
AURAC 2023 COMMITTEE
PRESIDENT
Kiera Montgomery
The President is an executive committee member and the main representative of the club. The president oversees the committee and helps to ensure that our yearly events occur and obligations are met.

I started rock climbing indoors and have been climbing for 10+ years. I am primarily a lead climber and enjoy both indoor and outdoor sport climbing. I have also been dabbling in alpinism, which the club snow schools facilitated. My biggest passion in volunteering is introducing new people to our climbing community and teaching them the skills needed to stay safe and respect the environment they are climbing in.
SECRETARY
Jake Clayton
Duties consist mainly of organising and taking minutes at meetings, checking the mail box and managing communication with the university through engage. Assist/apply for University Grants. Secretary is also responsible for communicating with the club regarding AGM/SGMs and for the club records and insurance.

I have been climbing for 4 years now, both indoor and outdoor, predominantly on lead. Climbing is my primary outdoors sport, but i am also into alpinism, caving, canyoning, kayaking and diving. This is my first year as a committee member and I am super excited to encourage new members to get outdoors, go on some awesome adventures and send cool climbs
TREASURER
Leo Sbai
The Treasurer is an executive committee member responsible for the club’s finances. This involves keeping track of the year’s financial accounts, applying for grants, making bank transactions, and reporting on the financial situation etc. This position involves heavy liaising and coordination with other committee members during decision-making processes.

Having just started climbing last year, I quickly became addicted to the sport. Although I enjoy both indoor and outdoor climbing, my passion for the outdoors pushes me to go climbing at a local crag at every opportunity that I get. I also thoroughly enjoy alpinism, which the club has introduced me to through snow schools.
ADVISORY
Guy Pryor
Advisory is a support role that assists the other members of the committee in performing their duties. The advisory role is for members who have held several different roles on the committee over the years, so that they can use their experience to keep things running smoothly.

I started climnbing around 10 years ago, unfortunately thats approximately when our president started climbing as well. My experience and ability has grown throughout the years going into most forms of climbing (except aid, becauase aid climbing isnt real climbing). I love to give back to the community, with this being my fourth year in the committee. This year I'm super excited to get out into the outdoors and have a great time climbing
GEAR
Albie Thomas
The Gear officer runs gear hire for the club. We have lots of climbing gear available for members for all climbing disciplines.

I have been climbing on and off for as long as I can remember, but climbing became a main sport for me late 2021. Most of my climbing is bouldering (at northern rocks), although sport climbing is my favorite. Currently in my second year studying mechatronics engineering at UoA. I'm definitely a gear nerd too, so If you have any questions about hiring climbing gear don't hesitate to flick me an email always happy to help.
SAFETY
Aidan Sarginson
Safety oversees AURAC safety policies and intention system to ensure everyone is following club guidelines and practices to maintain safety on club-run trips.

I started climbing in 2020 (bad year to start I know) through being introduced to it through AURAC. Over the last three years, I've learned a lot through committed friends and instructors which I now pass on to the coming generations through instructional courses. You'll find me anywhere a rock could be, from a seaside crag to the top of the tallest mountains.
WALLS
Caitlin Ryan
The Walls officer is responsible for organising our weekly club nights. I'm looking forward to helping make club nights a welcoming environment for climbers of all backgrounds to connect and grow.

I joined AURAC in 2022 as a complete beginner, after watching rock climbing at the olympics! I have loved being part of this community over the past year and growing my confidence on the wall, all the way up to lead climbing outdoors across Aotearoa!
INSTRUCTION
Matt Creahan
The Instruction Officer organises and runs AURAC's abseiling, anchor setting, lead climbing, and multipitch courses. They also help train new instructors who can then teach during club events and show people how to stay safe when climbing outdoors.

I started climbing outside in the back half of 2021 in one of Auckland's many lockdowns. I've since moved down to Christchurch, but I'm still trying to stay involved with AURAC, and may even pop up on a trip or two! I tend to split my climbing time pretty evenly between getting scared on pointy triangles in the alps, slapping for polished slopers at Castle Hill, and having friends clean routes I've bailed off in the Port Hills.
TECH
Jayden Chapman
Tech is very much a behind the scenes role. The tech officer is responsible for setting up and managing mailing lists, making information available to the club, and maintaining/developing the club website.

