Zenith Events is committed to facilitating the development of new people and ensuring that our unique application combination of elite roping and interpersonal skills is not lost. If you would like to join us contact info@zenithevents.com.au

Ralph Gurr

MBA, GRAD DIP HRM, BED, DIP TEACH
Founder

Ralph brings 36 years’ experience event management, corporate development, human resources development, education and outdoor recreation to the Zenith Events’ team. Ralph is a successful event management consultant with over 20 years’ experience developing and managing events with a portfolio value in excess of $52 million.

Ralph developed the event model that resulted in the early success and national uptake for fundraising and promotional events known as Urban Descent before co-founding Zenith Events with Brayden West in 2013 to continue its development and broaden its success. The model has formed the basis of three national and one international fundraising excellence and innovation awards for events with various charities on route to raising in excess of $4.85 million for Australian Charities.

In addition to his work with Zenith Events, Ralph is the Managing Director of Events WA.

Brayden West

CERT IV TAE
Co-Founder

Brayden West is a co-founder of Zenith Events and is the Technical Director for all events. Brayden has 20 years’ roping experience including artificial, natural (rock), buildings and the project management / construction of artificial climbing walls. Brayden is a qualified Trainer and Assessor and conducts safety audits of climbing walls, ropes courses and vertical challenge activities, specialising in the application of risk management principles and practices to programs and events. Brayden has been working on and or managing charity roping events across Australia since 2004. Brayden prepares all technical documentation, operational protocols and staff procedures for all Zenith Events events.

In addition to his work with Zenith Events, Brayden is the Managing Director of Otech Consultants.

Pete Nidd

Pete brings in excess of 30 years of roping experience to the team, his background includes a long history of personal climbing in Australia and overseas, coordinating and delivering programs for recreational and educational groups, and delivering technical training for outdoor instructors, university students and emergency response teams. He is currently employed as a rope access technician focused primarily in the offshore oil and gas industry.

Pete has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth – Allendale Square and the WACA and Central Park
• Adelaide – Westpac House Building and Intercontinental Hotel
• Melbourne – St James Building

Ben Jeffrey

Roping experience from 1993 including artificial, natural (rock) and building environments including but not limited to the management of roping events. Develops and delivers mining, oil and gas, and fire and rope rescue training systems and emergency management operations for a Perth based Oil and Gas Company.

Ben has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth – WACA and Patterson Oval light towers, the Bell Tower, Allendale Square, Woodside Plaza and Central Park
• Sydney – AMP’s Emporis Building
• Brisbane – Colonial First State Building
• Melbourne – St James Building
• Adelaide – Intercontinental Hotel

Jonathan Marshall

Roping experience since 1999 more recently in mountain, rescue / incident response, outdoor education / recreation environments and charity events. Accredited in industrial roping applications, safety auditing and climbing wall construction. Jonathan also develops and delivers mining, oil and gas, fire, rope rescue training systems and emergency management operations for a Perth based Oil and Gas Company. Previous employment with numerous outdoor education / adventure companies Australia wide and mountaineering and climbing experience throughout Australia and internationally.

Jon has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth – Woodside Plaza and Central Park
• Sydney – AMP’s Emporis Building
• Brisbane – Colonial First State Building
• Melbourne – St James Building
• Adelaide – Westpac House Building and Intercontinental Hotel

Ryan Cotterell

Roping experience in from 1999 including artificial, natural (rock) and building environments including but not limited to the management of roping events. Ryan develops and delivers industrial rescue systems and emergency management operations for a Perth based Oil and Gas Company.

Ryan has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth – WACA and Patterson Oval light towers, Allendale Square, Woodside Plaza and Central Park
• Sydney – AMP’s Emporis Building
• Brisbane – Colonial First State Building
• Melbourne – St James Building
• Adelaide – Intercontinental Hotel

Paul Horton

Paul brings 25 years of Outdoor safety supervision working as a lead multi-pitch guide, industry recognised climbing technical safety advisor and is currently Director of Risk Management for one of Australia’s largest Outdoor Education providers. Paul has worked Guiding internationally on mountains, big wall environments and urban based abseils.

Paul has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth – Central Park
• Melbourne – St James Building.

Josh White

Roping experience since 1998 more recently in rescue / incident response, outdoor education and recreation environments, as well as charity events since 2002. Josh is a experienced trainer for Rescue From Heights, Working Safe at Heights, Undertake Vertical Rescue as well as fire based emergency response training. Josh has spent the last 7 years working as the roping subject matter expert with an emergency response training group. He facilitates the height safety , vertical rescue and many other emergency response courses for the oil and gas sector. Previous to this he spent 12 years running roping and adventure courses for an outdoor based company. Josh has developed a strong background in risk management and leadership skills in high risk environments.

