2026 SNOW SUMMIT IS OVER! OUTCOMES REPORT TO BE RELEASED SOON
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SUMMIT SPEAKERS & PANELS
bRITT COX
Event Host/MC
Britt Cox is a four-time Winter Olympian and 2017 World Champion in freestyle mogul skiing, and one of Australia’s leading voices in winter sport.
She now works as a commentator and presenter across major winter sports broadcasts, and serves as a Director of the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia. Alongside her work in sport, Britt is a consultant specialising in leadership, culture and performance.
Britt brings a unique perspective across sport, media and industry, and is passionate about the future growth of the Australian snow sector.
PETER Brulisauer
Strategic Session: Is it all downhill from here? Reflections on Australia’s Snow Industry: The Realities, Challenges, and Opportunities Ahead.
Peter Brulisauer is an experienced tourism and resort executive whose career spans leadership of the Southern Hemisphere’s most iconic alpine and island destinations. Pete’s connection to Australia’s alpine industry began in Perisher Valley in his parents’ hotels and restaurants, giving him deep, practical insight into mountain hospitality from a young age.
Pete currently serves as Vice President, International Business Development at Alterra Mountain Company, where he is leading long term international growth initiatives. Previously, Pete was Chief Executive Officer of Hamilton Island, guiding Australia’s most prominent island destination in the post-Covid period and through significant reinvestment and experience development.
Before his move to the Whitsundays, Pete spent over two decades in senior leadership roles at Perisher and Vail Resorts. During his tenure at Perisher, he rose through operational and executive ranks to become Chief Executive Officer in 2006. At Vail Resorts, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer - Australia and Perisher, with responsibility for all operations in Australia, following Vail Resorts’ acquisition of Perisher, Hotham and Falls Creek, and playing a key leadership role in these transitions.
Pete was central to major innovations in the alpine industry in Australia, including the introduction of the Perisher Freedom Pass and the Epic Australia Pass both delivering unprecedented value to Australian skiers and snowboarders and significant uplift in resort visits. Pete held directorships with Tourism Snowy Mountains and the Australian Ski Areas Association (now Snow Resorts Australia), where he was also Chairman.
ASHLEY FELL
Strategic Sessions:
* Day 1 - How Guests Choose Snow: The New Decision Journey
* Day 2 - Navigating the Peak: Trends Shaping the Future
Ashley Fell is a leading social researcher and futurist dedicated to helping organisations make sense of a rapidly changing world. With over a decade of research experience, Ashley unpacks the shifts in culture, technology, and generations that are reshaping the future of work and leadership.
A trusted media commentator and the author of Work Wellbeing and Generation Alpha, Ashley is renowned for her ability to turn complex data into stories people remember. Her keynotes are designed not just to inform, but to inspire. With clarity and warmth, Ashley equips audiences with the essential insight and foresight needed to lead with confidence into the future.
The Hon. Kristy mcbain Mp
* Official Event Opening
* 'Hidden Giant' Panel
From her early days in Traralgon in Victoria, to raising a family on the NSW Far South Coast – Kristy McBain has dedicated herself to being a fierce advocate for regional communities and dedicated local representative.
Kristy studied law at the University of Canberra – the first in her family to attend university, and is also the first woman to represent the seat of Eden-Monaro in NSW, following a by-election in 2020.
Prior to entering Parliament, Kristy worked as a lawyer and served on the Bega Valley Shire both as an elected member and later Mayor.
As Mayor, she led her community through the devastating 2019-2020 Black Summer Bushfires, and this tireless commitment and leadership has continued in her role as Member for Eden-Monaro.
Now as Minister for Emergency Management, Kristy is focused on reducing disaster risk, and strengthening our emergency management and disaster recovery capabilities.
As Federal Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, Kristy is also focused on collaborating with local leaders across our regions to harness opportunities and to build thriving regional economies.
From providing more skills and employment opportunities, enhancing access to key services, improving infrastructure and connectivity, and ensuring communities are better prepared for natural disasters – Kristy is a strong voice in Canberra for the issues impacting regional Australia.
ANDREW MCDOUGALl
The Hidden Giant: Snow’s Surprising Role in Australia’s Regional Economy
For two decades Andrew has been a Principal & Partner at SGS Economics & Planning.
