Andrew holds qualifications in South Africa and Australia as an Outdoor Recreation Instructor and qualified Mountain Guide and Instructor,  and has been teaching navigation since 1992.

He has represented South Africa on the World Mountaineering Federations (UIAA) International Training Standards Commission for ten years and  administered the South African Mountaineering Development & Training Trust. He is a qualified Wilderness EMT.

He is a qualified Occupationally Directed Education & Training Facilitator and has been intimately involved in the development of Adventure based qualifications particularly with regard the quality management of adventure qualifications. Owner of Adventure Qualifications Network, he was instrumental in the development of National Vocational qualifications for the adventure industry in South Africa, but also worked closely with Australia where he attained the Cert IV in Outdoor Recreation Instruction, with remote and difficult navigation in his endorsements.

Currently resident in the UK, he has with his wife, Michelle, travelled to many areas of the world gaining information and skills for this book. A keen adventurer, Andrew has participated in mountaineering, skydiving and scuba diving.