Andre Santos - Portuguese
Chief Executive of one of the world's largest and leading canoe and kayak manufacturing brands, Nelo International.
Organisation | The Academy
A unique association of the greatest living sporting legends and other figureheads, the Academy embraces the principles of using sport to help bring positive social change and unite the different paddlesport disciplines and cultures. Academy members offer their time, expertise and passion to support the work of WPA year round, and share a belief in the power of sport to break down barriers, build bridges, and bring the paddling community together, to improve the lives of people and communities around the world.
Anna Hemmings MBE - British
6-time kayak marathon World Champion, Anna is one of the greatest female athletes in the history of the sport.
Bill Endicott - American
Bill Endicott has been an enthusiastic supporter of canoe/kayak sport for half a century.
Birgit Fischer - German
No introduction needed; 8th greatest Olympian ever, 8 Olympic golds and 27-time World Champion in women's kayak sprint.
Cecilia Farias - Argentinian
First female Vice President of the ICF and Life Honorary President of COPAC.
Chris Hipgrave - British / American
Chris is Paddlesports General Manager of the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) in North Carolina, USA.
Claudia Kerckhoff van Wijk - Canadian
Claudia Van Wijk has lived and breathed the world of white-water kayaking since she was born.
Clint Robinson OAM - Australian
Olympic Champion in kayak singles 1000m and World Champion in 5 different paddlesports, which is unmatched around the world.
Cora Zillich - German
Ex-national rower for Germany, a Sports PR specialist and Manager of Australian Sailing's communications.