Meet Jezza
Thanks for taking a moment to getting to know me,. I hope you enjoy reading it .. I love living it!!
Adventure "To Undertake a Task Without Knowing the Outcome" - Jezza Williams
Jezza Williams spent over 15 years leading wild expeditions around the globe, living for adrenaline and the natural world. From rafting to canyoning, he was a seasoned adventure professional—until a life-changing canyoning accident in Switzerland in 2010 left him a tetraplegic.
Suddenly, the future he knew was gone. Would adventure always be out of reach?
What followed was a powerful journey of mindset, resilience, and acceptance. Through nearly a year of rehabilitation, Jezza not only adjusted to his new body—he redefined his relationship with adventure. By embracing his circumstances and confronting challenge head-on, he reclaimed his identity and purpose.
Determined not to sit on the sidelines, Jezza re-entered the world of adventure with a new perspective—challenging the status quo and reinventing what adaptive adventure could look like. He saw the gaps, the barriers, and the missed opportunities—and set out to transform the industry from within.
In the years that followed, he pushed the perceived limits of a tetraplegic. From traveling 26,000 km across Eurasia in the Mongol Rally, to designing his own paragliding buggy and earning his solo pilot licence, Jezza proved that the right mindset and a few modifications could open doors many hadn’t even thought to knock on.
Driven by this same philosophy, he pioneered world-first adaptive experiences across Aotearoa—rafting, kayaking, and more—developing systems, harnesses, and advisory frameworks now embedded in some of the country’s leading adventure operations. These innovations have enabled people with physical impairments to explore the same wild landscapes that shaped Jezza’s life.
In 2012, Jezza founded the Makingtrax Foundation to bring this vision to life.
Built on his lived experience, Makingtrax exists to reshape adventure tourism into an inclusive, welcoming space for all. For Jezza, inclusion isn’t a feature—it’s the foundation.
Why Trust Jezza?
Deep industry roots:
Jezza’s career spans more than 30 years in outdoor adventure tourism, with hands-on roles including canyon guide, raft guide, expedition leader, ski patroller, sailing instructor, and operations manager. He has worked across Aotearoa, Switzerland, Canada, the USA, Australia, Morocco, Zambia, and Honduras—bringing a truly global perspective to inclusive adventure.
Elite qualifications:
He holds advanced guiding and leadership certifications, with diplomas in ski patrol and outdoor recreation. Jezza is certified through international bodies such as the Swiss Outdoor Association, Rescue 3, and Coastguard, among others—ensuring his technical knowledge meets the highest safety and industry standards.
Game-changing advocate:
Jezza is a leading voice in inclusive adventure tourism. He’s the first tetraplegic in Aotearoa New Zealand to earn a solo paragliding licence—flying in a self-developed adaptive buggy. His work has shaped international adaptive rafting regulations and sparked world-first adaptive experiences, placing him at the forefront of inclusive innovation.
A rare advisor with whole-journey insight:
Jezza has embraced his unique perspective to develop not just adaptive activities, but entire visitor experiences. His work through Makingtrax spans every aspect of inclusive tourism—from soft adventure and accessible infrastructure to inclusive service design, staff training, risk management, and rigging systems in exposed environments. Few advisors offer such a complete and practical understanding of what true inclusion looks like in action.