The London-Sydney Charitable Trust

Resides : Greenhithe, North Shore City, Auckland, NZ
Tertiary: New Zealand Certificate in Engineering (Civil)
Passions: Motorsport, yachting, fishing, watersking.

Mark holds the position of Managing Director, Hick Bros Group of Companies based at their head office in Silverdale north of Auckland. The Hick Bros Group are a large privately owned group of companies specializing in all facets of major land development projects spreading the entire length of New Zealand.

When he's not at work, you'll find him either behind the wheel of a high performance racecar or on the high seas chasing game fish! Mark has an absolute passion for working hard and playing hard, especially when the play hard bit is in support of a worthy cause, his catch phrase of "its just good stuff" is what "The Ultimate Ride Expedition" is all about.

My role is mainly in the area of communications and navigation. Looking at ways for the riders, support crew and followers alike to communicate with each other 24/7 from anywhere in the world. Looking at technology to enable progress to be followed on the expedition web site, including live tracking of the jet skis and live video and picture feeds from the riders and support vessel, along with the more usual blogs and commentary. All of this made that much more difficult by the harsh maritime environment that the jet skis will operate in and the distance from land and the usual forms of communication that some of the route will take.

My background is in aviation where I am an international Pilot for Air New Zealand. In a previous life I spent a number of years working as an engineer in the computer industry, although I would have to say that technology certainly has moved on and a lot of learning is taking place!!

I’m a bit of a petrol head at heart and into all things fast and thrilling, on land or water. I am married with teenage daughters, a dog and the usual commitments but always like to be kept busy with challenging and rewarding projects.

A big part of my motivation to be involved in this expedition is the chance to be part of a team that actively promotes healthy living and cancer prevention plus the opportunity to help raise funds for cancer research. It is not often in ones’ life that an opportunity like this comes along so when they does it should be grasped with both hands and your feet should hit the floor running.

John was born in Scotland, at age 3 he moved to South Africa, 24 years later he moved to England where after spending 12 years, he made his final move to New Zealand where he has resided as a proud Kiwi for the last 5 years.

John has worked in the Construction Industry for the past 20 odd years, the last 5 years being spent with Westfield building Shopping Centers, ensuring they opened on time. The last being the $210 million Centre in Albany on the North Shore of Auckland.

When not spending every waking moment at work, John can be found enjoying himself on the end of a fishing rod, or in the middle of a well manicured landscape playing his version of golf. The Ultimate Ride is a wonderful opportunity to put something back and epitomises that great New Zealand virtue “No one else has ever tried this, so let us do it!!”