitBit chaser!
Iwan Roberts
Director
Iwan is happiest when outdoors, whether hillwalking, skiing, mountain biking or kayaking. Basically, anything that involves mountains, water or moving fast! He has extensive experience working in management in the sport and leisure industry, he’s also the co-founder of Wee Walk Oban, and is passionate about the positive impact the great outdoors has on physical and mental health.
Christina Wood
Director
Christina is an active member of the North Argyll Trail Association and North Argyll Cycle Club and has been getting her hands dirty with Adventure Oban on all things mountain biking and exploring the potential for a purpose built trail centre in the area.
In her day job, she is a glacial geomorphologist with NatureScot and lives in North Connel with her family.
Laura Corbe
Director
Laura enjoys many adventure sports & activities on land & water, both above & below the surface. She is passionate about conservation & the natural environment believing that repairing our relationship with nature is key to our own happiness. Laura hopes to promote awareness & enjoyment of our beautifully situated town.
Emily Austin
Director
Emily Austin is a Non-Executive Board Member for NHS Highland and also works as a freelance consultant supporting charities, social enterprises and other small businesses across Scotland with their governance, strategy and finance.
Emily lives in Connel and is a keen runner, hiker and kayaker. She is a member of Oban Canoe Club and a regular volunteer and Race Director at our local parkrun, Ganavan Sands.
Our Projects
We run a whole bunch of different projects, Out and About in partnership with Atlantis Leisure, Active Routes to Schools, the North Argyll Trail Association, the Adventure Library and Oban Wildlife Club (go check out their pages through the site navigation)! As a community-led charity we are always open to new ideas and projects that meet our wider aims. If you would like to volunteer on any of our existing projects or have an idea for something new, just get in touch: hello@adventureoban.org
Out and About with Aidan Doherty
Aidan is our Community Development Co-ordinator on the Out and About project in partnership with Atlantis Leisure. His role is all about getting our community enjoying the outdoors through events and activities such as the Big Bike Weekend, Oban Wildlife Club and more!
Active Routes to Schools
Phil is our Active Travel Co-ordinator on the Active Routes to Schools project. His role encourages young people in and around Oban to commute to school more actively, and contributes to making the area a safer, more enjoyable place to walk and wheel.
Partners
Atlantis Leisure
Community-run and operated, Atlantis Leisure is Argyll’s premier health and leisure centre. Situated in the heart of Oban, Atlantis has operated as a highly successful social enterprise for over 27 years, gaining national acclaim for its innovative programs.
Wee Walk Oban
Born during 2020’s Lockdown, Wee Walk Oban is an initiative to get the people of Oban out and about, rediscovering favourite forgotten trails, sights and routes.
