Snow Australia today announced the appointment of Ben Wordsworth as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 24 April 2026.
Ben succeeds Michael Kennedy, who steps down following more than 23 years of distinguished service as the longest-serving National Sporting Organisation CEO in Australian sport history.
Ben brings nearly three decades of experience in elite snow sports administration, high performance coaching and international governance to the role. Ben has been part of the Snow Australia senior leadership team for close to eight years, most recently serving as General Manager - Sport.
Prior to working with Snow Australia he spent more than 16 years in High Performance as a National Head Coach at the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia, where he was responsible for athlete development programs, staff and coach management, and the design and implementation of four-year strategic plans targeting Olympic outcomes.
Snow Australia President Daniel Bosco said: “We are thrilled to welcome Ben to the CEO role. He is a deeply respected figure across the Australian and international snow sports community, and his appointment reflects the Board’s confidence in the exceptional talent within our own organisation.”
“Ben’s blend of high performance expertise, governance experience and genuine passion for snow sports positions him perfectly to lead Snow Australia into an exciting new era. His leadership of the performance pathway has already demonstrated his ability to think strategically and deliver results. We look forward to seeing that vision applied across the full breadth of Snow Australia’s work.”
“Following Australia’s most successful Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, we have ongoing momentum to build on. Ben understands this community deeply, and we are confident he will continue to grow participation and excellence at every level of the sport.”
Incoming Snow Australia CEO Ben Wordsworth said: “I am incredibly excited to lead Snow Australia as the CEO through its next phase and honoured by the trust the Board has placed in me.
“I’d also like to thank Michael Kennedy, who has been a big part of transitioning and preparing me for this role and a great leader for our sport over such a long period of time.
“To our snowsports community, it is a great privilege to lead Snow Australia through this next era and I look forward to staying connected with the grassroots and heart of our sport.
“What stands out most to me is the quality of the people across this organisation - our success is built on athletes, coaches, staff and volunteers. I’m excited to build on that strong foundation as we look to the future. I truly believe our best days are ahead,” he said.
Ben’s appointment follows a thorough search process conducted by the Snow Australia Board. Michael Kennedy, who announced his decision to step down in early 2026, will work closely with Ben to ensure a smooth transition following a successful Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Daniel also paid tribute to Michael’s extraordinary contribution to the sport.
“Michael has been an exceptional leader and a transformative force for Snow Australia. His 23-year legacy includes unifying the sport under a single national body, the development of the National Snowsports Training Centre in Jindabyne, and the building of a high performance system that has delivered sustained Olympic and Paralympic success. He leaves the organisation in the strongest possible position, and we are deeply grateful for everything he has given to the sport.”
