People
The Leap Local team is formed of a unique group of individuals and supporting organisations. We are privileged to have such a skilled team, all with a passion for enabling travel to benefit local communities, especially in lesser developed countries.
Dr Nicky Dee has been the driving force behind Leap Local since its inception. She co-founded Leap Local with Louise having both experienced the uneasy feeling that travel did not always benefit the locals, especially in lesser developed countries. She has a PhD from Cambridge University on Technology Management in Cleantech, and has been an active part of the high growth cluster in Cambridge. She was responsible for introducing business creation competitions to the University to stimulate environmental and social enterprises. She is passionate about enterprise as a means to introduce new solutions to global problems.
Louise Norton has a deep understanding of community and sustainable tourism and experience in entrepreneurship and environmental training. She has fluent Spanish and some Quechua and lives in Ollantaytambo, Cusco, Peru, where she owns and runs her hotel, Apu Lodge, using local guides to create tours for her guests. Previously Director of the Inka Porter Project, based in Cusco, Peru. Other previous experience includes researching a successful book on working conditions, Associate Producer for Revelator Pictures documentary "Sons of the Sun" on impact of tourism in Peru's Sacred Valley and project coordinator at Cambridge Entrepreneurship Centre.
Robert Norton is a graduate in Computer Science from the University of Cambridge, still living and working in Cambirdge. He is a keen traveller and would like to see developing countries benefit more from the influx of visitors, who often place a great social and environmental burden on the countries they visit. He is also passionate about computers and open source software. He is very pleased to be able to combine these two interests by assisting the work of Leap Local. He is mostly responsible for maintaining Leap's server infrastructure and also participates in improving the website.
Kirsten Koza is an adventure travel writer and the author of humorous travel book, "Lost in Moscow". Her articles and photographs have featured in travel magazines such as the award winning OUTPOST travel for real, and DreamScapes travel & lifestyle. Kirsten has finished her third misadventure travel book and also writes the "But Is It" column for Leap Local. CBC Radio Canada International says Kirsten "presents everything through a lens that's both compelling and naturally funny." But Kirsten's favourite quote about her makes her laugh: "Some writers are famous for writing love poetry---Pablo Neruda, for instance. Others, like Scott Adams, have managed to pin to the page the preposterousness of corporate America. Rohinton Mistry is known for his poignant portraits of Mumbai; Sir Arthur Conan Doyle changed the face of detective novels by creating Sherlock Holmes. But no one can describe an unfamiliar bathroom quite like Kirsten Koza." -- CBC's the Link and NewCanadian Magazine. To see Kirsten's photos and read her travel articles visit the "scoop & scandal" page of her website: www.kirstenkoza.com
Padmakshi Rana recently completed her PhD in corporate social responsibility from Cambridge University. She pursued a marketing career in Nepal, in the tourism sector, before coming to Cambridge, where her initial interest in sustainability (ecotourism) developed and has strengthened with the recent years of study in the area. She is working towards extending her insight into further understanding the practice and integration of sustainability in organisations. She holds an MPhil in Environment, Society and Development.
Technical advisor:
Michael Wells is the Managing Director of Third Light and is a highly regarded expert in internet management systems. He has specialist background knowledge in internet infrastructure and information systems management, Michael founded Third Light in 2002 to cater for the explosion of digital imaging. Prior to forming Third Light, Michael was Principal Consultant at Zeus Technology, where he designed and lead projects in the internet service provider (ISP) markets in the UK and America.
Plus support from:
The Design Office continue to support Leap Local. We used to have a frog in our logo, which was cute but as they pointed out, didn't tell people anything about us! The Design Office helped us re-brand (an on going process), and add the pizzazz to our marketing material. In addition they offer valuable advice on how to reach people with what we are doing.
Thirdlight are a software and internet services business based in Cambridge, UK. Their image library system has a highly acclaimed, easy-to-use web interface that is truly prized by our clients around the world. They provide Leap Local support such as free image library (from where we can launch a photo competition), hosting support, internet payment support etc.
Cambridge Humanitarian Centre are continuing support of Leap Local.