Our board is a collection of dedicated, passionate volunteers from diverse backgrounds and experiences coming together for the development and sustainability of paddling in Western Australia.
We value their support and guidance, and appreciate their time and energy given to our beloved sport. Paddle WA would not exist without them.
Jocelyn Sisson
President
Jocelyn is a Paddle Australia Flatwater Kayak Instructor and has been paddling recreationally for 30 years. Jocelyn has participated in the Avon Descent, played canoe polo and currently paddles sea kayaks and surf skis. She is an active member of the Swan Canoe Club. Professionally, Jocelyn is a pharmacist and is currently the Executive Officer of the Pharmaceutical Society of Western Australia. She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has completed a Certificate IV in Bookkeeping and Accounting. Jocelyn brings strong skills in governance, marketing, risk management and policy development to the Paddle WA Board.
Ken Vidler
Member & Olympian
Ken began paddling in 1967 and was Australia’s most decorated surf life-saving competitor when he retired, having won over 50 medals across his 23-year career. Ken represented Australia at multiple Canoe Sprint World Championships before gaining selection to the Australian Olympic Team. He competed at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, finishing 8th in the K4 1000m event. Ken is a highly-versatile paddler, having won the WWK1 at the 1978 Australian Wildwater Racing Championships.
Andrew Hayden
Member
With over 40 years of paddling competition and coaching experience, Andrew Hayden leads the Paddle WA Board with vision and drive. As a sports physiotherapist, Andrew has long been an advocate of paddling for rehabilitation and recreation, bringing many new members to our sport. His experience as a coach at Bayswater Paddlesports Club saw Andrew play a key role in developing the framework of junior programs in WA.
Leonie Cockman
Member
Leonie has been a highly involved member of the paddling community for many decades and was president of Ascot Kayak Club for 8 years. She was inducted as an AKC Life Member upon her resignation to recognise her role in the club’s development. Leonie is Paddle WA’s most qualified instructor, running PAQS Education courses across WA. She was instrumental in the growth of the LiveLighter Paddle Academy. Leonie owns her own paddle tour business on the Swan River called Water Wanderers.
Claudia Wells
Member
Claudia freely acknowledges that she does not have a background as a paddler – although she is now looking forward to learning more about the sport! She does have a strong background in sports administration as a club volunteer across several disciplines, previous financial roles in the not-for-profit and private sectors, and extensive experience staging public sporting events. As a Club Development Officer in local government, Claudia also brings significant experience with budgets, policy and procedure development, grant applications and administration, club governance, and knowledge of the issues that club volunteers face.
Will Lee
Member
Will is an accomplished surf-ski, K1 and stand-up paddler who has a great passion for the ocean – he loves to surf, wakeboard, kite, free-dive and sail. He has represented WA and Australia in the K1 and surf-ski at ICF Kayak and Surf-ski Worlds. As a SUP paddler he has won the WA State SUP Marathon and Downwind Titles and represented WA at SUP Nationals. When he’s not on the water or spending time with his family, he is at his full-time job of running a large corporate as a Regional General Manager and attending to their family run business, Epic Kayaks WA.
Gillian Goby
Member
Gillian is a marine scientist and ocean lover. She enjoys recreational paddling with friends and her two young twin sons. With post graduate qualifications in business leadership, and as a business owner and managing Director she brings a diversity of skills to paddle wa including, leadership, Strategic planning & implementation, Problem solving, Risk assessment and management, Policy development and Financial acumen. Gillian is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Gillian is passionate about the environment and a sustainable future in her personal and professional life – and hopes to also contribute this knowledge and experience to Paddle WA.
