Hall heads up the mountain - former principal appointed Remarks boss
Former high school principal Steve Hall is set to return to the industry and mountain where his career began, this time as The Remarkables’ new Ski Area Manager.
Hall has been appointed following his decade-long stint at Wakatipu High School from 2012 to 2022, and a year off to complete bucket list adventures – skiing in Japan, Canada and Colorado, watching the Tour de France in person and mountain biking the length of New Zealand on the Tour Aotearoa trail.
"I’m genuinely feeling really excited. It’s a great role and it’s a really important role because The Remarkables is so precious not only to NZSki, but also to locals and Queenstown as the town and industry grows", Hall says.
"I know there’s going to be challenges along the way, but being part of figuring things out is what I’m really looking forward to."
NZSki CEO Paul Anderson is thrilled Hall has taken the role.
"Steve brings a breadth of experience to the table, and I believe he’s the perfect fit for The Remarkables. As a cherished mountain, having him lead our team is an exciting prospect as we look to the future," Anderson says.
Prior to Hall's career in education, he began his love affair for the mountains and the ski industry working in The Remarkables rental department in 1986. In true Queenstown-style “it was only meant to be for a year,” Hall says.
But the mountains kept calling him back and he immersed himself in the ski and outdoor industries gaining invaluable experience as a ski instructor at both Queenstown mountains, leading glacier tours, rafting excursions, and heli-ski trips in different tourism hotspots. His adventures even led him to serve as a field training leader in Antarctica.
Hall's professional journey includes significant roles such as School Director at Outward Bound and CEO at the Halberg Trust. His academic achievements are equally impressive, boasting an MBA from the University of Canterbury, a BA in Economics and English, a Diploma of Teaching, alongside stints at Harvard University completing two short-courses in Leadership and Nonprofit Management.
Throughout his career, he's been recognised with several prestigious awards, including a citation for bravery from the US Navy and the esteemed Sir Peter Blake Trust Emerging Leader award in 2007.
Hall will officially assume his role as Ski Area Manager on 22 April, succeeding Ross Lawrence, who steps down after 16 years in the role, and 40 years in the ski industry, on 30 April.
