November 2026 Christmas Dinner & Branch Meeting | Guest Speaker: Aaron Nicholson - Survival, Grit and Leadership Under Pressure

What does an ice cream vendor, an XR 400 motorcycle, skiing down Mount Aspiring, archaeology, the flip of a coin and spending six months in a small oxygen-pressurised room have in common?

 On the surface, absolutely nothing. But in the life of Aaron Nicholson, these bizarre threads seamlessly weave together a remarkable story of survival, grit, and leadership under pressure.

 As a 31-year veteran of the New Zealand Police, member of the Armed Offenders Squad, Special Tactics Group and a 25-year Search and Rescue (SAR) specialist who has been involved in over 600 SAR missions, Aaron has operated on the razor's edge of life and death. In this gripping presentation, he connects tactical operations, archaeology, and the literal flip of a coin into powerful, hard-hitting anecdotes from the front lines. Aaron shares the raw realities of policing, the intense pressure of saving lives in the wilderness, and ultimately, the profound journey of saving his own. Expect raw storytelling, deep insights, and lessons on resilience you won't soon forget.

About our speaker:  Aaron Nicholson MNZM

A highly accomplished senior law enforcement and emergency management professional with over three decades of experience driving operational excellence, tactical leadership and strategic capability development.  Driven by a lifelong commitment to operational excellence, he leverages his extensive background in law enforcement, emergency management and tactical leadership to inspire, challenge and empower teams.  He has a passion for developing capability in others, motivating individuals to achieve peak performance and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, particularly in high-stakes environments.

The ADA would love you to join us for an early Christmas dinner and our last branch meeting for 2026.