Josh has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth – WACA and Patterson Oval light towers, Allendale Square and Central Park
• Melbourne – St James Building
• Adelaide – Intercontinental Hotel

Jason Maddern

Roping experience since 2008 in outdoor education and recreation environments. With both corporate and school based clients.

Jason has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth – Central Park Building
• Adelaide – Intercontinental Hotel
• Melbourne – St James Building

David Mulcahey

Roping experience since 2003 including charity events since 2005. Current Facility Manager of The Cube in Western Australia.

David has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth –  WACA and Patterson Oval light towers,  Allendale Square, Woodside Plaza and Central Park
• Sydney – AMP’s Emporis Building
• Brisbane – Colonial First State Building
• Melbourne – St James Building
• Adelaide – Westpac House Building and Intercontinental Hotel

Luke Harben

Roping experience since 2007 in outdoor education and rescue environments. Experienced trainer for Rescue From Heights, Working Safe at Heights, Undertake Vertical Rescue as well as fire based emergency response training. Currently working for FEAS

Luke has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth –  WACA and Patterson Oval light towers,  Allendale Square, Woodside Plaza and Central Park
• Melbourne – St James Building
• Adelaide – Intercontinental Hotel

Troy Bridle

Roping Experience since 2000 – Industrial Rescue. Troy has 15 years’ experience leading multi-disciplined emergency response and health, safety and environmental teams in mining and heavy industry and is currently working as the Emergency Response Coordinator at Independence Long. Previously, Troy has held Project Manager, Superintendent and Senior Coordinator Roles for Parabellum International, Rio Tinto, Goldfields Australia, Consolidated Minerals and Macmahon. Troy specialises in emergency response, crisis management and operational readiness gap analysis and systems development, as well as team work and leadership training for high performance and operational discipline

Troy has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth – Central Park.
• Melbourne – St James Building
• Adelaide – Westpac House Building and Intercontinental Hotel

Mitch Wilson

Roping experience since 2007 in outdoor education and recreation environments as well as charity events. Mitch is a qualified teacher with a degree in Bachelor of Education (specialising in Outdoor Education).

Mitch has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth –  WACA and Patterson Oval light towers,  Allendale Square and Woodside Plaza and Central Park
• Sydney – AMP’s Emporis Building
• Brisbane – Colonial First State Building
• Melbourne – St James Building
• Adelaide – Intercontinental Hotel

Dan Firth

Dan has roping experience since 2005 in both outdoor education and rescue environments.  Previously worked as a trainer for Rescue From Heights and Working Safely at heights.  Dan currently owns and manages an outdoor adventure business in Tasmania as well as facilitating outdoor education programming for a Tasmanian School.

Dan has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth – Central Park
• Adelaide – Westpac House Building.
• Melbourne – St James Building

Grant Bunce

Cert IV outdoor Recreation
Bachelor of Outdoor Education

Climbing recreationally since 2003, Grant has had the pleasure to climb throughout Australia, NZ, South Africa, Thailand and Vietnam.

Starting freelance outdoor education in 2007 for various high schools and commercial operators in Western Australia. He his lucky that his work is also his passion. Grant has led multi-day expeditions, instructional programs and corporate team building events.

Grant has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Melbourne – St James Building

Craig Foley

Rope experience since 1990 including Industrial Rope Access, Tower Rescue, Global Wind Turbine Rescue and Vertical rescue.

Craig is currently a level 3 rope access technician with IRATA.

He has had the opportunity to train and work all over Australis and recently doing several trips to Japan for rope rescue training.Since 2007 Craig has trained within several different industries including, mining, oil and gas, construction, wind industry, marine, military and defence.Craig is currently working with an oil and gas based company teaching emergency response training from firefighting to rope rescue techniques.

Craig has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth – Central Park Plunge

Paul Delane

Paul began his journey into roping activities as a young rock climber and volunteer member of cliff rescue teams in the late 80s – 90s.  While studying outdoor pursuits and teaching, he also worked in the outdoor industry including instructing on recreational abseiling and climbing programs both in Western Australia and overseas.  Paul has since spent twenty years as a teacher in remote north-west WA and the northern beaches area of Perth running quality Outdoor Education programs that have included rock climbing, abseiling, vertical caving and rescue activities.  He is passionate about experiential learning and the rewards in personal growth that participants gain from venturing outside their comfort zone.

