Introducing Our New Chief Instructor, Heather Morning
This month Heather Morning has joined us at Glenmore Lodge as our new Chief Instructor. Highly skilled and experienced, Heather has forged a career for herself in the outdoor adventure industry. We took the opportunity of International Women’s Day to sit down with her and learn a bit about her journey to where she is today.
Heather grew up in rural North Yorkshire and credits her love for the outdoors to her parents who were keen hillwalkers. Her Dad constructed a home-made seat and attached it to an old rucksack frame, so her first mountain adventures began before she could even walk.
As was typical for many women, her schooling and working life started very traditionally – her school years were spent training to be a typist, and once she completed her studies Heather began working in an office.
It was whilst working in her first office job that she was introduced to the Mountain Leader scheme whilst volunteering with a youth club, and from that point began her pursuit of a career in the outdoors.
Heather was undeterred by the male-dominated character of the sector and attributes her success and that of other women forging similar paths to her own at the time to the strength of their characters.
She highlighted character traits as the key to thriving in the challenging situations presented by a career in the outdoors.
Over the course of her career, Heather notes that changes in how wider society regards gender imbalances and inclusion have been dramatic. Today, women enjoy outdoor adventure to the same extent as men, but this parity of participation is not yet reflected in the gender balance of those striving to gain leadership qualifications.
Some women underestimate their skills or don’t have as much confidence in their capabilities as they ought to. Women-specific courses provide a potential opportunity to learn and build experience in a group of like-minded individuals and under the guidance of accomplished female instructors.
Seeing role models in leadership positions can only encourage other females to consider a career in the outdoors.
We’re thrilled to have Heather here at Glenmore Lodge and look forward to learning from and being influenced by her wealth of experience.