2026 Committee

Say hello to the CUTC Committee for 2026! These are the rad humans who make everything happen. Feel free to flick them an email and they’ll be sure to help you out!

For urgent safety matters please contact the Safety Officer, Ella Rickard at safety@cutc.org.nz

James Rielly-Leadbetter

President
president@cutc.org.nz

A lot of my childhood hiking around Mt Taranaki. I’ve been a scout all my life, and have done a bit of adventure racing; however hut bagging is the current obsession. I’m in second year electrical engineering and spatial data science.

Mitchell Brookland

Captain
captain@cutc.org.nz

I live for a weekend mish, in my opinion a weekend in CHCH is a wasted weekend. I’ve done lots of stuff and love to learn random facts so I’d love to have a yarn.

Sadly my time at Uni is coming to end however I’ll get to be a finance bro so it’s probably worth it ….

See you out there and let’s bag some huts 🙂

Lilly Lang

Captain
captain@cutc.org.nz

Since coming to uni I’ve fallen in love with tramping and try to get out every weekend when possible! Sadly, my degree keeps interrupting my dream career of full-time frolicking in the hills. If you love a good pie and a good tasteful nude we will be good friends!

Feel free to reach out about any questions or support; we’d love to see you out there!

Caitlin Murphy

Environmental Officer
environmental@cutc.org.nz

I have a deep passion for tramping and protecting nature, especially pest trapping and native bush restoration!

Freya High

Secretary
secretary@cutc.org.nz

Rafe Persson

Treasurer
treasurer@cutc.org.nz

Heyyyo, I’m Rafe, the treasurer for 2026! My love for the outdoors combines seeking out a good type-2 mish, nerding out on plants, and getting a sore neck watching birds. You’ll find me running our weekly trail-running club in the Port Hills and on plenty of CUTC trips.

Patrick Byrne

Membership Officer
membership@cutc.org.nz

Wazz ahhhhhhh. I am your Membership officer for 2026. Tramping is my game; but civil engineering gets in my way. I’m not sure how I have time for committee stuff and an engineering degree, but I will do my very best to juggle both. Hope you have an amazing year studying, working, and of course tramping! 🙂

Naomi Mortimer

Publicity Officer
publicity@cutc.org.nz

Jack Shaw

Publicity Officer
publicity@cutc.org.nz

Kia ora everyone, I’m a keen tramper that has enjoyed exploring the southern alps with the club. I’m looking forward to meeting more of you on some epic adventures over the next year. See you all on the mountain 🏔️

Ella Rickard

Safety & Welfare Officer
safety@cutc.org.nz

Hey, I’m your safety and welfare officer for 2026! I’ve been going on tramping trips since I was a baby and very much looking forward to getting involved in many more fun outdoors adventures in the coming year! See you all out there!

Thomas Hayman

Avoca Hut Officer
avocahut@cutc.org.nz

Kia ora, I am your Avoca hut officer for 2026! I’m always keen for a “fun” tramp, especially if it means I can bag a few huts, or spin a shit yarn about the backcountry.

Reuben Dempster

Gear Officer
gear@cutc.org.nz

Howdy! I’m dealing gear this year. What kinda gear? We got crampons, tents, poop tubes, plb…

I’m stoked on adventure and love looking at plants, critters and all those birds!

Toby Webb

Gear Officer
gear@cutc.org.nz

Hi I’m Toby, I’m one of the gear officers for this year!! A big part of me is running, which I’ve been doing pretty much all my life. I’ve done a number of trail runs including one down in Rakiura/Stewart Island. I’m keen to get out and explore some sick places!!

Finn Buckley

Social Officer
party@cutc.org.nz

Trying to reconnect myself with nature after deciding to study engineering lowkey not sure what I am doing here.

Ngaire North

Instruction Officer
instruction@cutc.org.nz

Yowza, I’m your 2026 instructor!

I love everything outdoors, especially strange or grovelly trips. Ask me about caving if you dare.

Stripy polypros are a must, dry socks are not. See you in the hills!

Elvis Zhang

Technowizard
technowizard@cutc.org.nz

Hi, Elvis here. I will be your tech guy for 2026, making sure the website doesn’t explode. I study Mechatronics Engineering so I am usually quite busy. Tramping is fun because you don’t have to stare at a screen all day. As a former gear officer, I can assist you in gear hiring too. See you on the tramp 😎🤙🤙.

Vanessa Robinson

TWALK Officer
twalk@cutc.org.nz

Fenton Prickett

TWALK Officer
twalk@cutc.org.nz

Heya, I’ll be your head chef for TWALK 2026, ensuring everyone is fed for the whole 24 hours. Apart from cooking up a storm, I like to get out there and ooh and aah at the many sights Aotearoa has to offer.

Eben McCamish

TWALK Assist
twalk@cutc.org.nz

I’m one of the organizers of twalk this year, I froth any outdoor activities which unfortunately for my studies means I somehow have to split my time between looking at every forecast known to man, scrolling marketplace for a deal and doing a bit of study. Last year I was a little bit of a ghost in CUTC, (perhaps due to other sports with unnamed 4 letter clubs) however this year I’m here to stay