I’m quite a recent addition to the climbing community, with about three years experience on the rocks. Lead climbing is my latest obsession, with a multitude of crags always on the horizon to be explored. I love to hear and try out techniques I learn from other climbers, and enjoy sharing the good ones with others too! But really, I’ll do just about anything if it means I get to experience the outdoors with friends.
SOCIALS
Cate Campbell
The Socials officers organise social events for AURAC, giving members a chance to socialise outside of or alongside climbing. Events include pub quizzes, movie screenings, and the outdoor clubs ball.

I joined AURAC after wandering around the clubs expo, and got totally hooked on climbing! It definitely helped that I met so many awesome people on trips, who like throwing themselves at rock walls as much as I do. As social officers, Sophie and I get to organise lots of fun events to help you find friends for the sends!
SOCIALS
Sophie Wolff-Wigley
The Socials officers organise social events for AURAC, giving members a chance to socialise outside of or alongside climbing. Events include pub quizzes, movie screenings, and the outdoor clubs ball.

I started climbing through AURAC two years ago, and was instantly hooked! From learning to lead climb to summiting Ruapehu during Snow School, I've learnt so much through the club and look forward to more adventures this year. My favourite place to climb so far has been Kawakawa Bay, which our members will hopefully get to see several times this year!
ALPINE
Aidan Sarginson
Alpine officers are responsible for organising our popular beginners and advanced snow schools which happen every winter and overseeing our alpine gear and its distribution for club alpine trips

I started climbing in 2020 (bad year to start I know) through being introduced to it through AURAC. Over the last three years, I've learned a lot through committed friends and instructors which I now pass on to the coming generations through instructional courses. You'll find me anywhere a rock could be, from a seaside crag to the top of the tallest mountains.
ALPINE
Oxana Novikova
Alpine officers are responsible for organising our popular beginners and advanced snow schools which happen every winter and overseeing our alpine gear and its distribution for club alpine trips

I am passionate about contributing towards a positive & welcoming climbing community for people to try out what climbing has to offer; whether it's bouldering, top-ropping or leading inside or in the outdoors. I am especially fascinated by the alpine environment, and having been lucky enough to partake in both beginner and advanced snow schools that the club has on offer I look forward to organising the same incredible experience for the new mounaineers this year.
ACCESS & CONSERVATION
Berit Thomalla
The access and conservation officer ensures AURAC has a close relationship with ACAT and landowners and ensures the club stays active in the ongoing work to maintain and care for our crags. They also help new climbers understand the importance of being a tidy-climber and navigating the rules around accessing crags.

I joined AURAC as a complete beginner in 2021 and quickly fell in love with the sport and the community around it. My favourite type of climbing is outdoor sport climbing but you'll very likely find me at Northern Rocks any other time! I study BIOSCI and ENVSCI, so conservation is something that is close to my heart, and I'm super stoked to be able to push for conservation to become an even more integrated part in the club.
MEMBERSHIPS
Nicole Yong
The memberships officer's role is to ensure all members have successfully signed up, payed and been added to the club's mailing list. Any other queries about joining the club can be sent to them.

I love a lot of outdoorsy things, with climbing being up there for sure. I'd say outdoor sport climbing would be my preferred kind of climbing, from the experiences I've had over the past year or so. I think climbing's great for feeling alive and present, while also feeling super connected to the rock and earth. I've explored some craigs around Auckland, and a bit around the South Island. But definetly still quite a noob as I don't climb super often. I also enjoy snorkelling, trail running, and boardsports.
TRIPS
Dale Gush
Simply put, the Trips officer’s role in the club is to make sure that all the club's members get to experience some awesome climbing trips around New Zealand!

I’ve been climbing for around 4 years now and enjoy every aspect of it! I’ve been all over New Zealand exploring all the different areas of climbing this country has to offer and I can’t get enough of it! I’m super thrilled to be able to have the role of Trips officer so that I can show new climbers all of these cool spots!
GENERAL
Justin Willis
The role of the General officer is to assist the rest of the committee with their tasks as appropriate, and is a great introduction to a larger role within the committee

Hi everyone, I'm Justin! I'm a passionate boulderer and like to rope climb regularly as well. I love to bring people together and have found many opportunities to do so within this club. When I'm not climbing, I'm hiking, learning German or napping in the middle of the day.