Meet The Team
Our team is the foundation of everything we do. From expert skippers, shark drivers, and jet boat drivers on the water, to our friendly workshop and kiosk staff and those supporting operations, every team member plays an important role in creating fun, seamless, and unforgettable adventures. Their skills, training, local knowledge, and genuine passion for what they do help create the welcoming, high-energy atmosphere our guests love day in and day out.
As we continue to grow, so does our crew. We’re currently welcoming new recruits and updating photos - come down to the kiosk and meet the incredible team behind the adventures.
The Crew
The people you will meet on the dock, in the kiosk and out on the water.
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Jet Boat Operations Manager
Matthew Chalmers
Meet Matt, AKA Butters. He’s been hoonin’ in jetboats for 9 years now and is the head jetboat driver here at Watersports. When he's not driving jetboats he’s curling like the old man he is, or playing video games with my two boys, Dexter and Elijah.
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Senior Thunder Jet Boat Driver
Chris Ettenfield
Chris likes to drive boats, really really fast. He moved to NZ 13 years ago from Leeds, to avoid paying his student loans there. His nickname is Oscar (the grouch). When He’s not being melancholic (5 minutes max per day), He likes to hike, play golf, play basketball, and make fun of everyone. He loves to dance and do the NY Times mini-crosswords daily.
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Senior Thunder Jet Boat Driver
Pedro Costa Bernardi
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Thunder Jet Boat Driver
Mitch Cunningham
Originally from Wellington, New Zealand, he joined the army straight out of school and served for four years. After leaving the military, he moved to the UK, where he spent five years kickstarting his boating career. Skippering a small passenger boat for wildlife tours, water taxi services.
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Thunder Jet Boat Driver
Jessica Molloy
Jess has spent the last year and a half living the dream as a commercial jet boat driver, turning her passion for all things water into a career – blasting music wherever she goes. She studied Adventure Tourism Management at QRC, and now she gets to share epic adventures and the thrill of jet boating with awesome people every day. When she’s not ripping up the lake or river, she’s all about netball and speedway. You’ll never catch Jess at work without an energy drink in hand – it’s basically part of her uniform.
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Thunder Jet Boat Driver
Daniel Willcock
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Hydro Attack Operations Manager
Paul Hersekorn
Paul got “stuck” in Queenstown and accidentally became a shark driver. When he’s not out on the lake having meetings with ducks, he’s usually hiking, exploring the outdoors, or hunting down the next great pie.
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Hydro Attack Duty Manager
Jesse Cope
If you're looking for Jesse you'll either find him out on the water, hitting the gym, or under the hood of a car. He likes to keep things chill, help people smile, and is always up for a laugh.
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Hydro Attack Duty Manager
Josh Barker
Part shark, part jet pilot. He drives a shark that flies, runs mountains for fun, and carves snow like it owes him money. Seabreacher pilot by profession, trail runner and snowboarder by obsession. If it moves fast and gets the heart racing, He's in!
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Hydro Attack Driver
Jamie Yuill
Meet Jamie, from the UK. He’s passionate about sharks and enjoys an active lifestyle, when he's not working he likes to spend his time skiing and running.
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Hydro Attack Driver
Jason Hooper
He’s a professional shark driver with a taste for adventure—both on land and sea. When he’s not steering through deep waters, you’ll find him fencing (with humans, not sharks), hiking anywhere with a good view and questionable cell service, or playing guitar for an audience that usually includes at least one confused bird. He loves challenges that keep both body and mind active and firmly believes every good day should include a little exploration—and maybe a power chord.
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Hydro Attack Driver
Mark Van Zyl
Mark is quiet by nature, with an unexpected love for noise. From playing guitars and drums to revving Seabreacher engines, he enjoys anything with energy. He also loves skiing and being active. Having taught axe throwing in Auckland before moving into shark driving, Mark has found his place in hands-on roles that bring people joy - proving an office job was never the right fit.
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Hydro Attack Driver
Jeremy De Sousa
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Hydro Attack Driver
Coady Watson
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Hydro Attack Driver
Ethan Stewart
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Skipper Operations Manager
Blair Grieve
AKA Gravy-born and raised in Invercargill, he later moved to Australia before settling in Queenstown. He owned and operated Queenstown Paraflights for 10 years before selling the business to Watersports. These days, when he’s not working, you’ll find him spending time with his daughters, down south at the Whitebait Hut, duck shooting with Blue, or enjoying a Speights.
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Assistant Skipper Operations Manager
Josh Kay
Josh began his career on fishing boats at just 17 and has since spent much of his life offshore as a marine engineer and skipper. Alongside his extensive tourism experience, he brings a happy, friendly demeanour to the team and is as versatile as a Swiss Army knife. When he’s not on the water, Josh enjoys spending time with his wife, three daughters, and dog, and can often be found snowboarding whenever he gets the chance.
