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Who we are

The Wanderlust Team

Editorial

George Kipouros

George Kipouros

Editor-in-Chief & CEO

George Kipouros

George Kipouros

Editor-in-Chief & CEO

George is a serial entrepreneur with experience in the travel, media and technology sectors. He previously co-founded AI Business which grew to become the global leader in AI media, exhibitions, and research space with a multi-million-dollar global presence. When his business was successfully acquired by a large multinational, George started to pursue his life-long dream of sharing his passion for travel.

Travel as George’s raison d’être came home to Wanderlust, the oldest independent travel magazine in Europe. Since 2020, George has led the editorial direction of the organisation alongside driving a comprehensive transformation and expansion of the brand’s global footprint. George has invested heavily in the digital side of the business and launched the Wanderlust MetaTravel proposition, a global first in the world of travel media. Wanderlust is now the most-read UK travel magazine with the highest average circulation across and print and digital, and continues to pioneer coverage of authentic, responsible and sustainable travel.

Lyn Hughes

Wanderlust Founding Editor

Lyn Hughes

Wanderlust Founding Editor

In 1992, Lyn Hughes and her late husband, Paul Morrison, were bored on a flight to South America and so schemed out their dream travel magazine on the back of a sickbag. The idea stuck and, returning to the UK a few months later, they launched Wanderlust magazine from their spare bedroom.

The magazine gradually grew through word of mouth, and went on to win numerous awards. In time the company grew across channels into Wanderlust Travel Media.

A Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, Lyn is still an award-winning writer and editor in her own right, regularly appears on lists of Top UK Travel Journalists/Influencers, and is in demand as a speaker, host and moderator. The Times lauded Lyn as one of the “50 Most Influential People in Travel.” In 2014, Lyn was awarded one of the ‘Top 60 Most Influential Women in Travel in the Last 60 Years’ by the AWTE. In 2020 she was given an Outstanding Achievement Award by Travmedia with host John Humphreys saying “Her influence goes far beyond the magazine. She embodies the brand. She is a legend in travel.”

Lyn strongly believes in tourism as a force for good, benefiting local communities, wildlife and the natural world. During the course of Lyn’s own travels she has been attacked in the night by soldier ants in Africa, spent the night in a sailor’s bar in the Azores, and been chased over a barbed-wire-topped six ft-bank by an angry Irish bull.

Her passions include wildlife, wilderness and wine. Her idea of hell would be a week on a crowded beach.

Gareth Clark

Associate Editor

Gareth Clark

Associate Editor

Since venturing cautiously from his native North-East England, Gareth has worked in publishing across the Middle East, Asia and Europe. After editing Time Out magazines in Beijing and Abu Dhabi, he returned to the UK, via Brussels, Kalamata and Ljubljana, to work for Wanderlust and continues to write guidebooks to everywhere from Luxembourg, China  and Malta to Greece and his one true love, Belgium, where he can frequently be found hammering down a mitraillette in the grounds of Parc du Cinquantenaire.

Jacqui Agate

North America Editor

Jacqui Agate

North America Editor

Jacqui is an award-winning journalist and US travel specialist. She joined the Wanderlust team as our North America Editor in 2024.

Rosie Fitzgerald

Special Features Managing Editor

Rosie Fitzgerald

Special Features Managing Editor

Rosie is the Special Features Editor for Wanderlust, working on commercial projects in print and online.

When she’s not at work, Rosie loves seeking out cultural and historical adventures in sunny places. Rosie’s travel highlights include exploring the temples of Luang Prabang in Laos, visiting the Angkor Wat complex in Cambodia and snorkelling in the coral-reef filled waters surrounding the tiny island of Koh Lipe in Thailand.

Laura Field

Regional Editor

Laura Field

Regional Editor

Previously a freelance travel writer living in Latin America, Laura is a keen linguist who’s fluent in French and Spanish (and dabbles in Portuguese). Visiting family in North and South America from a young age sparked her love of travel and getting to know different people and places across the globe. Whether it’s hiking up a volcano, spending hours in a museum or tasting the flavours of a traditional dish, Laura’s always looking forward to her next travel escapade.

Dianne Apen-Sadler

Dianne Apen-Sadler

Senior Digital Editor

Dianne Apen-Sadler

Dianne Apen-Sadler

Senior Digital Editor

Dianne joined Wanderlust as their Senior Digital Editor in January 2025.