Paul has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth – Central Park Plunge

Ben Latto

Began climbing recreationally in 2001 before beginning a career as an Outdoor Educator in 2003. Between 2003 and 2011 Ben led outdoor expeditions and instructional programs for numerous organisations throughout Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia and North America. In 2011 Ben returned home to Australia, where he works as a Rigger and Rope Access Technician servicing the offshore oil & gas industry.

Ben has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Adelaide – Intercontinental Hotel

Damien Gijsbers

Damo, a Professional Outdoor Educator with over 12 years of experience. He has been roping since 2007 and has had the opportunity to climb in many different locations around the world. He has facilitated a wide variety roping for many years and has delivered training through both TAFE and universities to emerging leaders, encouraging “best practice” in the roping community. Currently, a staffing manager in Outdoor Education he believes in developing staff in facilitating and sharing unique life changing experiences.

Damo has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Melbourne – St James Building

Ben Binder

Professional Outdoor Educator operating in the field since 1989, Ben has operated and facilitated activities in all roping facets. He has Instructed and Assessed future industry instructors and students in all outdoor activities. Charity abseil experience since 2008 in non-technical and technical roles including gear management, induction and client management, and dispatching.

Ben has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth – Central Park
• Sydney – AMP’s Emporis Building
• Brisbane – Colonial First State Building
• Melbourne – St James Building
• Adelaide – Westpac House Building.

Tim Dutton

Tim has been operating in the roping field since 2007 on both natural and artificial surfaces in educational, recreational and industrial settings. Tim has been working charity roping events since 2009 and is a qualified teacher specialising in Outdoor Education and coordinating Cadet Programs

Tim has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth – Central Park
• Adelaide – Westpac House Building.
• Melbourne – St James Building

Lewis Kinnear

Roping experience since 2011 as a Teacher of Outdoor Education. Lewis has recreationally climbed throughout Australia and New Zealand. Lewis was also the recipient of the “Emerging Outdoor Leadership” award in 2015. Lewis has completed a Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation and a Graduate Diploma of Teaching.

Lewis has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth – Central Park

Dave Walker

Involved in Outdoor Education since 2010, predominantly in South Australia but also abroad.  Dave holds a Bachelor of Applied Science, Bachelor of Education, a Cert 3 in Outdoor Recreation and various Outdoor Instructor certificates.  He has worked on many corporate events but devotes his full time career to teaching.

Dave has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Adelaide – Westpac House Building and Intercontinental Hotel

Kelly Bali

Recreational climbing and abseiling experience since 2010. Charity abseil experience since 2010 in non-technical roles including gear management, induction and client management.

Kelly has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth –  WACA, Woodside Plaza and Central Park
• Sydney – AMP’s Emporis Building
• Brisbane – Colonial First State Building
• Melbourne – St James Building
• Adelaide – Westpac House Building and Intercontinental Hotel

Aaron Newman

Roping experience from 1995, including artificial, natural (rock) and building environments.

An enthusiast of all outdoor recreational and safety equipment, Aaron is renowned globally for being involved in equipment and product development at the highest level.

Aaron aids Zenith Events in non-technical roles due to his wealth of equipment experience

Aaron has previously assisted charity events at:

• Perth – Central Park
• Melbourne – St James Building
• Adelaide – Intercontinental Hotel

Rebecca Ginbey

Rebecca has spent 15 years in the outdoor education industry leading programs in remote locations for predominantly educational based groups. She has co-delivered abseiling activities in WA, Victoria and NSW in hardtop facilities and in natural remote locations, in varying and trying conditions. Most programs were multifaceted with roping activities being one of the more consistent and common elements. Rebecca has experience working on previous charity abseil events as well as in the outdoor profession; working with client gear fit out and explaining the purpose and safety elements of all hardware and equipment, as well as inducting clients on the use of this equipment in environments such as abseil urban structures and natural rock.

Rebecca has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth – Central Park
• Melbourne – St James Building

Carolyn Steinberg

Following a career change, Carolyn completed the Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation degree in Western Australia in 2016. She has instructed and facilitated natural surface abseiling and climbing during outdoor education programs and expeditions.

With a keen interest to pursue further roping qualification in 2017, Carolyn will seek additional training.  As part of the non-technical team, Carolyn has previously worked with the Zenith team in gear management, fit out, induction, client management, instruction and co-ordination.