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Skipper & Thunder Jet Boat Driver
Thomas Kitto-Thomas
Tom Tom, Originally from Te Anau, Tom moved to Queenstown in 2018 and has been working on the water ever since. With experience across Paraflights, ferries, charters, and jet boats, he brings steady skill and strong local knowledge to every trip. When he’s not on the water, he’s usually out fishing or hunting.
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Skipper & Paraflights Deckhand
Luke Tilsley
Luke recently swapped the sails of Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf—where he drove ex-America’s Cup yachts in match racing experiences—for the stunning lake views of Queenstown. Now working at Queenstown Watersports as a Water Taxi Skipper, he’s eyeing jet boat adventures as his next move. He’s got a soft spot for ABBA and isn’t shy about belting out a classic on karaoke night at Local every Tuesday. If you hear “Dancing Queen” echoing down the street... it’s probably him.
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Skipper & Paraflights Deckhand
Matthew Stratford
Known in the bay as Stratty. Matt moved to Queenstown from Wellington in 2016 and hasn't looked back. He’s the guy who gets that big yellow smiley chute in the air behind The Red Dragon. When He’s not Parasailing He’s up the mountain snowboarding, or chilling at home with his cat Holly.
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Skipper
Kevin Stall
Originally from Belgium, Kevin loves playing the saxophone and has a serious appreciation for chocolate. In summer, he spends his time trail running and hiking whenever he can.
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Skipper
Hazel Gregg
Thrill-seeker by choice, When Hazel's not racing motocross or tearing up trails, she's chasing adventure with friends or anything powered by an engine. The outdoors is her playground; speed is my vibe.
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Skipper
Skye Baker
Skye made the move from the Marlborough Sounds to Queenstown and quickly found her place within the team, starting in the kiosk before moving onto the water taxis. She loves music, enjoys a good boogie, and is always keen for outdoor adventures.
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Skipper
Julia Huet
Julia is from Brittany and has been living in New Zealand for almost 10 years. She enjoys skiing, trampolining, and disc golfing, and loves nothing more than driving boats on a calm, sunny day.
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Skipper
Nathan Morrison
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Reservations Manager
Heather Emberson-Marl
Shwmae! Heather is from a small sheep farm in Wales, in a place you probably won’t be able to pronounce. She has been working around the water for about 7 years and is now the Kiosk Operations Manager for Watersports. When she’s not on the water at work she enjoys diving beneath; swimming and snorkelling with the fishes!
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Customer Service Manager
Anna Pyper
Meet Anna – originally from Scotland, where sheep are a familiar sight! She moved to Queenstown nearly three years ago and has worked at several jet boat companies in town. Now, she’s found her favourite and is working full-time as a Jetty Coordinator at Watersports. When she’s not on the job, you’ll find Anna in the mountains hiking or skiing, or soaking up summer days out on the lake.
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Watersports Customer Service Representive
Brianna Costa
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Watersports Customer Service Representive
Ewan Watts
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Watersports Customer Service Representive
Lau Neville
Inari recently moved to Queenstown to flee the corporate life back home in Finland and, after sailing her whole childhood and working on cruise ships for multiple years, felt straight at home at Watersports. Enjoys doing any sports and getting up on the mountains, skiing or hiking!
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Watersports Customer Service Representive
Lucy Davies
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Marina Manager
Nick Wyld
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Finance & HR Manager
Michelle Smith
Anything finance and HR look to Michelle. Originally from Perth, she moved to Queenstown for a short 18 month change of pace, ten years ago. She's a smutty romance novel enthusiast (purely for the plot, obviously). Terrified of spiders, heights and perhaps most irrationally - completely finishing a drink. With two decades of finance and HR experience she can explain financial statements like a pro, just don't ask about her own budget.
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Finance & HR Coordinator
Bex Barclay
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Health and Safety Cooridnator
Emily Swan
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Agent & Group Sales
Poppy Kupreichik
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Creative Director
Klara Foreman
Klara looks after all things digital marketing and content creation at Watersports. Originally from the UK, she has a degree in photography and a background in fashion. After five years in Australia she swapped sunshine for snow and moved to Queenstown this winter. She loves Food, Friends reruns, crime docs, early 2000s dance routines, and throwing gun fingers at DnB
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Maintenance Manager
Rhys Cornforth
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Marine Technician
Paul White
You’ll find Paul elbow-deep in engines, but don’t expect him to ever buy a boat—he’s seen enough of them for a lifetime. Originally from Southampton, he’s spent over 15 years working with boats of all shapes and sizes, and the past 3 years in Queenstown keeping jet boats in peak condition. Laid-back and full of dry humour, Paul doesn’t take life too seriously—but when it comes to marine tech, he’s sharp, focused, and seriously good at what he does.
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Marine Technician
Lewis Wyld
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Marine Technician
Josh Plant
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Project Manager & Marine Sales
Jarrod Johnston
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Queenstown Marine Maintenance Manager
Paul Taylor
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Marine Technician
Daniel Fernandez
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Trainee Marine Technician
Michael McGovern
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IT Support Techinian
Josh Gillam