NCW 2025 | Former athletes driving the future of Australian snowsports

As National Careers Week shines a spotlight on career development and opportunity, Snow Australia is proud to celebrate the athletes who have transitioned from elite competition to impactful roles behind the scenes.

These individuals are not only shaping the future of Australian snowsports but are also ensuring that the knowledge, culture, and values of high-performance sport are passed on to the next generation.

Among them is Nicole Parks, a former Olympian in mogul skiing, who now serves as Operations Manager at the National Snowsports Training Centre (NSTC) in Jindabyne. Nicole competed for Australia at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and spent years on the World Cup tour before turning and now focuses on delivering the support young athletes need to go to the next level..

Three-time Winter Olympian Sami Sim now plays a pivotal role as Snow Australia’s National Pathway & Sport Development Coordinator. Having experienced firsthand the challenges and triumphs of elite competition, Sami brings a unique perspective and energy to her work in developing clear, inclusive, and sustainable athlete pathways across disciplines.

For Bobbi Kelly, a former World Champion sighted guide in Para Alpine skiing, the passion for Para sport has translated into her current role as Snow Australia’s Para Pathways Lead. Kelly guided skier Melissa Perrine to podiums around the globe and now dedicates her time to building programs that open doors for athletes with disabilities.

The impact of former athletes doesn’t stop there. Snow Australia alum and Olympic gold medallist Alisa Camplin will lead the Australian Olympic Winter Team as Chef de Mission at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympic Games. Known for her historic aerials victory at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, Camplin brings decades of experience as an athlete, mentor and corporate leader.

Joining her as Deputy Chef de Mission will be another former skier, Katya Crema, who represented Australia in ski cross at two Olympic Games. With a background in architecture and leadership, Crema continues to advocate for athlete welfare and long-term development in sport.

Ramone Cooper, a three-time Olympian in mogul skiing who has taken on senior leadership roles at every Winter Olympic and Winter Youth Olympic Games since 2018. Most recently, Cooper was appointed General Director of the International Ski Mountaineering Federation, marking another milestone in the global influence of Australian snow sport alumni.

Ryan Taylor, Snow Australia’s General Manager - Corporate Services, says the organisation is both proud and grateful to have so many former athletes returning to support the sport in meaningful ways.

“There’s something incredibly powerful about athletes coming full circle,” Taylor said. “They’ve lived the highs and lows of elite competition, and now they’re using that experience to make a real difference.

“Whether it’s in program development, operations, international leadership or mentorship, their contributions are helping build a more robust and athlete-centred sport system.”

Taylor adds that having former athletes in key roles strengthens Snow Australia’s culture of excellence and resilience.

“They understand what it takes to succeed, but also what needs to change and evolve,” he said. “Their voices are essential in creating programs that are not only high performance-focused but also supportive of athlete wellbeing, education, and life after sport.

“Having former athletes such as Britt Cox, Scott Kneller and Brodie Summers on boards and committees at Snow Australia and the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia ensures there are strong voices to champion the needs of our enormously successful crop of snowsports athletes.”