Andrew delivers rigorous analysis and insights to help government, institutional and business leaders make informed public policy decisions and improve community welfare, while serving organisational objectives. This work includes demand projections, supply optimisation, feasibility analysis, socio-economic appraisal, full business case development, and the prioritisation of available funding for government agencies.
Andrew helps land, infrastructure and service providers strategically think and rigorously analyse investment options so available funding streams can be tapped to optimise investment. His experience spans urban development, transport and foreign investment projects, along with education, health, cultural, recreation, tourism and environmental initiatives.
Lori modde
Moderator - 'Hidden Giant' Panel
Moderator - Industry Roundtable
Lori Modde is a senior executive, board director and an industry advocate with more than 30 years’ leadership experience across commercial enterprise, local government, state government and peak bodies spanning community development and visitor economy. She is the current CEO of Outdoors NSW & ACT and has led significant organisational growth since commencing in 2020 (the first day of COVID-19 lockdown)—expanding turnover from $150,000 to $1.5 million in five years—while strengthening member services, stakeholder partnerships, advocacy and sustainable operations.
Previously, Lori was Senior Manager, Place Activation & Strategy at Sydney Olympic Park Authority, leading place-making, community and economic development, customer service, arts/culture/heritage and major events across a $5M portfolio. She also held a multi-portfolio leadership role at The Hills Shire Council, overseeing civic and major events, venues, community development and economic development with an $11M budget.
Lori is the current Chair of the Outdoor Council of Australia and holds key governance roles across tourism, community and environmental organisations, including the NSW Tourism Association (co-founder and immediate past Chair) and Australian Tourism Awards (Chair of Judges). She holds an MBA and business governance qualifications, and is recognised for her contribution, including the 2024 Service to Outdoor Education in Australia award and the 2023 Outstanding Contribution to Tourism in NSW.
Lisa patroni
'Hidden Giant' Panel
Lisa Patroni is the CEO of the Victorian Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) and a strategic leader across tourism, events and public land.
With more than 25 years’ experience, she is recognised for driving innovation, leading cultural transformation and engaging diverse stakeholders. Lisa is known for aligning vision with impact and shaping a resilient, inclusive and future‑focused visitor economy for Victoria.
nathan butterworth
'Hidden Giant' Panel
Nathan Butterworth became Vice President and General Manager of Perisher Ski Resort in 2023, bringing more than 25 years of experience in the snow industry. He began his career in corporate finance with J.P. Morgan and Telstra, before a chance introduction to Perisher while working as an investment banker led him to shift into the alpine sector in 2002.
Nathan spent two decades at Perisher as a Business Analyst and later Resort Services Director, before taking on the role of Vice President and General Manager at Mount Hotham in 2021. In 2023, he returned to Perisher as Vail Resorts’ most senior executive in Australia, with oversight of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest ski resort and the corporate functions supporting Perisher, Falls Creek and Hotham.
A Melbourne University graduate with a Bachelor of Commerce and recipient of the Lou Gouldberg Prize for Best Honours Year Thesis, Nathan is known as an innovative and strategic leader. He played a key commercial role in the introduction of the Freedom Pass and its evolution into the Epic Australia Pass, RFID ticketing, a $30 million snowmaking expansion, and major lift infrastructure projects including the $26 million Mt Perisher 6, opened in 2025.
Driven by a strong sense of custodianship for the alpine environment, Nathan is committed to sustainable growth and leaving the mountains in a better place for future generations. Outside of work, he balances mountain life with family time, sharing his passion for the snow with his partner Jo and their children, Charli and Jackson.
Richard everson
Moderator - 'Beyond the Mountains' Panel
Richard Everson is the General Manager of Destination Southern NSW, where he leads the strategic promotion and development of one of Australia’s most diverse regional tourism destinations.
With a strong background in destination marketing and regional tourism, Richard works closely with industry, government and local operators to grow visitation, strengthen regional economies and enhance the visitor experience across Southern NSW.
He brings a practical, collaborative approach to tourism development, with a focus on connecting destinations, building partnerships and ensuring regional communities are well positioned to benefit from a growing visitor economy.
Olivia West
'Beyond the Mountains' Panel
Olivia West is the Chief Executive Officer of Regional Development Australia Southern NSW & ACT, where she leads a cross-border region spanning Southern NSW and the ACT, working with government, industry and communities to drive economic growth, strengthen workforce capability and support long-term regional resilience.
