Paralympian Ben Tudhope and Olympian Laura Peel join AIS Athlete Advisory Committee

Paralympian Ben Tudhope and Olympian Laura Peel have been unveiled as the newest members of the AIS Athlete Advisory Committee.

The AIS AAC was established in August 2020 and its purpose is to make recommendations to the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) Board on matters of importance to high performance sport.

Former Para Alpine skier Mitchell Gourley previously served on the AIS Athlete Advisory Committee. Gourley retired in 2022 following the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games. 

Ben and Laura are passionate about ensuring athletes have a voice in shaping the future of high performance sport in Australia.

"Athletes play a crucial role in shaping the future of Australian high-performance
sport because they bring firsthand experience, insights, and perspectives that are indispensable for effective decision-making.

“As the ones who train, compete, and ultimately perform on the world stage, athletes possess unique knowledge about the demands, challenges, and opportunities within their respective sports.

“Empowering athletes to take leadership roles fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability, ultimately leading to a more athlete-centred and successful sporting environment." - Ben Tudhope, Para Snowboarder and Paralympic Bronze Medallist

“I've been in the game for a long time now, I hope that with my experience over 15 years in high performance sport I can provide some insights to help improve the athlete experience.

“But, more importantly I'm looking forward to listening and learning from other athletes and exploring new ideas to be able to best respond to athlete needs in a changing environment and give
athletes a voice in shaping the future of high performance sport in Australia. 

"I believe the perspectives and insights that only athletes can provide are extremely valuable, and have the potential to drive a lot of positive change. Collaboration between athletes and governing bodies is key to creating an environment where athletes can truly thrive both on and off the field of play. Something that I'm particularly passionate about is the longevity of athletes,
and empowering experienced athletes to continue their competitive careers. 

“There are so many competing priorities for athletes and this often intensifies
over time. I'm interested in learning more about how we can respond to the
changing needs of athletes to keep them, and their knowledge, skills, and experience in sport for longer." - Laura Peel, three-time Olympian and two-time Aerial Skiing World Champion