Guinness
Our world recently fell apart when we lost our beautiful black Labrador, Guinness (Nessie), under tragic circumstances. Nessie was the light of our lives. She wasn’t just part of our family – she was part of our rhythm, our routine, and the heart of countless moments that made up our everyday lives, including 18 Clues.
18 Clues began with a simple and meaningful intention: to help animals. Nessie embodied exactly why that matters. Every day she showed us how much animals give, how deeply they connect with us, and how they deserve our protection and care.
Our first business meeting after losing her was incredibly tough. But during that meeting we pledged that Nessie will be our inspiration to work hard and grow 18 Clues so that we can help make a real difference to as many animals’ lives as possible. This will be Nessie’s legacy.
About Us
Our mission is to make exploration and discovery fun by providing quirky clue-led Walking and Virtual Challenge activities, paired with optional, judged, skill-based prize competitions. We're also committed to giving back...18 Clues donates to selected animal and environmental charities on a quarterly basis, using our profits and company funds to support causes close to our hearts.
18 Clues is a family initiative inspired by the desire to encourage people to explore, discover and learn about the world around them. Furthermore, it is important to us to not only put bread and butter on our own tables, but to give something back. To this end, we are proud to donate to selected animal and environmental charities on a quarterly basis. We also put together promotions that provide our customers with the chance to submit a skill-based, judged entry for generous prize packages. In addition to a massive dollop of enthusiasm and a common love of exploration, animals, and the environment, we collectively offer decades of experience in clue-led trail writing, large scale promotions, and marketing.
If you haven't already, we invite you to join the 18 Clues family by buying a Challenge and giving it a go. You never know... if you solve the Challenge and submit your answer, your judged entry may be selected as a prize winner! Either way, you'll be helping animals and the environment.
Meet the Team
Sandi McDonell Batchelor
General Management, Challenges, Charities
A ‘kiwi’ Politics and Anthropology Masters graduate, Sandi worked in hospitality, PR, and publishing in the UK before returning to New Zealand, where she worked as Marketing Director for a diverse group of companies. It was there that she began creating elaborate clue-led team-building events for staff across the group; events that became highly anticipated fixtures in the corporate calendar.
In 2002, Sandi moved to the UK with her husband Nick and the following year their daughter Georgia was born. Whilst working on a series of PR and event management projects, Sandi became involved in trail-writing. She then started her own business, Trails of Discovery, specialising in Corporate and Bespoke events. In 2025, Sandi dreamt up the concept of 18 Clues, which launched in late 2025.
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Georgia Batchelor
SMM, Test Management, Charities
Georgia has recently completed an interdisciplinary Arts and Science (BASc) degree at University College London (UCL), which included an exchange year broadening her horizons at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Georgia has enjoyed the opportunity of being involved in the development of 18 Clues, from inception through to development, and subsequent launch. Her involvement with the business will continue on a part-time basis as she launches into postgrad studies at Oxford University.
Georgia holds a deep respect for the natural world, and a keen interest in how it affects, and is affected by, humankind. Her key interests include animal welfare, the environment, compassionate conservation, sustainability, and introducing inspirational, real-life stories through journalistic writing and film-making.
Nick Batchelor
Marketing, Promotions, Legal
Nick has a track record of excellence spanning some 40 years in executive level roles within the hospitality, mass media promotions, and telecommunications industries. Previous roles have seen him responsible for operations in New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Africa, the Middle East and Russia CIS, where he consistently achieved outstanding results on operational improvements and bottom-line performance. He currently works as a Consultant for Sandhata Technologies.
Nick’s involvement with 18 Clues has enabled him to return to doing what he enjoys the most; business development, and bringing different organisations together to create effective promotions that benefit all parties. Should you wish to discuss any ideas that may be mutually beneficial to both your organisation and 18 Clues, please do get in touch.