FROM THE AERIALS TO THE EXECUTIVE SUITE: ABBEY WILLCOX ON LIFE BEYOND THE JUMP

For National Careers Week, we sat down with Milano Cortina 2026 Olympian and Brisbane Broncos Game Day Operations Executive, Abbey Willcox, to talk about career paths, networking, and why having a life outside snow is one of the best things she's ever done for her skiing.

Abbey Willcox has always known how to stick a landing. After a decade of hard work on the aerial skiing circuit, including bronze medals at Deer Valley World Cup, a historic Australian World Cup podium sweep and a spot in the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic final, she has proven herself one of the most resilient athletes in the Australian Aerials programme.

But ask Abbey about the other side of her life, and you'll quickly discover that her ambition doesn't stop on the snow. Abbey balances her elite training load with a role as Game Day Operations Executive at the Brisbane Broncos, one of the NRL's most iconic clubs.

"I always knew I wanted to work in sport, I just wasn't sure what role I wanted. So I got some experience across different areas and worked it out from there.

"It's fast-paced, high-energy and there is never a dull moment. I was really attracted to the operational side of things, and adding the element of some of the biggest sporting events made it exactly the kind of role I was after."

Abbey's path to the Broncos is a masterclass in the power of networking and the value of saying yes to every opportunity.

"Networking has definitely helped me. Having a connection that helps you get a foot in the door is huge, especially in sport. 

“But in order to do that you need to look at different avenues like offering to volunteer or do work experience, that maybe doesn’t pay you but it is a great way to start."

Her own journey began through the AIS Practitioner Referral Network, thanks to Sharyn Donaghy, who put her in touch with the Broncos. 

What started as a four-week work experience placement turned into casual merchandise work, then a role in marketing, and eventually her current position in game day operations.

Balancing an elite sporting career with a professional role isn't without its challenges. 

"It's not always easy, it takes negotiation on both sides with your bosses and coaches, but it can be really rewarding. 

"For me, having something outside of sport has actually helped my performance because I like having something to balance the intensity of training and competing."

The Broncos, she says, have been a genuinely supportive environment to grow in.

"They were really helpful. It helps that they're a high-performing organisation… they understand what elite performance looks like.

"It was really important to me to have a professional career alongside my sporting career, because you never know with things like injury or other setbacks, it’s good to have something alongside my sport."

That resilience was on full display at Milano Cortina 2026, where Abbey realised her Olympic dream, reaching the women's aerials final and finishing fourth in the mixed team event alongside Dani Scott and Reilly Flanagan.

"Milan was a crazy journey, there were lots of roadblocks and ups and downs.

"But with all those challenges, when you finally achieve those goals, it's even sweeter."

"Once I got there though, Milan was incredible. I felt all the emotions, nerves, excitement, joy and now upon reflection, back at work and back home, I'm super happy with my Olympic Games."

Abbey's advice for snow sport athletes considering their career options is simple: start early, be curious, and don't underestimate the value of your network.

Volunteering at events, reaching out to organisations like the AIS for career support, and being willing to start in an entry-level role, these are the moves that opened doors for Abbey, and they can do the same for others.

Because as any aerialist knows, the best jumps are built on a solid foundation.