IASI Snowsports
Membership Matters
Board Election Candidates
Dear IASI Member,
The 2025 AGM will be taking place at the Ski Club of Ireland, Killegar, Kilternan, Co. Dublin, on Saturday 25th October 2025 at 6:15pm. There will be an election at the AGM. Please find statements from each candidate below, in alphabetical order.
Mike Barker
I’m someone who has been all the way through each and every Snowsports pathway step you may be looking to embark on and beyond. Having gained my Level 4 in 2008 whilst working as a national team coach then progressing to national team head coach holding IVSI L4 and Canadian Coach L3 at the time the highest level pre-2010. After the teams, I went on to travel the world, creating adventure programmes for clients and helping the next generation of instructors navigate their own dreams having delivered my first IASI course as an educator in 2016.
As I have progressed, I have sat on various advisory committees throughout my career with BASI, UKSS, the UK home nations, Sport England amongst others and created coaching materials to enhance and develop pathways. As one mentor wrote in the past “Mike coaches the coaches so he knows what he’s talking about”.
Other areas of professional life; I’m a qualified electrician, Bus driver, PADI Staff instructor, this summer I lead and ran the European Pokémon roadshow and have recently relocated to Villars, Switzerland with my family.
If you are wanting to bring about some fresh ideas and reinvigorate your Snowsports career path with experienced leaders in the field then get on board.
Fresh approach to membership engagement and development – When was the last time you had a board member discussion face to face or whilst on a course?
Increased International pathway enhancements and relationships – You are leaders in your field, believe in yourselves.
Streamlined communications and membership benefits– Everyone likes to know what’s going on and everyone loves a good kit deal.
We are a members organisation, you should have your say throughout, my representation if elected would include you as members each step of the way.
Rich Egan
I joined the IASI Board during the 2022/23 season, having been an active member since 2016. Over my past term, I’ve focused on strengthening the Association’s structure and creating lasting systems that support both our current members and future growth. My aim has been to move IASI from a reactive, ‘firefighting’ organisation to one with clear, practical, flexible frameworks that genuinely serve our members.
A large part of my work has been dedicated to ensuring consistency, transparency, and accountability in how we operate. This includes:
Leading the continual review and refinement of the Licensed Course Provider contract to create clearer expectations and fairness for all parties.
Introducing IASI’s first Educators’ Charter, setting out shared standards and responsibilities across our educator team.
Making the course calendar a publication priority each year to help members plan ahead more easily. This year the calendar was largely in place by July – a record in recent years.
These steps represent meaningful progress towards a stronger and more cohesive organisation.
Building a sense of community within IASI has also been a priority. I’ve helped drive, organise and deliver key events such as the London Snow Show, the Kilternan AGM, and our first official on-snow ‘summit’ in Cervinia — creating opportunities for members and educators to meet, share ideas, and celebrate our shared passion for snowsports. I’ve consistently sought feedback from members, educators, and course providers, ensuring that decisions are guided by what best serves the membership.
There’s always more to do, but I believe the progress we’ve made shows what’s possible through collaboration and steady, member-focused leadership. I’d be honoured to continue contributing to IASI’s development and to the sense of professionalism and community that defines our Association.
Blue Martin
I was co-opted onto the IASI Board in May with responsibility for communications – and it’s been a busy, rewarding six months. I’ve focused on delivering visible progress and building stronger connections across our community. Highlights include:
Re-designing and relaunching the IASI newsletter — now a fresh, monthly update for members
Creating Inside Edge, IASI’s new blog series, published monthly since July and already generating great engagement
Organising IASI’s first-ever webinar
Boosting our social media presence with more regular, timely, and engaging posts that showcase our LCPs
Commissioning a new IT provider to overhaul the IASI website — now secure, fast, and fully functional, with exciting content improvements on the way
Planning and delivering IASI’s first appearance as an exhibitor and speaker at the London Snow Show
Co-commissioning (with Dáire) a strategy project to guide the Board’s work over the next 2–3 years
IASI’s new future strategy focuses on secure foundations, educational excellence, and a thriving membership community. If elected to the next Board, my priority will be to ensure this strategy is delivered. I’m especially committed to strengthening our IASI community through:
Launching a regular membership survey to keep your voice at the centre of IASI’s decisions
Developing an IASI mentoring scheme to connect and support instructors
Delivering an updated website that we can all be proud of
I’m an Irish passport holder living between Spain, the UK, and the Alps. Snowsports instruction is my second career – I qualified as an L2 Alpine instructor in 2021 and am working towards L3. Before that, I was a director at a London research and strategy agency and Vice Chair of my industry association.
I’ve always been both a strategic planner and an active ‘do-er’. The IASI Board needs both those qualities as we seek to take the association forward. Please vote for me!
Ian McEwan
I’ve been involved in snowsports for over forty years — as a skier, instructor, race coach, and lifelong advocate for our community. I began teaching in 1985 after learning to ski at Craigavon in Northern Ireland, later working in France, Verbier, and across the UK. Today, I continue to coach with Impulse Racing, support school racing through the National Schools Snowsports Association, and run Urban Ski, an indoor training brand focused on year-round development.
Professionally, I’ve spent the past 30 years in senior commercial and leadership roles, building organisations and leading teams across Europe and North America. That experience in governance, strategy, and communication is what I hope to bring to IASI’s Board.
Why am I standing?
