Christina inherited wanderlust from her grandmother who was an unconventional woman traveller in China during the era of the Warlords, and from her parents who spent 25 years working in West Africa, where she was born and raised.
Christina became known as an explorer after her 3-year journey in Africa 1975–78 often alone, by horse and dugout canoe. This was followed by 2 years travelling through Papua New Guinea living with remote tribes, and many other journeys spanning 20 years.
Christina has written 9 books which have been translated into 5 languages. She has made 3 television films and over 40 radio documentary programmes for BBC Radio 4.
In the diplomatic field she was appointed as Senior Attache and Vice Consul at the Consulate of Madagascar in London, a post she held for 15 years. During this time she founded The Dodwell Trust, a charity dedicated to the country and people of Madagascar. She is listed in Debretts' People of Today and Who's Who.
Christina's travels, books and films
Christina was born in Nigeria, West Africa, and educated in England. Her life of remarkable adventure began by chance in 1975, when she made a 20,000-mile journey round Africa by horse, camel and dug-out canoe.
She followed that up with journeys in Papua New Guinea, China, Siberia, Madagascar, Turkey and Iran.
Christina has made 3 television films and more than 40 radio documentary programmes for BBC Radio 4 – several have received distinguished merit awards. Her TV film for BBC Great River Journeys won a BAFTA award for Best Documentary.
She has worked for the Consulate of Madagascar in London for fourteen years and in 1995 she founded The Dodwell Trust, a charity dedicated to the Third World.
Christina was awarded a gold Medal by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society in 1989. She has lectured at the Royal Geographical Society in London, and the Royal Scottish Geographical Society in Edinburg. In USA she gave lectures at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, the National Press Club in New York, and the Explorers Club in New York She has made television appearances in France, Spain, and USA (Good Morning America). In UK she was a guest 4 times on Wogan’s TV Show. In 2012 she won the top International Award at the Spanish Geographical Society in Madrid.
Like Isabella Bird and Rosita Forbes, Christina demonstrates enormous courage, a keen eye for detail, an insatiable curiosity about the local people and great respect for their culture.
Recently Christina has embarked on a new venture creating a magical series of stories about Santa's reindeer and their many adventures.