leadership Team
At the heart of the PSIC leadership team is a genuine love of skiing — all aspects of it: doing it, learning it, and teaching it. But it’s not just about passion. We’re a curious and hardworking group, united by deep industry experience, strong relationships, and a shared commitment to the future of ski education in Canada.
As the PSIC continues to grow, our expanded leadership team reflects our commitment to supporting the industry through world-class education, innovation, and operational excellence. Together, our experience spans decades in education development, teaching, scientific study, and executive resort leadership, positioning us at the forefront of ski professional training and development.
Read more about our recent leadership expansion in our press release.
About
Mark sedgwick
Mark is a proud product of the ski industry, with more than 35 years dedicated to the sport he’s passionate about. He is the President and co-founder of the Professional Ski Instructors of Canada and is widely recognized as a respected global thought leader and author in the ski industry.
He spent 16 years as a senior executive with Whistler Blackcomb, helping guide the resort’s growth into the most visited ski destination in the world. During that time, he contributed to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, the company’s successful IPO, and its eventual acquisition by Vail Resorts.
Mark's ski education spans three pathways: Austrian, Australian, and Canadian. Mark participated at two Interski events, representing Australia in 1995 and Canada as Technical Lead and Coach in 2023.
About
russ wood
Russ brings 30 years of experience in the ski industry, including 25 years of expertise in Ski School Business and Operations. His extensive career includes serving as the Senior Director of the Whistler Blackcomb Snow and Bike School. While at Whistler Blackcomb, he was a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Vail Resorts “Core Ski and Ride School” industry Best Practice group, and the CWSAA Snowschool Director committee.
Russ has represented three Interski teams and holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Kinesiology. He shares his passion for adventure and mountain life with his wife, Nat, and their two children, Ethan and Finley.
About
jeff marks
Jeff has held various roles in the ski industry since beginning his ski teaching career as a teenager at Marmot Basin near Jasper, Alberta. Moving to Banff in 1997, Jeff spent 10 years with the Club Ski Program, the last few years of that tenure in the role of Snow School Director. In 2007, a unique opportunity to build a new snow school approach at Niseko Village in Japan took him there for the next four years. As a Director with the resort, Jeff’s oversight went beyond Snow School to include winter & summer in-resort activities.
Since returning to Canada in 2011, Jeff has been a staff member of the CSIA, including serving as National Program Director since 2019. Jeff has represented Canada as a member of the 2015 and 2019 Interski teams and most recently, Head Coach of the 2023 Interski Team.
About
ed cambridge
BKIN (Hons), DC (Clinic Hons), PhD (Kinesiology)
Ed is an award winning researcher, international lecturer and teacher, and sought after clinical expert in spine and hip biomechanics. He completed his PhD studies working in the prestigious spine biomechanics laboratory at University of Waterloo after completing his clinical chiropractic training at CMCC and undergraduate training at Brock University. Ed received the Banting and Best graduate training research award (2011), CCA Young Investigator Award (2012), and the International Society of the Study of Lumbar Spine - top prize (2013). Ed is also a practising clinician, in private practice, seeing patients from across North America with complex spine disorders. He is a respected ski teacher and trainer in the Collingwood area, and is looking forward to contributing to the industry in a bigger way through his involvement in the PSIC.
About
melanie barber baribeau
Mel is excited to serve as the Community, Operations & Marketing Coordinator with the PSIC. A Whistler local, she grew up exploring the forests, rivers, and mountains of the Sea-to-Sky. She holds both a BA and a BEd from the University of British Columbia and worked for many years as a Snow School Coordinator with Whistler Blackcomb. Her journey then led her to Montréal, the Kootenays, and eventually back to Whistler, where she built experience in marketing, administration, and education through a variety of community organizations, including Les YMCA du Québec, Selkirk College, and the Sea-to-Sky School District.
A musician and writer, Mel values creativity, community, and connection. She appreciates a good après alongside meaningful conversation and can often be found hiking or skiing in the mountains with her family. She is committed to fostering a supportive, smooth, and enriching experience for all members of the PSIC community.
About
sebastien baribeau
Sebastien has 42 years of ski experience, 25 years of ski teaching experience, and 18 years of course conductor experience! He has worked at numerous ski schools across the country including Mount Orford, Lake Louise, and Le Massif. He was a Supervisor of Whistler Privates at Whistler Blackcomb and Head of Training at Whitewater. His international experience includes time spent at Courchevel in France and with the Rookie Academy in New Zealand. He is a CSIA Level 4 instructor and examiner, is ISIA stamp certified, Alpine Canada CSCF Coach Level 2 and Canadian Avalanche Association Level 1. Sebastien was also a member of the 2023 Canadian Interski Team.
About
perry schmunk
Perry served as the Managing Director of the CSIA and was head of the Canadian delegation at Interski 2023. During his time as Mayor of Tofino, British Columbia, Perry was honoured with the Queen’s Jubilee Medal for Community Service. Previous roles also include Snow School Director at Whistler Blackcomb and Business Development Director at Ski Banff Lake Louise Sunshine.
During his time with the CSIA, Perry was instrumental in leading the organization through a period of significant growth and transformation, including strengthening industry relations, advancing inclusion and diversity, and guiding the organization through the Covid-19 pandemic. Among his many responsibilities, Perry also led the organization’s risk management and insurance strategies.
About
derek foose
From humble beginnings teaching skiing at Edmonton’s Snow Valley Ski Club, and a five year stint coaching at Perisher resort in Australia, his career has spanned nearly 30 years in the world class alpine playground at Whistler Blackcomb. Derek has worked with Extremely Canadian, the pioneers of big mountain coaching since 2000, coaching skiers across the globe in steep skiing meccas including La Grave, France and Las Lenas, Argentina. He is the founder and head coach of the world renowned Whistler Freeride Club, and has coached three junior world champions and eight athletes on the Freeride World Tour.
Derek currently balances his time between coaching junior freeriders, working as a broadcast host for the Freeride World Tour, serving on the board of directors of IFSA (International Freeskiers and Snowboarders Association), guiding the integration of freeride into FIS (International Ski and Snowboard Federation), and leading the development, training, and certification of PSIC’s groundbreaking Big Mountain Pathway.
