“People do not decide to become extraordinary. They decide to accomplish extraordinary things.”
– Sir Edmund Hillary

About Hillary Outdoors

Hillary Outdoors is a charitable trust dedicated to providing transformative outdoor education experiences to New Zealanders, especially young people. Through adventure-based learning, we empower participants to grow, connect, and discover their potential in the natural environment.

Since opening our first centre beside Tongariro National Park in 1972, we have continued to evolve. In 2006, we established a second centre on Aotea Great Barrier Island, which operated until May 2024. Challenges around access and the cost of operating in a remote location led to the centre’s closure. In 2024, we established a new site in the Coromandel, with a marine and conservation focus.

Alongside our centres, we run a nationally acclaimed series of adventure racing events for rangatahi, fostering teamwork, resilience, and leadership across Aotearoa.

Hillary Outdoors is a values-driven organisation. Our kaupapa is to introduce young people to the outdoors and inspire personal growth by encouraging them to explore what values—such as perseverance, integrity, and compassion—are important to them and to society. These values are reflected in the legacy of our founder, Sir Graeme Dingle, and our present patrons, Sir Edmund Hillary, Sir Graeme Dingle, and Alexander Hillary, Sir Edmund Hillary’s grandson.

Trustee opportunity – join our Board

We are seeking two new trustees to join the Hillary Outdoors Board as part of our ongoing board rotation and succession planning. We currently have eight trustees with diverse backgrounds and experiences across Aotearoa and are now looking to add further expertise and energy as we develop and implement our long-term strategy.

Key attributes

We are looking for trustees who are:

• Passionate about outdoor education and its role in preparing young people for a thriving and meaningful future.
• Strategic thinkers.
• Open to diverse perspectives and respectful of others’ viewpoints. 
• Confident in decision-making and willing to take responsibility.
• Committed to ethical governance in a not-for-profit context.
• Strong communicators—both verbal and written.
• Collaborative team players, willing to listen and learn.
• Culturally responsive, valuing the diversity of Aotearoa’s people and communities

Specific skills/experience sought

We welcome expressions of interest from individuals with experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Entrepreneurship
• Health and Safety leadership
• Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC).

This is a voluntary role, ideally suited to someone who wants to give back to communities across Aotearoa and positively influence the lives of young people through outdoor education.

Commitment required

• Four full-day, in-person board meetings annually (held in Auckland or at our centre locations).
• Up to six 1-hour virtual meetings per year.
• Additional time as required to support board committees aligned to your expertise.

Term

• Three-year term.

How to apply

Please send your CV and a cover letter outlining why you would be an ideal trustee to Julie Simpson at: simpsonjulie@xtra.co.nz

Applications close: 11 July 2025