Carolyn has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth – Central Park
• Adelaide – Intercontinental Hotel

Chloe Bridle

Chloe has completed three Certificate II qualifications (Outdoor Recreation, Coaching and Sport & Recreation).  Chloe coaches tennis and swimming; she has assisted with running abseiling and white water rafting activities and enjoys all aspects of being in the outdoors including snorkeling, climbing, orienteering and bushwalking. Most of all, Chloe loves meeting and getting to know new people and sharing her enthusiasm for outdoor pursuits. Chloe has been a part of our team since 2015 and part of our “Mentoring Program.”

Chloe has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth – Central Park
• Adelaide – Intercontinental Hotel

Ben Nicholas

Ben is currently in his final year of the Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation degree at Notre Dame University in Fremantle, Western Australia. Ben has previous experience in recreational natural face abseiling and rock-climbing as well as a handful of other outdoor endeavours. Ben loves getting amongst it and meeting new people who share in his love for the outdoors.

Ben has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth – Central Park Plunge
• Adelaide – Intercontinental Hotel

Deane McCord

Deane is currently in his second year of a Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation at the University of Notre Dame in Fremantle, Western Australia. Deane has previously spent several years working with a diverse range of children and adults alike within summer camps/programs within the USA; leading in mountain biking, challenge ropes and rock climbing programs. Following a sideways shift in career to follow his passion, most recently Deane has been working within several local High Schools Outdoor Education expedition programs whilst balancing study and a continuing career.

Deane has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth – Central Park

Bec Lorraine

Bec has a history of experience in the outdoors delivering recreational and educational experiential programs, with roping experience since 1997 on both natural and artificial surfaces, and holds a Diploma in Outdoor Education.

Bec has previously worked with Zenith in gear management, fit out, client management, instruction and co-ordination and brings a lot of enthusiasm to her role in the non technical team.

.Bec has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth – Central Park

David Oldland

Roping experience since 1989 in outdoor education and recreation environments, as well as charity events since 2002.

David has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth –  WACA and Patterson Oval light towers,  Allendale Square and Woodside Plaza
• Sydney – AMP’s Emporis Building
• Brisbane – Colonial First State Building
• Melbourne – St James Building
• Adelaide – Westpac House Building.

Duncan Picknoll

Roping experience from 1998 including artificial, natural (rock). Duncan is Senior Lecturer and Coordinator of the Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation at the University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle. Previously, Curriculum Leader of Outdoor Education, Scotch College. He has coordinated and delivered the roping unit as part of the degree since 2008. He regularly assists in the delivery of the Abseiling and top rope climbing guide course (Single Pitch – Natural Surfaces). He is also involved with the Curriculum Advisory Council – Outdoor Education, a Board member of Outdoors WA and an Accredited Practitioner of the Institute for Outdoor Learning. He has a passion for providing stimulating and challenging outdoor learning opportunities for the benefit of students and aims to develop the profile of Outdoor Education in schools and the wider community.

Duncan has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth – Central Park Plunge

Olivia Murfit

Olivia has just recently graduated from the University of Notre Dame Australia with a Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation. Olivia has spent time working as an outdoor leader within Australia and England over the past few years leading young people and adults on programs featuring rock climbing, abseiling, kayaking and mountain biking. Olivia enjoys engaging with people in the outdoors and providing a challenging environment to share her passion of adventure with.

.Olivia has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth –  Central Park

Genevieve Gurr

Event support roles for clients and staff teams since 2008.

Genevieve has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth –  WACA Light Towers, Woodside Plaza and Central Park
• Sydney – AMP’s Emporis Building
• Brisbane – Colonial First State Building
• Melbourne – St James Building
• Adelaide – Westpac House Building and Intercontinental Hotel.

Lara Schiller

Roping experience since 2011 including, Outdoor Education/ Recreation, Mountaineering and Charity Events. Currently work as an outdoor instructor at Prince Alfred College, Adelaide SA. Lara is a qualified teacher with a Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation. Holds Natural abseil and top rope guide qualification.

Lara has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth – Woodside Plaza
• Adelaide – Westpac House Building.

Teresa Hook

Charity abseil experience since 2008 in non-technical roles including gear management, induction, client management and event coordination.

Teresa has previously assisted with charity events at:

• Perth – WACA l light towers, Allendale Square, Woodside Plaza and Central Park
• Sydney – AMP’s Emporis Building
• Melbourne – St James Building
• Adelaide – Westpac House Building.