About Me
Hi, I’m Mark Collard.
I’ve worked as a professional adventure educator for more than 24 years, and before that, was heavily involved as a volunteer leader of my local youth group and many youth camps.
I am probably best-known for my work in developing the business of Project Adventure in Australia, and as the author of the best-selling activity publication ‘No Props: Great Games with No Equipment’ first published in 1996 and then thoroughly expanded in 2005 to be sold worldwide. In 2008, my third activity book ‘Count Me In: Large Group Activities That Work’ was published in Australia and the USA.
On top of delivering an average of 120 days of adventure-based programs each year during the 1990′s, I lectured two ‘adventure programming’ subjects at Victoria University for seven years. Upon leaving Project Adventure Australia’s full-time employ in 2000, I enjoyed five seasons running a very large summer camp in North Carolina, USA. My name is listed on the ‘expert witness’ register of the Victorian County Court for litigations involving adventure activities.
Today, I am fortunate to be a part of an elite group of international facilitators who are engaged by Project Adventure Inc to design and deliver adventure programming workshops worldwide. To date, my work has taken me to almost every corner of Australia, and frequent trips to the United States, New Zealand, Taiwan and Japan.
Today, I am often engaged to design and deliver many high profile educational and professional development programs including:
- Mastering group facilitation workshops;
- Team development workshops;
- Independent facilitation of business meetings / conferences;
- Delivery of conference ice-breaker sessions; and
- Master of Ceremonies.
A Brief Background
In short, my purpose in life is to inspire and empower. I’m a people-person, and I love being a part of their growth.
I bring a natural warmth, energy and humour to everything I deliver, from introductory adventure-based training workshops to intensive team development programs.
I earned my Bachelor of Business (Accounting) degree in 1985 and completed my MBA in New York in 1987. After working as a management consultant for two years, I accepted a training internship with Project Adventure Inc in 1990, and returned in 1991 to establish the organisation in Australia. Over the course of the next 10 years, the business grew exponentially.
In addition to my writing projects, I have also enjoyed devleoping my voiceover skills (think radio commericals, audio books, and educational videos) and acting as the Master of Ceremonies for many weddings, trivia programs and conferences.
On a personal note, I have..
- Been struck by lightning twice (yes, twice!);
- Camped on the lawns of Australia’s Parliament House for 3 nights (as part of a anti-logging protest);
- Walked gingerly on a bed of nails (part of a crazy stunt);
- Never been able to back-up a car while towing a trainer;
- Been lucky enough to find six four-leafed clovers; and
- Estimated that I have spent the equivalent of approx 4 months of my life inside a steel tube hurtling through the air at 800kmh.
I live in a mud-brick home in the hills east of Melbourne with my gorgeous wife Gilly.
If you still want to know more about me, Mark Collard, visit www.markcollard.com.
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Who am I?
Hi, I'm Mark Collard.
This blog shares some of the most successful group games, team-building activities & programming tips I know.
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