Since commencing in May 2024, Olivia has led RDASNA’s focus on translating regional insights into practical action — convening stakeholders through initiatives such as the Regional Connect series and delivering a suite of evidence-based reports, including recent work on tourism, workforce, transport and housing. This includes the Southern NSW & ACT Tourism Roundtable Outcomes Report, which brought together industry leaders to identify opportunities to strengthen the visitor economy, improve connectivity and better align investment across the region.
With over 20 years’ experience in the NSW public sector, Olivia has held senior executive roles in regional development, insights and analytics, and disaster recovery. She has led major economic development initiatives and played a key role in responding to complex regional challenges, including bushfires, floods and critical infrastructure disruptions. Her experience provides a strong understanding of how regions adapt to change and how coordinated action across sectors can deliver more sustainable outcomes.
Olivia brings a broad regional perspective to discussions on the snow industry, recognising its critical role not only as a tourism driver, but as a contributor to regional jobs, infrastructure investment and community vitality. She is particularly focused on how alpine and snow-based economies connect with surrounding regional centres — supporting workforce mobility, year-round visitation and diversified economic opportunities.
Through her work, Olivia advocates for more integrated approaches between industry, communities and government — ensuring that investment decisions reflect regional realities, infrastructure keeps pace with demand, and local communities are supported to benefit from growth while maintaining resilience in the face of environmental and economic change.
michelle lovell
'Beyond the Mountains' Panel
Michelle Lovell is the President of the Falls Creek Chamber of Commerce, a member of ARIAG, a representative on the Falls Creek Stakeholder Consultative Committee, and an Executive of the Falls Creek Race Club. With two decades of experience across tourism, aviation, hospitality, and destination development, Michelle brings a uniquely comprehensive perspective to mountain resort leadership.
Her career began in the airline industry at just 20 years old, travelling the world while completing her commerce and public relations studies—often from the upper‑deck galley of a 747 between Melbourne and Los Angeles. She progressed into management, product development, and service design before shifting industries and joining Searoad Ferries as part of its transformation management team. There, she helped steer the organisation from a transport provider into a leading tourism experience, working alongside industry leaders and contributing to projects with the Australian Tourism Export Council, the Victorian Tourism Industry Council, and Business Events Victoria.
Michelle later moved into theme park management, leading sales growth and experience development, before her family’s “Snow‑Change” brought them to Falls Creek. In 2021—during the second year of COVID—she and her family took on Lakeside, transforming a run‑down former staff lodge into a thriving on‑mountain hotel, restaurant, and bar. It was here that Michelle discovered the true power of community, as the Falls Creek region endured bushfires, multiple pandemic disruptions, a major landslide that cut road access, and several challenging snow seasons—yet continued to show extraordinary resilience.
As a business owner and hands‑on general manager, Michelle advocates passionately through each of her committee roles for strong, sustainable, visitor‑focused alpine destinations. Her work is grounded in ensuring Victoria’s snow resorts deliver the best possible experience for every guest, while protecting the vibrant communities that make mountain life extraordinary.
Kirsten Alexander
'Beyond the Mountains' Panel
Kirsten was appointed to the role of CEO of Mansfield Shire Council in September 2022, having joined Council in mid-2020 as General Manager Infrastructure and Planning. Prior to joining Council, Kirsten held executive team roles at the Mt Buller alpine resort and at ARTC, leading multi-disciplinary teams in challenging and diverse environments including as Project Director for the $11.3m Mt Buller Water Storage project
Her local government experience includes senior leadership roles with councils in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, including four years as Mayor of the City of Charles Sturt. This is where she developed her passion for engaging with the community. Since then, she has continued to build great relationships with community groups and leaders, and to lead the successful delivery of projects in partnership with community. Kirsten has a Bachelor of Engineering and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Stuart Diver
The Year-Round Question: What Actually Drives Value Beyond Winter?
Stuart Diver is currently General Manager of Thredbo Resort. Stuart’s business experience is wide and varied having a Bachelor of Applied Science (Hospitality Studies) and working across many areas of the corporate spectrum including a career as a corporate speaker. Stuart is also involved in a number of Boards and Committees focused on Tourism as well as the wider Charity sector.
