Rachel Colenso

South African-born Rachel Colenso is one of the most extraordinary female adventurers in the world and was a 'Super Human' in the recent Channel 4 television series. She is one of only four women on earth to have completed the rigorous SAS selection process. In addition, she is an internationally acclaimed mountaineer and rock climber who organizes and leads expeditions across the world. Rachel conceived of the all female "Girls Go Guyana" expedition in 2003, in a bid to push the boundaries of modern female exploration, promote Eco Tourism and sustainable development. In January 2006 Girls Go Guyana team successfully completed their mission, becoming the first westerners to complete the exploration of an ancestral trail through remote jungle in Guyana. The women became the first people to summit an unclimbed jungle mountain in the Kanuku Range, and open a new route up the North Western face of Schomberg's Peak, with the help of traditional Amerindians Indian hunters from the Macushi tribe. The team continue to support The Prince's Trust Women Working Campaign, which aims to link successful women in business, with those who have started with difficulties in life.

Immediately after Guyana, in February 2006 Rachel was a member of the winning team in The 2006 Belize Challenge, a multi-discipline, multiday, extreme challenge, ending in a three day survival phase, (living on worms and palm nuts) followed by a full, jungle marathon. In a very tough race, Rachel lost lots of weight, gained large blisters, and further insight into successful strategies for succeeding as a team!

Rachel's physique and prowess has secured her roles in many television programmes and films for sport, adventure, stuntwork, and advertising campaigns.

Rachel represented Great Britain in the Eco Challenge 2000, the zenith of all adventure races that draws the best explorers and adventure racers from around the globe. Rachel was the South African National Climbing Champion for 1992, 1993, and 1994.

She was a competitor in Channel 4's Superhuman programme aired in April 2004. The programme identified the most intelligent, fearless and attractive people in Britain! A unique once-in-a-lifetime scientific competition, the participants required the reactions of a fighter pilot, the physical stamina of a marathon runner and the emotional intelligence of a hostage negotiator! Rachel was tested to the absolute boundaries of human ability across 15 mental, physical, psychological, creative and social functions!

As someone who really does walk the talk, other recent projects have included an Everest Expedition in 2003 in which she was part of the support team that helped Glenn Shaw set a new altitude record for a paraplegic climber. Glenn has suffered from birth with 'Brittle Bone Disease', a simple fall could cripple him for life or kill him outright. The aim of the expedition was for the team to assist Glenn in achieving his ambition of climbing to Base Camp situated at 5500m (18,000ft) on the North Face of Mount Everest in Tibet.

In August 2004 Rachel was at the Yosemite National Park, where she climbed the highest vertical granite face in the world, "The Nose" on El Capitan. The ascent took five days during which time Rachel and her team slept like bats, hanging from harnesses on the sheer rock wall. The rock face is almost a mile high of vertical desert and meant the team had to haul up five days of water and supplies with them!

Rachel has an impressive list of clients who have endorsed her public speaking, as well as her adventurous expeditions to promote eco tourism and sustainable development. Rachel is well informed and articulate, having run her own business alongside competing at international level in extreme sports events. She has led numerous expeditions to jungle, desert and snowy regions around the globe.

In October 2003 Rachel hit world headlines when she was stranded on a sheer face at 3000m during an extreme blizzard in the Swiss Alps. After two nights on a tiny ledge with 1000 metre drops each side she was evacuated by helicopter. Her inspiring book, 'In a High and Desperate Place' also provides useful information for business or life on how to survive and succeed in times of extreme adversity.

Her account of this experience has people on the edges of their seats, and thinking for a long time afterwards about how they can deal with situations in their own lives.

Rachel's background of guiding in mountains and jungle environments enables her to be at ease talking to corporate audiences, at charity and celebratory functions and to school children alike. One of her greatest achievements must be in making people aware of what can be accomplished despite unforeseen events, or plans that don't run smoothly.
Rachel inspires her business audiences to excel despite tight deadlines and demanding situations. Her humorous insight into how teams and leaders operate under stress is a popular after dinner and keynote

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