Committee
Matt Wiseman
Communications, Media & Ambassadors
Despite enjoying deep turns all around the world, the Australian snow has a special magnetism for Matt and our snow gums are reason enough to want to protect the fragile alpine environment we have here.
Matt is a dedicated skier who has worked within the snowsports industry for many years across written editorial, photography, outdoor guiding and brand. A tertiary education in Journalism and Law informs Matt’s work with POW Australia.
Matt’s best pow-turn is a coin flip between Japan’s Rishiri island and Australia’s own Watsons Crags, although both made him remember his fear of heights and his fear of losing snow and winter as we know it.
Alastair McLeod
Commerce & Operations
As the mercury plummets each year Al trades sun, salt, waves and wind for the alpine. Not often seen but always out there, you’ll most likely find him deep in the woods or scaling a distant peak with his splitboard.
With a background in data science, digital marketing, web and tech development, Al makes the most of the down days catching up on computer work. Don’t ask him exactly what he’s doing though – nerdy stuff that we don’t really understand!
Bogong and the Hotham backcountry hold a special place in Al’s heart, evident when he says things along the lines of spend a night snow camping in the backcountry to see how precious the few wild places we have left are. For Al, working with POW is an opportunity to preserve the integrity of our wilderness and keep the spirit of adventure alive.
Jess Willemse
Community & Education
Jess has been lucky enough to do seasons in Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Her memory is full of snippets of tearing past trees feeling invincible, sketchily sliding rails feeling vulnerable, standing under the quiet of falling snow feeling peaceful and reminiscing about past winter seasons feeling like the luckiest person alive.
With such a strong connection to the snow, her background in education and her current study in sustainability, ecology and geography, she leapt at the opportunity to be involved with POW Australia in bringing together like-minded riders to ensure snowy winters will be enjoyed by all for a long time to come. She can’t wait to have you on board and looks forward to protecting winter with you.
Sam Quirke
Partnerships & Policy
Sam has been a winter lover all his life. A turning point for Sam in his climate action journey was living in Annecy in the French Alps, where he came to the realisation that this good thing could one day come to an end. Venturing into the unique Australian alpine in recent years has only accelerated that his need to act.
Sam volunteers his time with POW to focus on connecting with likeminded organisations and helping the POW community engage with policy and politicians for impactful climate action. His day job is as a customer success manager in talent management software.
His best POW turns are a tie between the first time he went splitboarding on a rare 30cm-of-fresh-Spring-Hotham day, and his first-time ski touring in Chamonix.
Omar Elkadi
Events
No matter the season, Omar is probably across what is happening snow wise around the world. A self-proclaimed skiing geek, you’ll find him hounding to the snow whenever possible to get amongst the gums and explore beyond the resorts.
Omar has been involved in the snow industry for a number of years, working at Red Bull, Fatmap and a few cheeky seasons in between. Today he works in Climate Strategy following an Engineering and Masters degree in sustainable futures, as he continues to nerd out on the latest climate science, technology and policy.
His favourite pow-turn is a tie between a deep day in Arai, Honshu in Japan and a long-awaited snow-maggedon through the trees with mates at Falls Creek. For him, POW represents the future of our snowy knife-edge here in Australia and showcases what we can do to preserve our incredible mountain environment, culture and communities.