The Climbers

Mark Spall

Introduce yourself

I’m Mark Spall. I head up digital and social media at Global Ethics. I am responsible for strategy and day-to-day communication with our social communities. You may already know me as the voice behind One Difference on our Facebook community. Feel free to read my blog, most of the entries are One Big Climb related. 

Why did you take up the challenge?

For me, life is about growth, and we grow when we are faced with mental and physical challenges. I'm not doing this because I’m naturally athletic or have an iron will – quite the opposite actually. I'm doing it because it scares me and I know I'll be a physically and mentally healthier person when I complete it.

What are you most looking forward to?

The journey: And really that started for me when we had our first call with Kenny Wallace, our trainer, in June. As far as I am concerned the One Big Climb has already started. That said, I am really looking forward to being fit and lean at the end of this. That will make it all worthwhile for me.

Why do you love One and Global Ethics?

One is such a unique, fun and life changing business. Our aim is to make it easy for everyone to make a difference to those that need it most. I feel fortunate to work for one of the best companies ever. We are honest and transparent about who we are, we work hard at our cause and we have a lot of fun too. My colleagues, our partners and our community members make a great family. I feel part of something truly special.

Gerard O'sullivan

Introduce yourself

I’m Gerard O’Sullivan. I work in the Global Ethics Investments team, bringing new sustainable commercial propositions and products to the FMCG marketplace, that will raise profitable funds and positively impact lives in Africa.

My role is to bring these new opportunities/ideas from ‘Concept to Market’ working with partners, suppliers and new customers.

Why did you take up the challenge?

I wanted to see if I could impact the lives of people in Africa by doing a sport that I am passionate about.

Most looking forward to ?

• Working as a team to complete the trek
• Doing Humanitarian work on the trek
• Meeting People
• The journey of self-discovery that the training, preparation and completion will bring

Why do you love One and Global Ethics?

I love business, and to see One and The One Foundation executing sustainable, commercially viable business and using the profits as a force for good, is massively rewarding and enlightening to me.

Duncan Goose

Introduce yourself

My name is Duncan Goose and I'm the founder of Global Ethics and the One brand, which I started having discovered some of the issues the world faces whilst on a two year motorcycle odyssey around the world.

Why did you take up the challenge?

I'm never going to be a marathon runner, let alone a 10k, or even a 5k runner, but when the chance came to hike up one of the most revered mountains in the world to raise money for humanitarian projects supported by The One Foundation, I could hardly decline. For me, this is my marathon. And I look forward to, and dread it, in equal measures. Especially today as the reality of walking up to over 5,000 meters for around 8 to 10 hours a day has hit home as I pushed my 5 month old daughter around the countryside whilst breaking in some new boots.......it's a long way up. One Big Climb - it couldn't be more appropriately named - well, apart from adding 'long and exhausting' into the title.

Most looking forward to ?

Getting to the camp. I'll be thinking of my Dad who would have loved to have come with me and for two friends who loved to climb, but passed away before they could realise their ambitions. I suspect I'll be a bit emotional when I get there, but it will be amazing to be there with the team.

Why do you love One and Global Ethics?

I love One. I love what it does. I love the fact that we've changed over a million lives in the last 5 years. I love the fact that people can support our work in the simplest of ways - just by buying everyday items like bottled water, loo roll or soap. I love the fact that One is everyone's legacy and that people are proud of being part of our world. I love the fact that we change lives every day, even if it's only one person, one day at a time.

Matt Cooper

Introduce Yourself

I’m Matt Cooper and I run Global Ethics Investments (GEI). GEI acts as the licensing, partnership and investment arm of Global Ethics and funds the development of new projects within the group. I love cricket, am a very bad skier, and have just bought a kitten, which my wife has named Julian.

Why did you take up the challenge?

During a company training day the topic of ‘goals in life’ came up. I mentioned that I had always wanted to hike up to Everest base camp in Nepal. It appears some of my colleagues at One had the same thought! The idea for One Big Climb was born and, having got some great partners on board in Exodus and BT, we are now all set for the huge challenge ahead. The fact we are also raising money for The One Foundation and the millions of people it supports will give me that extra motivation when the legs start to really hurt!

What are you most looking forward to?

The challenge of preparing for and completing the climb. Experiencing Nepal and taking some time to work in communities on the way up. The breathtaking views and the sheer scale of the Himalayas. The sense of personal pride and the collective pride of the team on getting up to base camp and all 5555m of Kala Pattar. (And let’s not forget the cold beers we can share once we have done it!)

Why do you love One and Global Ethics?

I love the fact I work with an amazing team of people who are focused on being commercially successful in order to change lives in some of the poorest places on earth. I love the way our partners, clients, retailers and supporters do everything they can to help One become the best ethical brand in the UK, and every other region we operate in.

As my grandfather always says, ‘’Aren’t we lucky to be us’’

Paul Robinson

Introduce Yourself

I’m Paul Robinson and I’m the jack of all trades… Trustee of the One Foundation, a Director of Global Ethics, and Chairman and Founder of Alquity. Alquity is the fund management partner for the One Foundation, that offers investors investment funds giving them their full commercial returns, but donating a large proportion of it’s fees to create jobs through microfinance.

I’m a serial entrepreneur with a passion for adventure. At 27 I abandoned a city career and spent a couple of years travelling the more exciting parts of the globe including a long stint crossing Africa, after which I spent most of the last 12 years living in Hong Kong, which gave me a love of mountains. I’ve rafted in Nepal under the Annapurnas, and flew by base camp last year whilst returning from playing in the World Elephant Polo Championships.

In the last year I’ve moved back to the UK and can currently be found living on a boat in Putney.

Why did you take up the challenge?

Dunc sent me a text telling me I had to!! Seriously, I was in Oz working on One down there when the infamous meeting occurred and Dunc knew I’d want to do it so texted me the rough details and I just said yes. I love mountains, I love a challenge and I love the team who are going. I’ve been getting a bit unfit since getting back to the UK, so the whole exercise program will be a good kick up the a**e to get rid of the flab!

What are you most looking forward to?

Throwing the iphone in the draw for two weeks and getting back to the real world! Cannot wait for the calm and relaxation of a world without constant communications. The chance to spend time meeting villagers along the way and sharing in their simple but beautiful daily lives, and being able to do something to help them where they need a little help.

Why do you love One and Global Ethics?

Because it’s the coolest business in the world… in fact it is a business model that can change the world. I love business for the challenge. I’m just more interested in winning the ‘game’ than the money, and I really want to give something back to those who start life with less opportunity. We get to run a commercial business with all the challenges that entails, but the outcome is not profits, it’s lives changed. How cool is that! I love the fact that everyone we work with, internally and externally, is really passionate about what we do and feels privileged to be involved… what’s not to love!