Owen grew up in Edinburgh, where he regularly escaped into the hills for walking, skiing, camping, and birdwatching with family and friends.
He discovered climbing while studying Zoology at Aberdeen University, graduating in 1988 with a 2:1 degree and going on to climb 8A+ sport, grade VII winter, 7C+ boulder and, on-sighting several E7s (including The Bells, The Clown, Conan the Librarian and other Gogarth classics).
In 1989 Owen moved to North Wales to complete a PGCE in Outdoor Education (with Biology) and began his professional career teaching outdoor education in 1990. A further year spent surfing and climbing in Europe and South America in 94/95 was followed by a short period of freelance work in North Wales, then roles in various local authority outdoor education centres in South and North Wales as teacher, deputy head and ultimately head.
Along the way Owen gained Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor, British Canoe Union Level 4 (advanced water) Inland and Sea Kayak Coach, Level 3 (moderate water) Open Canoe Coach, Vertical Cave and Mine Leader, and Mountain Bike Leader qualifications. From 2015 to 2020, Owen served as the AALS Senior Inspector for Wales.
He has held significant leadership roles within the sector, including Chair of Mountain Training Cymru, Mountain Training UK, and the Outdoor Education Advisers’ Panel (OEAP) Cymru, and was a member of the OEAP Educational Visits Coordinator, Visit Leader, Outdoor Learning Cards, and National Guidance for Educational Visits training/writing groups.
Owen lives with his family in North Wales, where he continues to enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities, currently focussing on bouldering, wingfoiling, and ski touring. An active new router, Owen is part of the guidebook writing group for winter climbing and bouldering in North Wales.
