David Howells

David Howells

Current city and state of residence
Kootingal, New South Wales

Year first introduced or joined the organisation now known as Disabled Wintersport Australia? 
1987

Through who or how were you introduced to the organisation? 
Steve Gibb introduced me to Ron Finneran

What roles or positions did you have within the organisation?
Liaison Officer for NSW Dept. of Sport & Recreation, co-ordinating the Disabled Ski Program.
Team Administrator for the 1992 & 1994 Winter Paralympic Team and the 1996 World Championship Team

During your time with DWA what particular achievements are you proud of contributing to?
The building of the original Finsko’s Lodge at Jindabyne and then the extensions and renovations of the same lodge.

What is your fondest memory of your time with the organisation?
Watching Michael Milton win the first Gold Medal in Australian Winter Olympic and Paralympic history in 1992 at Tignes, France.

What has been the biggest impact DWA has had on your life? 
Being able to introduce so many people with disabilities to snow sports and watching so many of them go onto to be champions at their sport.

Please sum up your vision for the future of DWA? 
With so many defence personnel coming back from conflict injured there will be a need for DWA to help them find a new outlet. It is a great opportunity for DWA to be at the forefront as a world class organisation in assisting with the rehabilitation of service personnel injured in the service of their country.

Ashley Blondel

Ashley Blondel

Current city and state of residence
Pambula Beach, New South Wales

Year first introduced or joined the organisation now known as Disabled Wintersport Australia?
First introduced to DWA in 1996 and became a member in 2006.

Through who or how were you introduced to the organisation? 
Introduced to DWA by the then Executive Director, Ron Finneran, OAM. On becoming CEO of Perisher Ski Resort in 1996, Ron requested a meeting, and our professional and personal relationship began.

What roles or positions did you have within the organisation? 
Committee member and, later, President and Chairman.

During your time with DWA what particular achievements are you proud of contributing to? 
There were many notable achievements during my terms of office with DWA. All of the achievements realised were the result of wide consensus and the contribution of all Committee members, as well as everyday members and their families and friends. Perhaps the most important matter achieved during my tenure as President was the writing of a new constitution and establishing a framework that is DWA today, across all borders and encompassing a wider member base.

What is your fondest memory of your time with the organisation?
Working with so many people that inspired and humbled me. From elite Paralympians to everyday people enjoying their first snow experience, and the dedicated Committee members of DWA. In particular, I have fond memories of the late Adrienne Smith, OAM, a tower in sports administration and in championing people with disabilities, Ron Finneran, OAM, the inaugural Executive Director and face of DWA for decades, Nick Dean, a founder of DWA and much valued Committee member of DWA to this day with incomparable knowledge, and Jim Blackburn who drove the administrative changes from what was the Victorian Division with skill and passion.

What has been the biggest impact DWA has had on your life? 
Bringing me face to face with remarkable people who challenge, and more often than not conquer, what many consider impediments to life and who demonstrate enormous courage, skill and great humanity. I will never forget seeing the sheer joy and happiness on the face of a young boy with cerebral palsy on his first descent in a sit ski on Perisher’s Front Valley.

Please sum up your vision for the future of DWA? 
That it endures forever because the need for organisations such as DWA will never be out dated or made obsolete. It may change direction and character in the years ahead but its principal purpose can and will enrich the lives of its members, their family and friends, and ordinary people such as myself who are fortunate to share the journey.

Richard Scheurer

Richard Scheurer

RESORT SERVICES CO-ORDINATOR

Richard has been a major contributor to the work of DWA in New South Wales for a long time. His expertise as a guide across all disciplines and use adaptive equipment is unparalled.

Both experienced and new guides benefit from his expertise as well as his calm and compassionate attitude. Our members are at the centre of all that he does at both Perisher and Thredbo.

Phil Knight

Phil Knight

Resort Services Manager

Phil Knight joined DWA as volunteer with DWA in 2005. Back then the idea of guiding for DWA held great appeal for Phil as he felt he could make a real contribution to people who face challenges that were difficult to comprehend and that, to Phil, seemed overwhelming.

Phil has been a skier since the mid-1980’s, living in Kinglake during summer and Harrietville during winter. He is passionate about skiing, the Australian mountains (particularly Mt Hotham), and sharing experiences of both with others.