He is passionate about Thredbo and the Snowy Mountains region and is very focused on what the Tourism sector can contribute to the region. Thredbo is a leader in the Alpine resorts field with year round visitation and providing a premium experience being a core part of the strategy that drives the Thredbo business. Employing over 1200 people Thredbo is now one of the largest regional employers in the Snowy Mountains and plays a critical role in shaping the future of Tourism to the region.
Noel landry
* The Year-Round Question: What Actually Drives Value Beyond Winter?
* Pricing, Perception and Participation: Barriers To Growth
Noel Landry is General Manager of Buller Ski Lifts at Mt Buller, Victoria’s largest ski resort.
He brings a global perspective to alpine tourism, with experience across strategic marketing, stakeholder engagement and resort-wide operations, including more than 25 commercial outlets and over 800 seasonal staff. His background also includes large-scale event and venue management, giving him a broad understanding of visitor experience, regional tourism and destination operations.
Noel is also Chair of Snow Resorts Australia, where he plays a key role in representing the collective interests of Australia’s snow resorts and supporting the future direction of the industry.
Richard phillips
* Pricing, Perception and Participation: Barriers To Growth
* 'Ask Me Anything' Panel
Richard Phillips is Vice President and General Manager of Falls Creek and Hotham, taking on the dual-resort leadership role in 2025 after almost six years leading Falls Creek.
Richard has more than 25 years’ experience in the Australian snow industry, including previous sales and marketing roles at Perisher and Thredbo. At Falls Creek, he has built strong partnerships with the local community and advocated for key resort improvements, including expanded snowmaking to improve village access and the guest experience.
In his current role, Richard leads two of Victoria’s major alpine resorts, with a focus on strengthening collaboration, operational alignment and the long-term visitor experience across both mountains.
Amber gardner
* 'Ask Me Anything' Panel
Amber Gardner has worked in and around the Victorian alpine resorts for the past 20 years. Having worked in resorts in France and Austria for several years, she moved to Mt Buller in 2006 and became the Director of Marketing, Sales and Business Development for Resort Management.
She then stepped into the CEO role at Tourism North East, Victoria’s leading regional tourism board, driving strategic tourism and economic development efforts across the High Country including the major resorts.
Amber then became the CEO at Mt Hotham Resort Management, and when the resorts were all amalgamated into one entity at the end of 2022, she transitioned into the role of CEO of the resulting Alpine Resorts Victoria, now managing the State’s six alpine resorts.
As such, she has a comprehensive understanding of the strategic and operational environments of the resorts and is passionate about their success.
Lucy Blyton-Gray
* 'Ask Me Anything' Panel
Lucy Blyton-Gray began her career at Ernst & Young before moving to Westpac, building strong experience in financial strategy and governance.
She later returned to Jindabyne to join the Blyton Group, working alongside her father, Kevin Blyton. Lucy went on to serve as General Manager of both Selwyn Snow Resort and Charlotte Pass Snow Resort, leading key operational and strategic initiatives.
Following Kevin’s passing, Lucy stepped into the role of Chair of the Blyton Group. She is also a Director on several boards, including Snow Resorts Australia, Snowy Mountains Grammar School and Digital Radio Australia, and continues to lead the business while carrying forward her family’s legacy in the Australian snow industry.
Shane carter
* 'Ask Me Anything' Panel
Shane Carter is a snowsports industry veteran whose passion for the sport has shaped a career spanning retail, management, and brand strategy across Australia and internationally.
With over 30 years of snowboarding experience at home and abroad, Shane's connection to the sport goes far beyond the professional — it's a lifelong pursuit.
Before joining Burton Snowboards over 22 years ago, Shane honed his expertise managing snowsports stores both in Australia and abroad — building a deep understanding of the industry from the shop floor up.
Now serving as Senior Merchandising & Sales Director for the Asia-Pacific region, Shane oversees key markets across Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea, partnering with retailers to drive brand growth and category performance across hardware and outerwear.
As Chairman of Snowsports Industries Australia, Shane is committed to working with both the wholesale and retail network to help grow the snowsports business in Australia — drawing on more than two decades of frontline industry experience to champion the sport at a national level.
Outside of work, his love for action sports runs deep — from snowboarding to skateboarding and beyond.