Previously based in the UAE, Dianne spent four years working for Time Out before going freelance, writing for titles including Condé Nast Traveller Middle East, Atlas and The National.

History is at the heart of all of Dianne’s most-loved destinations, and she loves to rack up tens of thousands of steps exploring a city’s cultural sites by foot (which is why she mostly travels solo). Her favourite destinations so far include Belgrade, Seoul and Doha, but she’s always looking for her next big adventure.

Yasmin Harake

Yasmin Harake

Special Features Editor

Yasmin Harake

Yasmin Harake

Special Features Editor

With a background in editorial, copywriting and brand identity, Yasmin enjoys crafting thoughtful narratives that resonate with audiences across the globe. Having lived and worked in the Middle East, Yasmin loves bringing regional content to life by way of immersive storytelling.

Her travel highlights include exploring the ancient city of Jbeil and taking in the views from the snow-capped mountains of Faraya in Lebanon. Her other adventures include discovering the Agafay desert by camel, spotting humpback whales in Iceland, standing a little too close to an inquisitive baby elephant in Phuket and accidentally meeting a family of wild boar in a remote Turkish fishing village.

Diana Jarvis

Sustainability Editor

Diana Jarvis

Sustainability Editor

Diana is a photographer and writer with an MSc in Environment and Sustainability, and a curiosity for overland adventures. She was the first Sustainability Director at the British Guild of Travel Writers and has been published widely by The Independent, The Guardian, JRNY and Travel Weekly, among others.
Following a round-the-world trip in 2003, Diana initially embarked on her career in travel as a book designer at Rough Guides. She gradually moved into guidebook photography for Rough Guides before going freelance in 2012 and becoming a full-time travel photographer. Much of her work was UK and Northern Europe based so, in a bid to see more of the world, she began to write travel stories and her adventures soon took her much further afield.
With a passion for flight-free travel, she has overlanded to Morocco, Albania and Tunisia and travelled from her home in Margate, Kent to Boulogne in northern France by just a bike and boat. Other adventures have taken her camping with the Black Mambas, South Africa’s only all-female anti-poaching unit, wildlife spotting in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park, and engaging in community tourism in Guinea Bissau.

Design

Man with sunglasses

Graham Berridge

Art Director

Man with sunglasses

Graham Berridge

Art Director

After graduating with a degree in Graphic Communication in 1998, Graham’s career has seen him design both consumer and contract magazines spanning music, fashion, lifestyle, technology and travel.

Graham joined Wanderlust in 2003 and as Art Director heads up the design team; he is responsible for the design and layout of Wanderlust magazine as well as its contract titles, supplements. books and bookazines.

In December 2011, Graham was awarded Designer of the Year at the PPA Independent Publishing Awards.

Anil Karwal 

Digital Creative Director

Anil Karwal 

Digital Creative Director

Anil is the digital whizz of the team. He is the designer behind Wanderlust’s pioneering MetaTravel experiences, and has also created some of our most impressive commercial campaigns.

Anil has previously worked in digital management and design for AI Business and Ingenuity.

Partnerships

Adam Lloyds

Partnerships Director

Adam Lloyds

Partnerships Director

Adam joined Wanderlust at the end of 2017, and heads up the partnerships team.

He has over 12 years experience in media sales and has worked across many consumer industries including walking, yachting, motor sport and wildlife.

Previously a keen sportsman, Adam travelled the world playing rugby, cricket and football. His favourite adventure destination is Costa Rica although he has plans to travel to South-East Asia in the near future.

David Read

VP Brand Partnerships

David Read

VP Brand Partnerships

David brings over 10 years of media experience in the travel sector, having previously worked for Lonely Planet and Culture Trip. He looks after brand partnerships for Wanderlust and any clients having their advertising managed by media agencies.

A fitness enthusiast, he’s always in the gym or on his bike. His best trip was to the Philippines for his honeymoon where there was little relaxing and a lot of adventure!

Simon Bryson

Senior Creative Partnerships Manager

Simon Bryson

Senior Creative Partnerships Manager

Simon joined the Wanderlust commercial team in 2017. He works with clients to develop media campaigns across print, digital and events.

Simon’s passion for travel started at 16 years old when he went on a month long self-funded expedition to Peru.

He is a keen skier and has skied throughout Europe and North America. He counts Jackson Hole (Wyoming) and Whistler (British Columbia) among his favourite destinations.

