AURAC 2024 COMMITTEE
PRESIDENT
Leo Sbai
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.
Having started climbing indoors a couple of years ago, I quickly grew to love outdoor climbing through AURAC. I primarily enjoy outdoor sport climbing, although you may also find me at Birko, up in the mountains, or sticking cams in cracks. I love teaching new people how to climb, stay safe, and respect the environment they are climbing in.
SECRETARY
Robin Nowlan
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 always loved climbing and became even more passionate about it after joining AURAC in 2023. From there I have been on many awesome trips and have learned so much. Had my fair share of experiences (both fun and scary) and I am looking forward to being more involved more with the club in 2024.
TREASURER
Will Southee
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 only began climbing in 2022 with the club, but since then I have been introduced to a wide range of different opportunities that have allowed me to increase my skills. The frequent trips and club nights have allowed me to expand my horizons and pick up new things that I never dreamed of, one of which being alpinism. This is my first year as a committee member but I am eager to help out and give back to the club in any way I can.
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 climbing around 10 years ago. 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 fifth year in the committee. This year I'm super excited to get out into the outdoors and have a great time climbing
ADVISORY
Berit Thomalla
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 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 ofc also find me at any of the gyms around Auckland too! I've been part of the AURAC committee for a few years now, both as the gear officer and the access and conservation officer so I'm stoked to be in a role where I can give back to the club.
GEAR
Isaac Hook
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 interested in climbing my whole life and over the past 4 years have gotten deep into the sport. I’m stoked to spend more and more time on the rock over the next year. I’m looking forward to have the opportunity to get more people climbing by ensuring they have all the gear they need and a solid understanding of its uses.
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) 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.
WALLS
Justin Willis
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 fell in love with climbing in April 2021, after I was invited to join some friends climbing and started attending club nights – since then, it's been a huge part of my life. More recently, I've gotten addicted to indoor bouldering, though I do enjoy sport climbing too every now and again. I enjoy climbing because it allows me to push myself constantly, and the club has given me so many opportunities to develop myself as a climber and a person.
INSTRUCTION
Jake Clayton
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 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 second 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
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
Marcus Findlow
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 in 2022, and I've been hooked ever since. I enjoy climbing indoors and outdoors, lead, and bouldering. This is my first year on the committee. As one of the Socials officers, alongside Joni, I look forward to organising many events to introduce people to the fantastic world of climbing that New Zealand has to offer and the people they can enjoy it with.
SOCIALS
Joni Watson
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 rock climbing as a complete beginner last year and have loved the community and the sport ever since! I enjoy a good BoulderCo trip with mates, but I’m excited to get outdoors and try more forms of climbing this year. Make sure you check out our fun social events coming up this year..!
ACCESS & CONSERVATION
Nicole Yong
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 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.
MEMBERSHIPS
Izzy Poole
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 study a BA/BSc conjoint in Politics/Earth Science (Geology & Geography) so I truly love a good rock. Sport climbing is definitely my go to whether that’s indoors or on the real stuff. I’m also into surf and I’m entering the world of mountaineering/alpine. You’ll find me outdoors trying any new adventure sport, or hanging with the crag dogs ! The climbing community has opened up my world hugely so I’m excited to enhance the experience for others joining the club.
TRIPS
Albie Thomas
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 on and off for aslong 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 our sport, gear and where the good spots are in NZ don't hesitate to flick me an email
GENERAL
Ben MacSweeney
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've been climbing for 5 years now. I started with mainly indoor bouldering, but I've been really enjoying getting into outdoor climbing recently and can't wait to explore some new crags. I also have started to get into alpinism through the snow schools, and am really excited to help you guys have the same great experience I've had!
GENERAL
Patrick Ng
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 joined AURAC in 2022 and have been hooked on climbing ever since. I have been involved in many indoor and outdoor trips with the club and even got to experience alpinism through snow school. These experiences have elevated my passion for the outdoors and pushed me to even more amazing adventures. So I'm looking forward to meeting more amazing people and flexing our sick calluses. Have fun climbing and see you around the club :)