Ross Cloutier
Ross Cloutier is an internationally acclaimed risk management consultant in the adventure tourism and outdoor recreation industry. Ross works as a consultant to government, school districts, businesses, and law firms in the areas of legal liability, risk management, curriculum development, product development, and international adventure tourism development. He is a presenter at numerous symposiums and conferences around the world each year.

As a consultant, Ross has managed accident investigations, conducted program reviews for school boards, written strategic plans and operating standards for governments, and conducted post-accident investigations for government and law firms.

Ross has been involved in organizing climbing expeditions and adventures to 25 countries. He has first ascents in many of these countries. He was the climbing leader for the 1991 Canadian Everest Expedition on the North Ridge of Mount Everest in Tibet.

Ross has worked as a climbing and ski guide since 1978 and operated his own lodge-based helicopter ski tour business in the Monashee Mountains of British Columbia for many years. He was the Provincial Search and Rescue Training Coordinator for the Justice Institute of British Columbia between 1989 and 1992. He founded the Adventure Programs Department at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, British Columbia and has been the Chair or Co-Chair of  that Department since 1992.

Ross has studied Recreation Administration and Outdoor Pursuits, and has an MBA in International Business.

Ross is the author of dozens of publications, including the books The Business of Adventure: Developing an Adventure Tourism Business and Legal Liability and Risk Management in Adventure Tourism.

Gilles Valade

Gilles Valade is the Chair of the Adventure Programs Department and he Coordinator of the Adventure Diploma Program at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, BC.

Gilles instructs in the areas of adventure tourism business development, legal liability and risk management, adventure programming, commercial business development in parks and on Crown land, and insurance for adventure operations. Before coming to UCC, Gilles co-owned an insurance brokerage firm and had been a commercial insurance underwriter with major insurance companies.

Gilles is now involved in risk management and insurance consulting projects for private businesses as well as government and non-government organizations in the adventure and ecotourism sectors. He has experience in adventure guiding, business ownership and operations, and governmental tourism development. Gilles chairs the Wells Gray Provincial Park Public Advisory Committee and the British Columbia Post-secondary Adventure Tourism Articulation Committee.

Business Associates

Depending on your project's demands Pinnacle Risk and Insurance Consultants Inc. have an extensive network of highly qualified associates around the world who can assist. If a project requires the best in adventure industry attorneys, insurance or risk management consultants, or outdoor education curriculum designers―we know them. You can rely on getting the best expertise there for your project.