A vision for a more inclusive world

There were moments that terrified James Hunter during the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. A monster storm the first night took out almost one-fifth of the fleet off Jervis Bay, for starters. Then, rounding Tasmania, the crew of Kayle was struck by powerful winds the likes of which James had never experienced.

"It was very primal; that race took me places I would never have dreamed of," said the experienced sailor. "But I got off the boat in Hobart thinking I had been tested but had not been found wanting. It reinforced that the journey I have been taking has built and tempered resilience, which will be helpful when the next challenge inevitably comes along."

That could easily be later this year, when James backs up for his second Sydney to Hobart with the Making Waves Foundation crew, half of whom live with disabilities. He, himself, lost his sight to a hereditary eye disorder and credits the not-for-profit charity - and UNE - with helping him to transition to his "new reality".

James initially studied a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics at UNE, graduating in 1988, then embarked on a career as a rural analyst and banker, before becoming a management consultant.

"I returned to UNE to undertake my doctoral studies in 1997, but UNE gave me so much more," says James. "It provided me with opportunities to teach, and the support and confidence to do things both in the office and the classroom as my sight slowly deteriorated. I had to reinvent myself and it would have been a very difficult journey intellectually and emotionally if I were to have done that alone.

"What I learnt and developed at UNE has been tooled to great effect. I bring a rich tapestry of experience and techniques to every conversation I have, with fellow crew and during interactions with teenagers who are meeting their own challenges. It's another educational context that UNE has equipped me to thrive in."

James taught as a lecturer and then senior lecturer in organisational behaviour, strategic management and business at UNE from 2001 until his retirement in 2015. By then he had lost his sight, as well as the outdoor and sports-oriented lifestyle he'd so enjoyed.

"I grew up playing competitive cricket and tennis and hockey, and sailing dinghies on Lake Burley Griffin, and I still craved that stuff," he says. "Joining the Making Waves Foundation - taking that big step to help crew big yachts - helped me, in a very uncompromising way, to own my blindness. If I wanted to sail, I had to say what I could and couldn't do."

After "mapping" a boat, often on his hands and knees, James relies on adaptations - like extra lashings on the sheets - to help in his mainsail trimming role. "The lashings give me feedback on where the boom is in relation to the centre of the boat, and I am constantly asking questions and for input from other crew members. I rely heavily on my other senses - like the feel of the wind on my body and the sounds and keel of the boat. I can sniff out the slightest breeze. You become very attuned to what's going on and where you can add value."

James Hunter at sunrise

Rediscovering his love of sailing was one thing, but the foundation also provided new mentoring opportunities for James through its sailing programs for disabled, disadvantaged and disengaged youth.

"Making Waves has enabled me to explore what's possible for me, but it has enriched my life immeasurably working with young people in the adventure education space over the past 10 years. We work with them to build their confidence and teamwork, emotional intelligence, problem-solving and conflict resolution skills; to develop the interpersonal skills and resilience that will enable them to succeed at school and beyond the classroom. You get some amazing results, and it all works towards a far kinder and inclusive Australia."

In the lead-up to Boxing Day, James and the crew of Kayle, which was custom-made by the Making Waves Foundation's founder David Pescud, have been competing in a series of offshore races and can't wait for the starter's gun. "This year we will have on board people who are hearing-impaired, blind, have cerebral palsy and a congenital limb difference, which shows what can be done," James said.

To support James' fundraising efforts during the Sydney to Hobart, go to

Crew Fundraiser | Making Waves Foundation - James Hunter

• Contact:
• Alumni Relations
• +61 2 6773 2551
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