Sowry also brings extensive athlete experience to the role having competed in the Tornado event at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games as well as in round the world yacht races.

After making the transition from professional sailing to business, Sowry has served as Chief Executive of three large organisations - Housing New Zealand, Metlifecare, and now Queenstown Airport.

Sowry has previously served on the Yachting New Zealand High Performance Committee and was a Yachting New Zealand Olympic Selector for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.