AURAC 2025 COMMITTEE
PRESIDENT
Deshma Weerapperuma
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.
My love for rocks transitioned from studying them (geology) to now climbing all over them! Outdoor sport climbing and indoor bouldering have my heart but alpinism is slowly but surely working its way up there. My main goal this year is to keep the club as a friendly, welcoming space, and to up-skill more girls/non-binary folk! Say hi if you see me around or flick me an email with any questions :)
SECRETARY
Gina Knowles
I have been climbing for a year now and it has become a bit of a personality trait for me. I love to get outdoors as much as possible, mostly for sport climbing (and a little trad!) but I also enjoy alpinism. I’m excited to help give back to the club this year and I hope to get a lot more women involved in a pretty male-dominated sport!
I have been climbing for a year now and it has become a bit of a personality trait for me. I love to get outdoors as much as possible, mostly for sport climbing (and a little trad!) but I also enjoy alpinism. I’m excited to help give back to the club this year and I hope to get a lot more women involved in a pretty male-dominated sport!
TREASURER
Samuel Cleur
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.
I started climbing in early 2025 and joined AURAC soon after. I’ve loved the people and the sense of community within the club, and I’m really looking forward to meeting new friends this year. I especially enjoy sport climbing and hope to get outside a lot more, though you’ll still find me indoors most days. I’m excited to give back to the club in my role this year and help make sure everyone has a great time climbing in 2026!
ADVISORY
Aidan Sarginson
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 climbing in 2020 (bad year to start I know) by being introduced to it through AURAC. Over the last four years, I've learned a lot through committed friends and instructors which I now pass on to the coming generations through AURACs instructional courses. You'll find me anywhere a rock could be, from a seaside crag to the top of the tallest mountains.
ADVISORY
Albie Thomas
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've been climbing on and off for as long as I can remember, but climbing became my main sport in late 2021. Sport climber by heart but I do tend to reside at Northern Rocks. I'm currently in my third year of Mechatronics engineering at UOA which has made me into quite the climbing gear nerd. If you have any questions about the club, or climbing in New Zealand, don’t be afraid to flick me an email.
GEAR
Oscar Hannaford
The Gear officer runs gear hire for the club. We have lots of climbing gear available for members for all climbing disciplines.
I began climbing indoors a few years ago and joined the club in 2025. I love bouldering and outdoor sport climbing. As gear manager, my goals are to maintain a higher standard of gear maintenance, getting to the people who need it, and reducing the amount of lost items.
SAFETY
Isaac Hook
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 have been on the committee for the past 3 years and climbing for a few more. I love being deeply involved in the club, allowing more people to participate in my favorite sport. This year I am excited to meet all the new members and keep everyone safe (hopefully).
WALLS
Gaku Takahashi
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've been climbing for almost two years now, and have been getting deeper and deeper into the sport. I've joined the comittee to run the weekly clubnights, but also because I'm always at the Hiwa wall anyways. This year I've been introduced to the world of alpinism and its increased my screentime on marketplace a little too much. As walls officer I want to introduce people to the thrill of climbing!!
If you see me at the Hiwa wall come say hi. If not I'm always around, somewhere. Probably with my climbing shoes clipped onto the back of my bag.
INSTRUCTION
Thomas Wright
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.
Hi, I’m Thomas. I’ve been climbing for 6–7 years, and I’m excited to share my love of climbing with others. I enjoy learning about gear, technical skills, and staying safe on the wall while getting as high as possible up the mountain (vertically). I’d love to share my knowledge so more people can experience the awesome climbs we have in Aotearoa.
TECH
Toby Harvie
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’ve gotten into climbing over the past few years mainly thanks to AURAC. Always a fan of the outdoors, nothing gets me more stoked than being out there and I reckon climbing is one of the top ways to do that. Join me in escaping Auckland every weekend for a climb.
SOCIALS
Jake Stafford
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.
Hi all I’m Jake a 4th year Mechanical Engineer. I have been climbing for about 6 years but am more of a social climber now. I have been apart of the club as a member for the last 4 years and have decided to join the committee this year and I am exciting for what is to come. I’m very friendly and always keen to talk so feel free to come and have a chat.
ALPINE
Ashwin Kaushik
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
Heyo, I moved to Auckland a couple of years ago and have since gotten involved with outdoor clubs like AUTC/AURAC. Don't currently do a ton of climbing but hoping to get more into it this year while mixing in some alpine shenanigans. On weekends you can find me tramping in some remote part of NZ, hopefully in the snow and with a harness on. Excited to blend my hobbies together this year while in the committee and always happy to chat about trips, gear, or sports!
ACCESS & CONSERVATION
Emily Clark
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.
Hello!! I’ve been climbing indoors at gyms in the US + NZ since 2015. I joined AURAC last year which finally encouraged me to adventure into outdoor sport climbing. It’s been a ton of fun, though, a little scary! I'm going into my second year of Global Studies and Env Science. Come say hello if ya see me or have any questions, access + conservation or otherwise. I love a good chat :).
MEMBERSHIPS
Elyjah Wood
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’ve been climbing for a couple of years now and basically live at Northern Rocks, fully committed to the board goblin lifestyle. I’m getting into the whole trad/alpine thing, which means I now own an empty wallet and questionable opinions. My goals are to help indoor climbers experience the magic of real rock, and force outdoor climbers into the training dungeon. As Memberships, I’m determined to welcome everyone for a climb, a yarn, or a dubious alpine mish.
TRIPS
Nicholas Greene
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 was introduced to climbing before I could walk. However I've only gotten passionate about climbing in the last few years (once I discovered Kawakawa Bay). As general officer this year I'm super psyched to make a difference by getting more people into the outdoors through climbing.
GENERAL
Michael Rubie-Wong
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
Tried indoor climbing with a friend once and was addicted from the second I got on the wall, same story with outdoor sport. I love teaching people everything I can and getting as many people hooked as possible. You'll find me mainly at birko where I'm currently working (and setting) and would love for anyone to get on my sets and give them a shot. Super excited to be a part of the committee this year and help in any way I can.
GENERAL
Max Lin
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
I discovered bouldering mid 2024 and haven't stopped since! While I love bouldering, I look forward to meeting new climbers and experience other forms of climbing in the future together, hopefully making some life long friends!
You can find me frequenting the Hiwa spray wall, so feel free to have a chat at Hiwa anytime!
I love a hearty conversation :)