Snow Australia confirms new Alpine Director Appointment

Snow Australia is pleased to confirm the appointment of Shawn Fleming as Alpine Director.

Shawn comes to the role with a wealth of experience working with Alpine and Ski Cross over the past decade in Australia and abroad and having acted as Alpine Director since the departure of Mick Branch in May of this year. Shawn co-authored the 2018 Alpine Review and developed the subsequent recommendations alongside Mick Branch. With an extensive knowledge of the Alpine pathway and the FTEM pathway framework, Shawn brings a high level of expertise both in high performance and strategy in terms of raising the level of athlete and coaching skill within the clubs and the broader pathway.

Snow Australia CEO Michael Kennedy said: “I am delighted that Shawn has accepted the role of Alpine Director. He is a skilled and knowledgeable professional who understands our system and our clubs.

“Shawn has been instrumental in the review and subsequent implementation of the new Alpine strategy and his appointment completes a new look leadership for Alpine in Australia with Matt Lyons taking on the role of Alpine Committee Chair last month. It is an exciting time for the Alpine community.”

Shawn will balance the Alpine Director responsibilities with his complementary role as Head Coach of the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia Ski Cross Program during the Northern winter months.

To further boost Shawn’s appointment Snow Australia will provide additional, year-round, resources to Alpine to support the Alpine Director and the broader Alpine strategy.

Rebecca Clark will take on an expanded role assisting Shawn and the Alpine discipline along with her existing whole of sport pathway responsibilities. Rebecca also comes with a huge amount of expertise and experience in Alpine as well as the whole of sport pathway. She has been instrumental in rolling out the FTEM framework, not only for Alpine but across all the sport disciplines. Rebecca will continue her pathway role in addition to working closely with Shawn and the Alpine community as the National Alpine & Pathway Coordinator.

New Snow Australia Alpine Chair Matt Lyons added: “The on-going appointment of Shawn and Rebecca to these highly complementary roles is an exciting development for the Alpine disciplines in Australia. The importance of providing support and expertise to the pathway is paramount. Ensuring the development of skills, quality coaching and aligned programming in the engine rooms of our sport – programs and clubs - is important for Snow Australia as a whole and an essential piece in developing and supporting future champions. Shawn and Bec’s commitment to these factors is unquestionable and we welcome the recognition of that through these appointments.”

Shawn and Rebecca coming on board in their respective roles significantly increases the capacity and resources available to Snow Australia’s Alpine discipline. Both Rebecca and Shawn will start in their roles effective immediately.