Mary Manta

Wanderlust Club Manager

Mary Manta

Wanderlust Club Manager

Mary is from the beautiful Greek island of Kefalonia. She studied Political Sciences at the University of Athens and gained her Masters degree in Marketing and Management in UK. She has been living and working in London ever since, with various professional roles across the events industry; formerly the World Trade Group, AI Business and Informa PLC.

Mary joined Wanderlust in 2021 to share her passion for travelling, support members of our community and look after the activities of the Wanderlust Club. She has travelled across the globe but will always have a special place in her heart for Miami. Mary believes that travelling is the way to become a better version of ourselves by understanding each other’s values and culture.

Publishing

Elliot Wellsteed-Crook

Chief Operating Officer

Elliot Wellsteed-Crook

Chief Operating Officer

Elliot found his wanderlust growing up on the wild headlands of Cornwall, in the far south-west of the UK. Having joined Wanderlust in 2021, Elliot has led the recent transformation and rapid growth of the publication in print and online. He previously worked in B2B tech media, holding senior roles at Forbes, London Tech Week and AI Business. His love of travel is all about incredible experiences with communities, the most memorable being in Sápmi, Finland; Toyama, Japan; and the Caucasian countryside of Georgia.

Tom Bennedik

Tom Bennedik

Digital Specialist

Tom Bennedik

Tom Bennedik

Digital Specialist

Tom joined Wanderlust in 2024 as our Digital Specialist. He has worked in travel and hospitality for over 9 years with a background in digital marketing.

He has a passion for sustainable travel and in his spare time enjoys cooking dishes from around the world and playing tennis. His favourite travel experiences include, exploring the temples of Bagan in Myanmar, trekking through national parks of Cambodia and hiking in the Albanian Alps.

Lisa Huang

Lisa Huang

Digital Executive

Lisa Huang

Lisa Huang

Digital Executive

With a strong background in fashion, Lisa previously worked on the design and development of seasonal collections, honing her creative and strategic skills. Now transitioning into the digital space, she brings a fresh perspective on connecting with customers through innovative online experiences.

Outside of work, Lisa is an avid traveler, always planning her next adventure. Her favourite destinations to travel to include Kyoto, Japan, and Dali, China.

Contributing Editors

Kate Humble

Contributing Editor

Kate Humble

Contributing Editor

TV presenter Kate Humble joined Wanderlust as a Contributing Editor in January 2025. Having specialised in wildlife programmes, with a particular focus on Africa, she will cover nature and outdoors for the publication.

Bettany Hughes

Contributing Editor

Bettany Hughes

Contributing Editor

Historian Bettany Hughes joined Wanderlust as a Contributing Editor in January 2025. She has covered everything from the ancient world to the modern day, most recently appearing on Channel 4 for a two-part documentary, Exploring India’s Treasures with Bettany Hughes, in 2023. For Wanderlust, Bettany will be writing about culture and heritage in off-the-beaten-track destinations.

Sophie Morgan

Contributing Editor

Sophie Morgan

Contributing Editor

Disability advocate Sophie Morgan joined Wanderlust as a Contributing Editor in January 2025 to focus on inclusive travel. Sophie is a British TV presenter, producer, travel writer, speaker, and artist. A wheelchair user since the age of 18, she has hosted acclaimed programs for networks like NBC, Channel 4, and the BBC, covering everything from travel shows, disability rights issues and global events such as the Paralympics. She is the founder of the global air travel campaign Rights on Flights. Her memoir, Driving Forwards, chronicles her journey of resilience and empowerment. Sophie is also co-founder of Making Space and Making Space Media, a disabled-owned TV production company in partnership with Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine and lives in LA.

 

Sherry L Rupert

Contributing Editor

Sherry L Rupert

Contributing Editor

Sherry (Paiute and Washoe Tribes of Nevada) is the CEO of the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association and joined Wanderlust as a Contributing Editor in 2024.

Alice Morrison

Contributing Editor

Alice Morrison

Contributing Editor

Alice Morrison, who is aiming to become the first person to cross Saudi Arabia from north to south on foot, became a Contributing Editor at Wanderlust in January 2025. She will be focusing on over 50s travel and adventure travel.

Mark Stratton

Contributing Editor

Mark Stratton

Contributing Editor

Mark is a travel writer, radio broadcaster and longtime Wanderlust Contributing Editor. Offbeat, extraordinary, intense, less-travelled, inspiring, and above all, fertile with stories are all attributes Mark looks in a destination.