Southern Hemisphere Alpine Conference

10-11 June 2026 | Wānaka, New Zealand

The two-day conference is the only one of its kind in the southern hemisphere and provides a unique opportunity for the alpine community to engage in a series of workshops and presentations that seek to extend their skills, knowledge and experience, and contribute to a safer alpine community.

About SHAC

Occurring every second year, SHAC attracts approximately 200 industry professionals and avid recreationalists, including ski industry snow safety practitioners, commercial alpine organisations, heli-skiing, mountaineering and guiding companies, search and rescue personnel, safety auditors, managers, and key industry influencers.

SHAC has three broad objectives:

To provide a platform for people working and playing in alpine snow environments to share ideas, network and enhance their knowledge and practical skills
To build strong partnerships that connect our alpine community together, and
To generate opportunities to develop future strategies and collaborations that help more people stay safe in the outdoors.

The 2026 programme is available here.

This programme is subject to changes and may not reflect the final version.

Guest Speakers

Drew Hardesty

Drew Hardesty has been an avalanche forecaster at the Utah Avalanche Center for over 25 years and a climbing ranger/alpine rescue technician in Grand Teton National Park for almost that long.  He's the lead author of several International Snow Science Workshop papers and has published a good handful of essays on risk and joy in the mountains.  He was awarded the Dept of Interior Medal of Valor award in 2012.  

Grant Statham

Grant Statham is an avalanche forecaster, mountain guide and rescuer working in Canada’s Banff National Park. He's been involved in the avalanche and guiding industry for 38 years as a ski patroller, alpine climber, ski and climbing guide, avalanche and guides course instructor, researcher, mountain rescuer and risk management consultant. Grant is an adjunct professor with the Simon Fraser University avalanche risk management program and has been part of the Arc’teryx pro team for 28 years. This is his fourth trip to New Zealand, having previously guided Mts. Aspiring and Tasman in 2005 and undertaken program reviews for DOC and MSC in 2019.