Snow Australia congratulates Geoff Henke for his contribution to Australian sport
Published Thu 17 Nov 2022
Snow Australia congratulates Geoff Henke AO for his outstanding contribution to the development of snowsports in Australia, as he recently announced his retirement from the role of Chair of the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (OWIA).
A life member of Snow Australia, the Australian Olympic Committee, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) and Ice Hockey Australia, Geoff Henke is widely credited with kickstarting the development of winter sports in our country, leading the snow community onto a journey that transformed Australia into a significant presence at the Winter Olympic Games.
In a long and successful sport administration career, Henke also held the role of Chef de Mission of the Australian Olympic Winter team for six Games, from 1976 to 1994.
The 1976 Olympics in particular were a watershed moment for the Australian snow sports movement, one which Henke pinpointed as the start of the modern representation of Australia at the Winter Games.
Geoff Henke was the inaugural Chair of the OWIA, having held the role since its inception in 1998.
He is succeeded by OWIA Deputy Chair, FIS Council Member and former Snow Australia Chair Dean Gosper, who earlier this month stepped down from his role at Snow Australia, in a planned transition that saw new Snow Australia President Daniel Bosco unanimously elected as his successor.
Image Credit: Chris Hocking/OWIA