Phil's current role with DWA, as Resort Services Manager for Mt Hotham, sees him manage training programs for new and existing guides (regional to the Mt Hotham area), manage an adaptive equipment program specific to Mt Hotham, manage allocation of local volunteer guides and adaptive equipment as required by DWA members who are skiing and snowboarding independently at Mt Hotham (i.e. not as part of a camp but with family and friends), and provide a central point of contact for DWA members and the wider Mt Hotham community for all things related to adaptive skiing and disability access at Mt Hotham.

If you’re interested in adaptive snowsports, becoming a DWA guide at Mt Hotham, or supporting DWA operations at Mt Hotham generally, please contact Phil.

Nick Ames

Nick Ames

Resort Services COORDINATOR

After 27 years working in the AFL, initially as Physio to the Geelong Cats and then for the last 10 years as consultant physio to the AFL National Academy and Draft Combine, Nick stepped away from footy to spend the 2018 season at Mt Hotham. He is a keen skier and qualified as a DWA guide and is excited to work with Phil Knight and the rest of the Hotham DWA team.

Having a "home base" at Hotham has also allowed Nick to do some part time physio work at the Hotham Medical Centre, as well as spending some time skiing with his youngest son, William - a level 3 APSI instructor.

Paula McCall

Paula McCall

Resort Services Manager

Paula McCall has skied at Mt Buller since the 1980s. Paula worked as a secondary school teacher for over 15 years with many responsibilities including that of College Organiser. Since 2010, Paula and her family have spent as much of the wintertime as possible skiing at Mt Buller. In 2019 Paula became a Level 1 APSI Ski Instructor and qualified as a volunteer guide with DWA. In 2019 Paula was nominated for the Simon Lo Schiavo Volunteer of the Year. In 2021, Paula participated as a mentor at the Special Olympics Victoria Athlete Leadership Camp held at Mt Buller. Paula is currently training to gain her Level 2 APSI accreditation.

Robbie Peime

Robbie Peime

Partnerships officer

Lincoln Budge

Lincoln Budge

RESORT SERVICES CO-ORDINATOR

Amy Want

Amy Want

NATIONAL CAMPS MANAGER

Amy comes to DWA having worked in Snowsports at Thredbo for the last 5 years. She brings 20 years of experience in planning and delivering major events and programs for organisations such as the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust, Hockey NSW and Football NSW.

Amy and her family moved from Sydney’s northern beaches to Jindabyne in 2016, intending to spend just 12 months in the region, but - as is common amongst people here - instantly fell in love with the mountain lifestyle and the community, and now calls the Snowy Mountains home.

In addition to her passion for snow sports in the winter and mountain biking and wakeboarding in the summer, Amy is also an accredited Swim Coach who still finds herself helping out teaching swimming at the local pool every now and then.

Melinda Brown

Melinda Brown GAICD

Treasurer

Melinda is a Senior Executive with thirty years of experience across a variety of industry sectors, as well as not-for-profit management and government relations. Specialising in marketing and communications to generate and drive income, she is an experienced leader and mentor, with extensive experience in strategy and policy at an organisational level, as well as working with governments in Australia and internationally.

 Melinda has led projects around the world across sectors including disability support, aged care, community services, retail, sport & recreation and tourism & hospitality. The wide-ranging stakeholder collaboration during these projects has afforded her enormous insight and expertise in regard to the myriad issues impacting these sectors.

 As well as holding a Bachelor of Arts (Tourism Management), she is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and holds a number of business and education qualifications.

Dividing her time between homes in Sydney and Jindabyne, she is a keen skier and is passionate about the vital role DWA, our staff and volunteers play in supporting our members to participate in all manner of snow and other alpine activities.

Melinda was elected to the DWA Board in 2019, succeeding Richard Rodd as Vice President and was appointed President in March 2023 and Treasurer in November 2025.

Katherine Simmons

Katherine Simmons

MEMBERSHIP CO-ORDINATOR

Katherine has worked at Disabled Wintersport Australia for many years in various roles, most recently as Membership Coordinator, based in the Melbourne Head Office.  She assists members with camps and resort services requests and as an avid sit-skier for over 20 years in Australia, New Zealand and Japan, there aren't too many DWA-related questions that Katherine can't answer.  She also looks after DWA databases and her experience in IT is often called on to help out her colleagues across the organisation. 

