Our Trustees

Vickie has been climbing for over 25 years throughout North America, Canada, Europe, and Australasia. While her climbing psych started on gear at Frog Buttress, it has since expanded to both bouldering and sport climbing. She is the proud mother of two boys, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Management, a Graduate Diploma, and a Master of Industrial Relations. 

Vickie has been the Managing Director of CI Consulting for over 18 years, specialising in working with Boards and Management teams on some of Australasia’s most complex infrastructure projects in road, rail and water. Vickie brings a balance of business experience, industry knowledge, and an understanding of climbing and its rich culture to her role on the ACAT board.

Erica is a well-rounded climber. She is a boulderer, climbs sport, trad, and also is well versed in the competition scene. She has travelled the world for climbing and has been competing for 12 years both nationally and internationally, while being heavily involved in the climbing community throughout. She has been a climbing coach, an instructor at NZAC youth climbing camps, a member of the Climbing NZ committee, and she organised the Flock Fest bouldering festival held at Flock Hill in 2019. 

Erica grew up in Auckland and is currently based in Palmerston North while studying for a Bachelor of Veterinary Science. Her enthusiasm for climbing is infectious. Erica aims to be a familiar and friendly face that can represent the climbing community, encouraging climbers in all aspects of the sport to protect access for climbing in NZ.

Erin's first climbing experience was bouldering at Castle Hill in early 2007. She went home euphoric, with raw and bleeding fingertips, and a new fascination for this weird sport which has since turned into a life-long love. These days she mostly splits her time between Flock Hill in the winter, and the Cave in summer.

A member of the New Zealand Alpine Club (NZAC) Publications Committee, Erin has utilised her professional design skills and contributed to various design and development projects including the redesign of climbnz.org.nz, the creation of the ACAT logo, and branding the Tūpiki Trust. She has also published several articles in both the Climber and the NZAJ.

Alongside partner Derek Thatcher she runs the CHB bouldering database, which has grown to be a community of thousands of likeminded limestone lovers, and a medium for promoting awareness and education about sustainable practises to minimise the impacts of climbing in the Basin, and to encourage all climbers to care for the area and its unique flora and fauna.

James shares a passion for New Zealand nature, in particular our forests and alpine spaces and rock climbing. He's been climbing for over twenty years, with origins in the gym as a competitive sport climber, but now balances commitments with a young family, busy job, and low-key training during the week with a hopeful day-trip in the weekends to nearby crags and sectors in Christchurch and Castle Hill.

James' professional experience stems from working in teams as a facilitator and designer, helping steer delivery of complex initiatives for the local and central government sector, improving how things are done and maximising investment value against priorities and constraints.

He shares concerns with the climbing community and the ability to be organised to manage, maintain and improve access and access relations for climbing areas and hopes to see improvements in this space through collaborative efforts of ACAT, climbers and other aligned organisations and initiatives.

A life-long climbing lover, business owner, and proud father, Andy has been involved in ACAT since before our first discussions with NZAC. Andy has put his business experience to good use in helping guide the organisation through its early stages. 

He took over management of Maungarei Springs in 2017 and is the NZAC Auckland Crag Manager for the Auckland region. Andy is passionate about enabling access for current climbers and future generations, his son is a keen outdoor enthusiast who loves camping and accessing our wild places. He runs outdoor meets at his home crag of Maungarei Springs to introduce the young, and the young at heart to climbing. 

Andy has been climbing since he could reach both sides of the door frame and climbs throughout the North Island. Has set routes at Maungarei Springs and Ti Point and one of his earliest climbing memories is being on top of Mead’s Wall during the 1987 Edgecumbe earthquake – fastest abseil ever!

Will began climbing 16 years ago in a dusty forgotten bouldering cave at the Victoria University recreation centre, and was immediately hooked. Initially drawn to the bohemian joys of Paynes Ford  (and the allure of the outdoor pizza oven at Hangdog campground) he later found his preferred niche in bouldering. One the rare occasion that family life is less chaotic, he can sometimes be spotted at Turakirae Head, working projects that are too hard for him and complaining about his skin.

Career-wise, Will is an experienced people leader and project manager with proven success in the international development, Government, education and youth development sectors. He’s worked extensively in both domestic and overseas environments, managing multi-million-dollar projects and programmes, including global citizenship education programs, large-scale events, re-brands, restructures, change processes, advocacy campaigns and more.

Mario has been a dedicated member of the Auckland climbing community for 15 years. His contributions include rebolting Ti Point alongside Christian Gamst and working on community projects at Maungarei Springs. He is passionate about promoting a culture of safety and collaboration within the climbing scene. Mario can be found at Boulder Co or EE most days of the week, and on real rock whenever the weather holds up.

Professionally, Mario works in technical solutions, where he excels at collaborating with clients to identify challenges and deliver robust, sustainable outcomes. He brings this problem-solving mindset and commitment to sustainability into his climbing advocacy, aiming to support and strengthen the climbing community for future generations.