Erica studied Physical Education and Geography at Birmingham University where she was first introduced to outdoor activities and took part in a wilderness kayak expedition on the Salmon River in Idaho that was to influence the rest of her life choices and career.
She did a PGCE at Leeds and went on to work in a secondary school and gain a further diploma in Outdoor Education. She became involved with the Yorkshire Schools Exploring Society as a leader and on the committee, taking expeditions to the Grand Canyon, Ellesmere Island in the High Arctic and the Tall Ships Race in the Baltic Sea.
After 4 years of teaching in schools she moved to work as a senior instructor of outdoor education and went on to become Deputy Head and then Head of a large local authority centre for many years.
She took a year out to travel around the world, trekking, climbing, rafting, and adventuring in the Himalayas, New Zealand and other wild places.
Erica enjoys, and has taught, a wide range of outdoor activities. Initially, her main interests were mountaineering and kayaking but in more recent years she has specialised in skiing and sailing. She is an RYA Sailing Scheme Trainer and the RYA Training Principal of Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club. She ran a youth development squad and has been volunteering in sail training for many years. She has recently been awarded an RYA Lifetime Achievement Community Award.