Gabrielle Parton

Gabrielle Parton

COMMUNICATIONS Assistant

Based at the DWA Head Office in Melbourne, Gabi undertakes all manner of communication related tasks such as interacting with DWA members, associated parties, businesses & organisations. Gabi also assists in the planning, creation and monitoring of all social media and communications & marketing collateral so as to continually enhance the positive exposure of DWA for the wider community.

Elizabeth Adam

Elizabeth Adam

vice President

Elizabeth (Libby) Adam is a senior human resources professional specialising in Organisational Change, Development and Talent Management. She has a vast experience with multi-national corporations across the manufacturing and retail sectors in both specialist and generalist HR roles. Through the application of her specialty, Libby has helped focus strategic directions for both GM Holden and Target – improving their agility and training programs. Before working in HR, Libby acquired a BSc in Sport Science, an area of passion for her, and has a strong interest in golf, wakeboarding, AFL, and skiing.

Melanie Rigby

Melanie Rigby

BOARD MEMBER

Melanie is a passionate property professional - a Project Management leader with over 25 years of commercial contracting and consulting experience in the property and  construction industry, across Australia and Asia, with a key emphasis on commercial, contract and stakeholder management.

A professional with great positivity, energy and drive, Melanie loves being involved in all aspects of the property sector, her current global role as Principal (Projects) for BHP Property & Workplace allows her to have a global oversight of the BHP Commercial Office portfolio projects.
Prior to BHP she performed a similar role for Australia Post, as well as 10 years with a national building contractor and 10 years as an Architect in Asia.

A keen cross-country and alpine skier as well as hiker, Melanie was able to continue a lifelong love affair with the Australian Alps after a chance introduction to DWA enabled her entire family to find their freedom on snow, including her son who lives with disability.

Murray Bartram

Murray Bartram

President

Murray joins the DWA Board with a deep understanding of winter snowsports and participating in those sports as a person with disability.

He is a project management professional with significant on-snow experience as a DWA guide across a range of adaptive disciplines and has participated in adaptive programs in both Canada and the USA.

A passionate skier and mountain biker, Murray has a unique perspective on adaptive sports, as well as a solid understanding of the snowsports industry. He brings a wealth of lived-experience knowledge and that of being a guide.

Murray is a strong advocate for the positive effects of recreational activities with the cerebral palsy community and is a Board and Committee Member of Cerebral Palsy Sport and Recreation Association.

He brings to DWA’s Board well-developed administration, communication, and project management skills.

Captain Richard de Crespigny

Captain Richard de Crespigny

PATRON
APPOINTED 2013

Richard is the first Patron of Disabled Wintersport Australia.

Disabled Wintersport Australia has existed for more than 35 years.  It was started by a group of people who really believed in that often quoted phrase '…Everyone should be able to have a go…'

In the case of DWA …having a go…meant that the words had to be turned into working partnerships. Partnerships which would build the trust of families, governments (federal state and regional), sport and health professionals, the national disability service providers’ network, and the alpine and ski resort industry.

To deliver these programs DWA has recruited and trained a wonderful ‘army’ of volunteer ski-guides and starting with Finsko’s (purposely access built) ski lodge in Jindabyne NSW, has gone on to provide accessible accommodation to its growing membership in the rugged Australian alpine wonderland of NSW and Victoria. 

Since the announcement of my appointment as Patron of DWA, along with my wife Coral, I have had the opportunity to join many DWA members, their families, our staff and volunteers and experienced the joy and exhilarating sense of wellbeing experienced at both the ski fields in NSW and Victoria. In this challenging environment our members with a disability ‘have a go’ learning to ski and snowboard.

DWA has embarked on major projects with the governments of NSW and Victoria and the snow industry. The objective is to ensure opportunities for people with a disability to join their able bodied friends and family, continue to become more readily available. For many DWA members participating in snow sport at a recreational level is a significant achievement, while many take snow sport to the level of the international world cup circuit.  

My invitation to you now is to become a partner to our endeavors. I would like to invite your friends, your families, your school communities or your colleagues and share the challenges, benefits and often life changing experiences that …being able to have a go can deliver to us all.

As one of the newest members of the DWA family, I ask all Australians to provide their support for it is the most worthy cause and my greatest endeavor. I look forward to welcoming you all to being a part of this great organisation.

Cheers,
Richard de Crespigny.