For our very first podcast interview I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to interview Geoff “Manch” Manchester, co-founder of Intrepid Group and Director of the company’s not-for-profit The Intrepid Foundation.
Globally recognised as a pioneer in responsible travel, Intrepid Group are the world’s largest provider of adventure travel experiences. Geoff and his best mate Darrell Wade founded Intrepid Travel in 1989 with a vision of creating small group adventures that travelled the local way, benefiting both travellers and the places that they visit.
More than a quarter of a century later, Intrepid Travel has grown to become Intrepid Group, a portfolio of specialist tour operators and 23 destination management companies taking over 400,000 travellers to more than 120 countries on all seven continents, and employing more than 2000 staff in 29 offices around the world.
As a former leader of Intrepid trips in Asia, Manch has firsthand experience of the issues effecting developing nations. His experience in marketing for Intrepid Travel has given him insight into the value placed on such issues by both clients and travel agents. Manch has ensured Intrepid delivers on its sustainable and responsible ethos as the company has grown rapidly over the past 27 years, from championing practical, on the ground decisions involving low impact travel, to setting and implementing company-wide responsible travel strategies.
In 2000, Intrepid Travel established the tourism industry’s first dedicated responsible business department, then in 2002 launched The Intrepid Foundation to enable travellers to give back to the communities they visit. Since its creation the not-for-profit has raised over $10 million for more than 70 conservation and community projects around the globe, supporting initiatives in environmental conservation, wildlife protection, human rights, health care, child welfare and gender equality.
Manch is especially proud of the connection that The Intrepid Foundation creates between their own local leaders and the projects that they support; they learn about the projects and community issues, and in turn are able to educate their travellers and inspire them to make a donation. Manch is an Ambassador for Conscious Capitalism Australia and is a regular speaker on sustainable business issues in Australia and around the world.
This interview offers some great insights to people in business who are curious about what a truly purposeful organisation looks like and the relationship between purpose and profit.
Please forgive my enthusiastic use of the words “I love...” throughout this interview. Appropriate, given the podcast theme, but I realise I may need to measure my genuine love for the actions of these businesses who are leading the way, so I don’t end up inspiring the eye-roll effect!! Bear with me as I develop my podcast interviewing skills please.
We cover a lot of ground in this interview and there are some great topics we get into. Some of these are highlighted below.
Here are the links I promised in the interview:
I really hope you enjoy this interview as much as I enjoyed having a yarn with Geoff.
For more information on Intrepid Group visit www.intrepidgroup.travel; for more information on The Intrepid Foundation visit www.theintrepidfoundation.org. For more on Geoff, you can find him on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoff-manchester-b953702/
E69 An Intrepid Special: Cultural Immersion in Australia’s Red Centre PART 2
E69 An Intrepid On Country Special: Cultural Immersion in Australia's Red Centre (Part 1)
Ep 68 Abigail Thomas: Sustainability is everyone’s job
Ep 67 Penelope Goodsall: There’s More to Good Wine
Ep 66 Saxon Wright: Mindful Consumption
Ep 65 Lisa Erhart: Funding HER business growth
Ep 64 Josh Kirkman: Deep Blue Opportunity
Ep 63 Geoff Wilson AO & Caroline Gurney: Building a better future for the next generation
Ep 62 Tim Stubbs: Starting Point
Ep 61 Paloma Rose Garcia: A Brush With Climate
Ep 60 Danielle Owen Whitford: Tackling Toxic Productivity
Ep 59 Desmond Campbell: Celebrating First Nations identity and cultural legacy
Ep 58 Aga Bajer: Belonging is a Verb
Ep 57 Georgia Windrum: Helping Australians build the future we all deserve
Ep 56 Neal Foard: The Power of Stories to Inspire The Best of Us
Ep 55 Sasha Titchkosky: The future of business is circular
Ep 54 Lucy Piper on building a green collar workforce
Ep 53 Sally Irwin on creating a world of freedom
Ep 52 Carolyn Butler-Madden on balancing Purpose & Profit
Ep 51 Heidi Dening on cultivating resilience in difficult times
Join Podbean Ads Marketplace and connect with engaged listeners.
Advertise Today
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Everyday Millionaire
Pure Hustle Podcast
Making Bank
The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway
People Magic: How to Build a $1M Community