Our Founders

Adrian Kowal
Adrian Kowal

Adrian Kowal

Adrian is wellbeing expert, social entrepreneur and community builder. Adrian himself pines for a healthy mix between adventure (doing) and slowing down (being), both of which he brings into the retreats and expeditions that he runs. Adrian deeply enjoys supporting the balance in people’s personal holistic well-being, working with men’s groups and also guiding adventures and expeditions. When not out in the wild, Adrian is the co-founder of Evolve—a centre of yoga and well-being in Central London, and also a co-founder of an alternative school in Tuscany. He works on a host of other businesses and projects that involve being of service, supporting the emergence of a better world for our grandchildren’s grandchildren and having a great deal of fun and connection along the way.

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Max Girardeau

Max Girardeau

Max has a wealth of experience in character education, supporting schools to develop transformative educational programmes using nature-based learning experiences in Snowdonia, the Lake District and Scottish Highlands. He is a qualified Mountain Leader and runs the Forest Family Camp every year, helping families with young children to connect with nature, and explore sustainable and collaborative community living. He has a background in youth work, working with the National Citizen Service, and has trained in wilderness rites of passage with the School of Lost Borders. In his spare time, you’ll find him climbing on rocks, playing in the snow, mountaineering, cooking, camping or dancing.

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Nikki Levitan

Nikki Levitan

Nikki’s passion is youth work and community organising, creating spaces for young people to self discover. At the heart of what she does is creating leaders in others and helping them spot their greatness. Nikki has worked for over 20 years with young people in both formal and informal settings. She is a professional coach and a wellbeing practitioner in a secondary school, supporting students and staff to make the wellbeing of each person a priority. Nikki’s dedicated work with young people focuses on their life skills, teaching emotional wellbeing, leadership and positive psychology. She is an expert in creating safe, non-judgemental spaces, working with people to identify and understand their driving values and their strengths. Then build on their purpose and action this into their schools, personal lives and communities.

We are very proud of all the amazing individuals that work so hard to bring the magic to the programmes we offer. They are what makes The Visionaries a transformative, joyful and enriching organisation to partner with. Our highly qualified team of facilitators are experts in education, wellbeing, leadership, coaching, nature connection and rites of passage. Many have been teachers themselves. All are highly qualified and driven to make a positive contribution to the lives of young people and their entourage. We know you’ll love them as much as we do!

All our staff are DBS checked, and take part in regular personal and professional development to ensure our programmes meet our high safety and quality standards.

Advisors & Partners