Because I believe IASI has a strong foundation and great potential to grow further. I want to help build on the progress already made by continuing to strengthen transparency, enhance member engagement, and ensure every instructor, from those just starting out to the most experienced trainers, feels fully supported and represented.
Having been involved with multiple international ski associations, I’ve seen first-hand what works well and what doesn’t when it comes to representing and supporting members. I want to bring that perspective to help IASI continue evolving in ways that best serve our community.
If elected, my priorities will be:
Transparency and accountability: Openly communicate and display Board strategies and be accountable to members for achieving goals within timeframes that reflect our dynamic, forward-thinking aspirations.
Member value and protection: Build on the value of membership by offering real benefits such as liability cover and vendor partnerships.
Instructor development and opportunity: Ensure our pathways are about more than moving from A to B by creating growth opportunities that meet the needs of all members.
It’s time for change.
Go raibh maith agat
Dáire O’Connell
I first joined IASI in 1994 after many years skiing at the Ski Club of Ireland. In 2022 I joined the Board, driven by a clear objective: to support our members, strengthen our association, and ensure IASI continues to lead in snowsports education in Ireland and beyond.
I was appointed as Chair in 2023 and have led the Board in achieving significant milestones since.
I’ve introduced a complete governance framework, including an updated Members’ Charter and Constitution (awaiting endorsement), Conflict of Interest policies, an Educators’ Charter, updated LCP contract, and finalised the draft Child Safeguarding Policy.
I’ve built a skills-based Board to ensure every decision is guided by appropriate expertise. I co-opted Blue Martin as Communications Lead to drive a transformation in how we connect with members. I brought on Steve O’Hara for his expertise in pedagogy design, and he is leading the modernisation of IASI Education.
I’ve represented IASI globally. I’m proud to contribute to the international Sustainability Group, working with ISIA, Interski, IAESS, and the UNEP to reduce the environmental impact of snowsports. I personally joined a panel in Tajikistan to share our collective work. I led IASI’s reapplication as the Irish ‘Competent Entity’ for the Common Training Test under the EU delegated act, enabling members to act as educators and examiners. I submitted an application to the Japanese Department of Immigration, fully supported by the Japanese Snowsports Association, to enable our members to work in Japan with an IASI licence.
I’ve shaped our future strategy, to be officially launched next week. Its research involved a broad cross-section of stakeholders, making it our most inclusive strategy yet.
With your support, I hope to continue this journey for IASI together with the Board, building an inclusive, transparent, and forward-looking Association where every instructor feels valued, supported, and empowered.
Stephen O’Hara
As someone who has built a career in education – serving as Director of Sport, Director of Boarding, Director of Co-Curricular, and now Director of Academics – I understand how learning environments thrive when they balance excellence, wellbeing, and growth. I plan to bring this experience in sport, wellbeing, child protection, outdoor education, and holistic development to the IASI community, helping to strengthen the structures that support every instructor’s journey.
I began my pathway with IASI at 16 and am proud to be one of the few Irish-based skiers to have completed the full route to the ISIA Level 4 card with IASI. This association has shaped so much of who I am, and my motivation now is to give back – to help refine and evolve our education system so that it continues to grow in quality, clarity, and impact.
Having been part of the board over the past nine months, I’ve gained valuable insight into the dynamics of the association – its strengths, challenges, and immense potential. If elected, my focus will be on making our education system more robust and transparent through stronger peer review, higher and more consistent performance standards, and a renewed emphasis on the educational quality of our delivery.
My goal is to ensure IASI remains an organisation that represents the very best of Irish instruction – technically excellent, professionally respected, educationally forward-thinking and importantly, a welcoming community. Together, we can continue to raise the standard of Irish snowsports education and build a culture where every instructor, from Level 1 to Level 4, feels supported, inspired, and proud to be part of IASI.
Jonny Parkhouse Evans
I have led a successful creative communication business for over 38 years. My areas of expertise include brand building, communicating powerful messages and creating memorable designs. In fact, I was intrumental in developing the recent IASI rebrand.
Mainly consulting at boardroom level, I have helped organsiations both large and small to extend their reach, raise their profile and generate growth.
I have also lectured in design at Loughborough University, Leicester College and Lincoln University. My contribution was recognised when I received the Education into Business Partnership award in the 2000s.
With a deep understanding of the communication issues faced by companies and how these can be mitigated (via strategic input, both off and on-line) as well as an in-depth knowledge of corporate ID and brand development, change management and implementation, I hope to bring these assets to the IASI boardroom.
If re-elected to the board of IASI, I will strive to ensure the continued integrity, transparency, strength and growth of the organization. My background will hopefully bring knowledge, experience and a fresh perspective to the table, which I hope will be of benefit to all members.
Away from work, I enjoy art, drawing and painting, golf history and playing. During the winter months you will find me skiing, instructing and guiding, all of which I am deeply passionate about.
How to take part in the AGM and election
We always are delighted to welcome as many members as possible to attend the AGM, but if you are unable to attend in person, you have two other options to be able to have your say at the meeting.
1) The AGM will be broadcast live on Zoom, enabling members to attend (and vote) remotely.
2) You can vote by proxy. If you are voting by proxy, please indicate a maximum of five candidates you would like to vote for on your proxy form, then choose your proxy, sign the form and send a copy to IASI’s Company Secretary before the deadline which is 6:15pm on Thursday 23rd October 2025.
Yours,
Fiona Mullen
Hon. Secretary IASI
