Ivan Lawler - British
5-time kayak marathon World Champion and Owner of Ultimate Kayaks (UK Nelo/Epic wholesaler).
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.
5-time kayak marathon World Champion and Owner of Ultimate Kayaks (UK Nelo/Epic wholesaler).
An athlete from a very young age, Jackie first rode a waveski following a serious knee injury at the age of 20, and spent the next 20 years developing her skills.
Jaimie Mitchell is one of the most qualified, respected and humble watermen in the world.
Jeff was the former editor of Canoe & Kayak Magazine, the world’s largest paddling publication.
Appointed President of the International Rafting Federation in 2013 following a 40-year career in whitewater/rafting.
Chair of the ICF’s Paracanoe Committee, Domestic Development Director CanoeKayak Canada, ex-canoe sprint Olympian.
Once a kayak slalomist for Australia, Jonathan is a sports psychologist, entrepreneur and corporate mentor to a range of businesses.
A kayak sprint great with 22 World Championship and 5 Olympic medals, Josefa is a sports politician by trade.
Julie Pearce has been involved with the delivery of physiotherapy to elite athletes within high performance programmes since 1994.
Karl Heinz Englet is one of the most prominent event organisers in the world of paddlesports.