Who we are
Experience, excellence & engagement define our team.
Colin French
Managing Director
Colin brings with him a wealth of experience in regional and global marketing for Fortune 100 companies. He co-established Journey Development Programs and Kinglake Forest Adventures Camp in 2005 and remarkably rebuilt it after the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.
🎯 Steering us toward outcome goals every single day
Maddy Bennet
Operations Manager
With teaching qualifications in Outdoor Recreation and real-life experience as a world traveller, Maddy Bennet is our go-to person for creating engaging learning environments. As Experience Manager at JDP, she masters the arts of communication, cross-team collaboration, and creative problem-solving. Prior to this role, Maddy has been a Group Leader at World Challenge Expeditions and has led expeditions for leading schools.
🎯 Young and sharp, sharp as!
Steve Hamilton
Senior Facilitator
Stephen is a highly motivated facilitation professional with extensive experience in mentoring and training staff in delivering high quality programs to clients. He has an exceptional ability to build and strengthen positive relationships with clients and was previously CEO, and owner, of Wild, Australia’s Wilderness Adventure Magazine and Rock, Australia’s Climbing Magazine.
He headed up Australian Camps Association Membership & Preferred Supplier procurement division and is also an accomplished climber and outdoor professional. Stephen established over 500 first ascents rock-climbing in Australia. He has also climbed major peaks in Europe, Northern Africa, North America and New Zealand.
🎯 Provider of Dad Jokes and Wisdom
Acacia McLaren
Experience Manager
Dedicated to ensuring the promises we make to clients make it all the way through to reality.
🎯 Young, quiet but super effective
Michelle French
Managing Director
Michelle along with Colin has been an integral part of KFA in the 19 years they have had the camp. Though she is still definitely 'camp mum' to all the crew, her day to day responsibilities mostly revolve around the 'Forest weddings' business.
🎯 Being surrounded by love is pretty much a daily requirement!
