BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Director

Role

Bio

Rhys Higham

B.Eng

With a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil and Water) Rhys works for a national railway company as a senior manager/project manager. He has been a passionate kitesurfer for over 10 years and has been a member of the Kiteboarding South Australia (KSA) committee since 2009 (committee member 2009-2012, Treasurer 2012-2014, Vice President 2014-2017). Rhys provided direction and leadership to KSA managing all facets of the state association, particularly developing event frameworks, governance, budgets and expenditure, and running of State Title events. Rhys was a member of the Kiteboarding Australia Event and Competition Committee from April 2014 to July 2015 and has been a member of the Kiteboarding Australia National Freestyle Committee from April 17 to present. Based on his experience on the KSA committee, his career as a senior manager and following his involvement with the KA Event and Competition committees Rhys is looking to apply his skills and knowledge to help drive KA towards becoming a nationally recognised sport, establish national series events for all kiteboarding disciplines, provide increased support to the state associations and ultimately provide increased value for money to all KA members.

Meg Delahoy

For over two decades Meg has supported the delivery of major infrastructure and event projects. Professional highlights include supporting the delivery of two Summer Olympic Games – London 2012 and Rio 2016– and as Manager of Engineering Services for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, one of the largest sporting events held in Australia.  

Meg is currently leading a program of annual capital, State and Federal funded major projects on Rottnest Island to improve the visitor experience and deliver sustainable infrastructure upgrades. Meg has recently completed a Graduate Diploma of Emergency and Disaster Management with Charles Darwin University. 

Meg has been kiting for 20 years and loves to travel to explore new spots. Other sports she enjoys are beach volleyball, sailing and mountain biking.

Kate Reynolds

Kate is a medical defence and health care lawyer, working within the insurance sector.

She is also a registered nurse and continues to work part time in the operating theatre environment. Kate has a graduate diploma in health and safety and is studying a masters in bioethics.

Kate has prior not-for-profit Board experience within the disability sector. 

Kate has kited for 14 years, a highlight of which was coming second in the Redbull Lighthouse to Leighton Race. Other sports she enjoys are waterskiing, snowboarding and mountain biking. 

Anna Ambroziak

Director of Safety, Education & Accreditation

Information coming soon

Chris Thomas

B.Ed

Chris  spent  over 35 years in the advertising business – the majority of them at BBDO which is a part of Omnicom.  British by birth, he is a global citizen – he and his wife Fleur have lived in London, Singapore, New York and now Melbourne. Chris spent a decade as CEO of BBDO in Asia Middle East and Africa and still has the air miles to prove it. In 2015 he moved to New York as CEO of BBDO in the Americas with responsibility for 22 offices from Canada to Chile. In 2019 Chris and Fleur moved to Australia where their four adult children live. Chris serves on multiple public company boards and advises startups in Singapore and Sydney. 

Chris has been kitesurfing for over 30 years and when traveling with work usually had a kite and board with him. He has been on the Board of Kiteboarding Australia for over two years focusing on communications and marketing. 

Alastair Simson

B. Com GAICD

Alastair is a kiteboarding enthusiast and experienced professional who joined the KA board in October 2020. Alastairis an independent consultant specialising in business and marketing strategy, team process & decision making and business advisory in marketing, innovation and communications functions.

Alastair has extensive experience in senior roles in general management, marketing, and global strategy in the fast-moving consumer goods industry. Alastair was a director of the Amy Gillet Foundation for over seven years, where he developed the ‘ A Metre Matters’ road cycling campaign. Since joining in October 2020, Alastair has been strongly involved with helping develop the strategic plan for the 2021-24 period and is an active member of the KA marketing & membership committee.

Hamish Leighton

BCA, BSc (Comp Sci), GAICD, PMP

Hamish has over 15 years experience as a Board Director with a particular focus in the Information Technology and Services industry. Having founded and grown multiple companies he has a strong commercial background driving operational performance, managing enterprise risk, corporate change, stakeholders and generating growth opportunities.

Initially Hamish became involved with Kiteboarding Australia as a member of the National Kite Foil Committee where he helped establish our new National Kite Foil Series and also working with Sailing Australia on pathways for our athletes towards the 2024 Olympics.

Hamish has been kiting for 15 years and is currently enjoying kite foil racing in Australia and internationally when possible. He is currently learning kite winging and is actively involved in assessing how we best incorporate it into KA.