Graham French

Graham is a senior lecturer in education and deputy head of the School of Education at Bangor University, where he also leads on sustainability for the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. His teaching and research centre on outdoor and adventure education, with a particular interest in how it supports learning and personal development.

He first began working in residential outdoor education centres while studying at Bangor, later instructing across a range of local authority and independent centres in the UK, alongside expedition work in Europe, North America and Africa. After completing a PGCE in Outdoor Activities and Science, Graham taught in secondary schools and colleges across North Wales, London, the Midlands and Chester, holding roles from head of faculty to senior leadership.

Since returning to Bangor in 2013, Graham has led postgraduate programmes in outdoor education and completed a PhD in the field focused on Adventure education pedagogy. He is a Leading practitioner and active member of the Institute for Outdoor Learning, chair of IOL Cymru and AHOEC in Wales, and Vice chair of the Wales Council for Outdoor Learning. He chairs the Outdoor Partnership stakeholder group for North Wales, is non-executive chair of Eryri Actif and vice chair of trustees of the Christian Mountain Centre.

Alongside governance, Graham continues to support the sector as a technical advisor, coach educator and first aid trainer, and sits on the editorial board of the Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning.