Month: September 2025

Two of our very own outdoor legends have been nationally recognised for their outstanding contribution to the outdoors and outdoor education in Aotearoa. 

At the NZOIA Excellence Awards 2025, Graeme Swift and Mel Harris were honoured with two of the organisation’s most prestigious awards. A powerful recognition of their skill, leadership, and unwavering commitment to empowering others through outdoor learning. 

Tall Tōtara Award: Graeme “Swifty” Swift 

Graeme’s name is well known across the outdoor education world, and for good reason. Over the past 16 years at Hillary Outdoors, Graeme, our current Safety Manager, has helped shape the backbone of our instructor development and delivery. His influence runs deep, from paddling rivers and leading bush missions to mentoring new instructors and assessing across multiple NZOIA disciplines. 

Graeme holds Kayak 2, Bush 2, Canoe 1, and Rock 1 with SCE, and is a long-standing NZOIA assessor. He’s one of the few qualified canoe assessors in the North Island, ensuring high standards and support are maintained for instructors across the region, as well as for our team. 

In his personal time, Graeme is always up for an adventure and is a dedicated dad of four. He seamlessly balances family life, work, and play. He brings the same spirit of exploration and care to his instructing as he does to his parenting. 

The Tall Tōtara Award celebrates a role model who embodies excellence in outdoor leadership, and that’s Graeme to a tee. 

Wāhine Toa Award: Mel Harris 

Mel Harris is the kind of leader who makes a difference just by being herself; calm, capable, grounded, and deeply inspiring. As Operations Manager at our Tongariro Centre, Mel keep things running smoothly and creates a culture of safety, trust, inclusion, and growth. 

Mel holds Bush 2, Rock 1 with Sport Climbing Endorsement, Alpine 1, and Canoe 1, and is a qualified NZOIA Assessor. She plays a huge role in training and mentoring the next generation of outdoor professionals, particularly wāhine, who look to her as a powerful example of strength, empathy, and integrity in leadership. 

Mel manages the operations of one of our busy Outdoor Education Centres, instructs our tertiary students across multiple disciplines, supports our new staff and volunteers for Inspiring Girls Expeditions, and still manages to get out and have her own adventures in her spare time! 

The Wāhine Toa Award recognises a woman leader who inspires others to recreate, lead, and connect with te taiao and Mel absolutely embodies this kaupapa. 

Leading by Example 

At Hillary Outdoors, we believe in the power of the outdoors to transform lives. Passionate, skilled, and values-driven leaders like Graeme and Mel make that possible. 

Their achievements at the 2025 NZOIA Awards are not just personal milestones, they’re a celebration of what’s possible when people lead with purpose, support others to grow, and stay curious about both the natural world and their own development. 

Congratulations, Graeme and Mel!