NICAS welcomes Tom Vaessen-Walker as Head of Commercial Partnerships

We’re excited to announce the appointment of Tom Vaessen-Walker as our new Head of Commercial Partnerships. Tom joins NICAS from his role as Operations Director at Parthian Climbing, where he has spent over 13 years leading national operations and managing NICAS-accredited climbing facilities.

Tom brings over 20 years of experience in the leisure and hospitality industry, specialising in strategic planning, operations management, and national marketing campaigns. At Parthian Climbing, he has overseen financial planning, health and safety policies, and stakeholder management, and led the reopening of four facilities post-COVID in close collaboration with the BMC.

“I am thrilled to join NICAS and contribute to an organisation that has such a profound impact on young climbers nationwide,” said Tom Vaessen-Walker. “My background in managing NICAS-accredited centres, coupled with my passion for developing the next generation of climbers, positions me well to foster meaningful partnerships that will support NICAS’s mission and support accredited walls.”

As a qualified climbing instructor and coach, Tom has coached thousands of adults and juniors, including members of the junior GB Climbing Team. 

“We are excited to welcome Tom Vaessen-Walker to our team,” said Nicholas Parkin, Managing Director of NICAS. “His extensive experience in operations, strategic planning, and his deep understanding of the NICAS framework make him an ideal candidate to lead our commercial partnerships efforts.”

In his new role, Tom will focus on expanding NICAS’s network of centres and partners, driving growth, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of our initiatives. A key part of his role will be to work closely with our existing accredited centres, offering tailored support to ensure that every centre has the tools and resources needed to confidently deliver our schemes. By building strong relationships with NICAS Course Directors and centre staff, Tom will help ensure that each centre is fully equipped to inspire and develop young climbers, continuing to offer high-quality, engaging climbing experiences. His appointment marks an important step forward as NICAS broadens its impact and reach within the climbing community.