Meet our current staff and volunteer team
Our Interns
L to R: Ellen, Jess, Kate
Ellen Waara-Ankarstrand (Sweden) : Programme Intern
Jess Baxter-Jones (Canada) : Guest Services Intern
I was born in Aberdeen, Scotland and moved to Saskatoon, Canada when I was five years old. I have been a Girl Guide for 18 years. This is my first time at Our Chalet and my first time in Switzerland.
Kate Pickup (UK) : Marketing and Communications Intern
Hi, I’m Kate and I’m from Manchester in the UK. I’ve been in Guiding since I was five years old. I first visited Chalet when I was 15 with my family and have been itching to come back ever since. I was an Autumn volunteer last season and loved it so much that I came back again, this time as the Marketing and Communications Intern! I’m really excited to learn new skills and try new things but I’m even more excited for a snowy Christmas in the Swiss Alps.
Our Chalet Assistants
L to R: Michaela, Marika, Lexie
Michaela Attfield (UK)
Hi, I’m Michaela and I am from the UK. I have been in Girlguiding for about 14 years. This is my first time visiting Our Chalet and I am looking forward to learning more about Guiding in an international setting.
Marika Vaasvainio (Finland)
I am Marika from Finland. I have been a scout since I was five years old. This is my first time at Our Chalet and second in Switzerland. I’m excited to meet new friends from all over the world.
Lexie Massie (UK)
I am Lexie from the UK and I’m at Our Chalet for the Winter Season. I’m really excited to spend the winter here and see all the snow! I visited Our Chalet in 2017 for just 30 minutes so am looking forward to spending a bit more time here. I have just finished university so decided to do a season here before starting work in a few months. I’m really looking forward to all of the new experiences and meeting people from all around the world.
Our Management Team
Rita and Tanya
Rita Kimmet (UK) : Deputy World Centre Manager - Operations
Hi, my name is Rita and I have moved here from London to take up this position. I first volunteered at Our Chalet in 2016 on Ready Steady Go which is a week of getting Our Chalet Ready for the visitors, lots of cleaning and maintenance work. I met a fantastic group of women all doing the same thing and they are still friends now. It was a truly international group and we even had time off and were able to go on hikes to the woodcarvers and up Engstligenalp. I also came as a guest for the New Year’s Celebration at the end of 2016 and became even more attached to Our Chalet. So earlier this year when I was made redundant and was thinking of retiring I saw this position advertised! I thought why not! So I applied and was lucky enough to get the job. I am really looking forward to this adventure in one of my favourite places on the planet (and I have been to many places). Come and visit us and see for yourself!
Tanya Tulloch (USA) : World Centre Manager
I have been at Chalet since 2013, arriving from Beaverton, Oregon where I worked for Columbia River Girl Scout Council for 12 years as a manager. As a Girl Scout growing up in Kentucky I liked to participate in adventure activities like rappelling, hiking and camping. I have fallen in love with snow sports during my adult life in the Cascade Mountains.
The idea of reaching the mission of WAGGGS through the outdoor adventure and leadership experiences is what draws me to Our Chalet. My background is in camp management, volunteer development and strategic planning. I am proud to call Adelboden and the mountains of Switzerland home and look forward to sharing them with you.
Ray Davis (UK) : Deputy World Centre Manager - Programme
Long Term Staff
L to R: Rosie, Adrian, Chiara
Rosie Greaves (UK) : Guest Services Coordinator
Hi I'm Rosie and I'm from from Cambridgeshire in the UK. In 2010 I was a Spring Volunteer here at Our Chalet. Since then, I have mostly been working in France, but have managed to make regular return visits. Now I'm very excited to be back in the Swiss Alps. I have been involved in Guiding since I was five. I continue to help out at my local Rainbow, Brownie and Guide meetings and events during my flying visits to the UK. In my free time, I enjoy horse riding and hiking, exploring new hiking routes as well as re-visiting my old favourites. In the winter I like to play in the snow and try to ski. I also enjoy exploring new cities and countries, trying new food and hopefully learning some of the local language along the way.
Adrian Topic (Slovenia) : Grounds and Maintenance Assistant
My name is Adrian and I come from Slovenia. Before working at Our Chalet I worked as a professional truck driver. I have always loved nature and the outdoors ever since I was a child, especially the forest. I was also a volunteer fire fighter over 15 years. I enjoy working at Our Chalet and discovering new things about the Swiss Alps every day.
Chiara Bartolucci (Italy) : Programme Coordinator
Ciao, my name is Chiara and I come from a lovely medieval Italian town called Viterbo. I have been committed to Scouting and Guiding since the age of 6 and still am, because I believe in the positive changes Scouting and Guiding bring in people’s lives and in the changes people could in their turn bring to their communities.
What brought me to Chalet is eagerness to be part of a team able to provide to all those who will come to experience Our Chalet and its challenges, the opportunity to discover more about themselves and WAGGGS mission, as well as how to be more engaged in it.
I am a passionate being always up for new adventures and discoveries, trying out new things and learning something new from other people. From hiking an over 3.000 m Alp to a chill board game night; I love them all!
Karin Josi-Pieren (Switzerland) : Bookkeeper
Grüessech (Hello)! I am Karin, the bookkeeper. I grew up in Adelboden and now live with my family here in the beautiful, refreshing Swiss Alps. I chose to work for Our Chalet because it's very lively and challenging. I am pleased to welcome you to Our Chalet and my home village. Have a nice stay!
Skippy Storrow (Switzerland) : Mouse catcher
Skippy is from Adelboden in the canton of Bern, Switzerland. Her Scouting experience is vast. She has spent much of her time at Our Chalet and is currently our longest serving staff member.
She loves to explore the grass, eat bugs and mice and protect the grounds from possible predators like marmots and slugs. In her free time she enjoys sleeping in the sunshine or a cardboard box on someone's desk.
Meow.