Cameron Walker (32) is on the association's board, so he was aware the association had introduced the Emerging Guide award this year to recognise a guide who displayed ``great potential, talent and a commitment to a career'' in the guiding sector.
However, he was not aware he was in the running for the award until he was announced the winner.
He told the Otago Daily Times yesterday he was ``humbled'' to have been acknowledged by his peers.
``It was pretty unexpected.
``If anything, it was a nice opportunity to thank a few people that have been pretty influential in my professional career to date, and nice recognition for ... folks who have mentored me and helped me find my way ... ''
Originally from Auckland, Mr Walker said he'd grown up in a family that enjoyed the outdoors, particularly sailing and tramping.
``I sort of went into it really just wanting to ... use it as an opportunity to upskill my own personal skills in the outdoors.
``I didn't, at the time, think that I wanted to be involved as a career, as such.''
Instead, Mr Walker embarked on career as a chef, but after a few years decided to ``chuck in the towel'' and follow his passion.
In April 2012, he and his wife, Kelly Smith, relocated to Macquarie Island - a Unesco World Heritage Site about halfway between New Zealand and the Antarctic - where they spent 12 months working with the Australian Antarctic Division and the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service on pest eradication.
``We spent 12 months down there living out in the field for a month at a time and then coming back into the station for a few days off, and basically looking for rabbits and whatnot.
``It was an amazing place, an incredible environment and amazing wildlife and a nice simple way to live with not a lot of complexities down there.''
Three years ago, the couple decided to relocate from the central North Island to the Wakatipu. Ms Smith began working as a high country shepherd at Glen Nevis Station, near Kingston, and Mr Walker found there were ``less outdoor education opportunities for work and more in the adventure sector''.
He had since worked as a contract guide for Quark Expeditions, a company which runs ships to the Antarctic, where he was involved with ``polar tourism guiding''.
That included snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, driving Zodiac boats and interpreting the landscape and wildlife for tourists.
``The boats I was on had 160 to 180 passengers and you spend 10 days down there, so a couple of days crossing the Drake Passage from the bottom of South America and then five or six days on the peninsula and a couple of days back.''
He had also been to Patagonia, where he completed some ``personal climbing missions'' with a friend, and was a member of Queenstown's Cliff Alpine Rescue volunteer team.
Mr Walker said he would be returning to the Antarctic for two months this summer, while also seeking other opportunities.
``Work-wise, it's just keeping a varied amount of work coming in and getting out and enjoying what I'm doing and finding contentment in it.
``I suppose for me, [with] the outdoors, you can have a varied and exciting job and it can take you to some amazing places and meet some amazing people.
``That's what it's really about for me.''
Also honoured during Saturday night's awards was Otago Polytechnic's Michael Edh, one of six recipients of Tertiary Awards, presented to students in their final year of study who had a passion for outdoor instruction and showed potential for future involvement in the industry.
