Gabby Kanizay

2023 - 2024

Mountaineer Gabby Kanizay is one of Australia’s most accomplished young climbers, known for her extraordinary achievements at high altitude. At just 19 years old, she became the youngest Australian to summit Mount Everest (8,848m) on 14 May 2022, and the following day summited Lhotse (8,516m), making her the youngest person in the world to complete the Everest–Lhotse double in under 48 hours.

Gabby’s journey into mountaineering began at 14, and by 15 she was trekking to Everest Base Camp with her mother. She quickly developed her skills, completing a mountaineering course in New Zealand and climbing extensively in Nepal. In 2019, at just 16, she became the youngest woman in the world to summit Cho Oyu (8,201m), one of the world’s fourteen 8,000-metre peaks. Her progression reflects a deep commitment to endurance, discipline and a genuine connection to the mountains and the communities within them.

Following a gap year dedicated to climbing and adventure, Gabby moved to Canberra to study Commerce at the Australian National University, living at John XXIII College from 2023 to 2024. While at Johns, she remained deeply engaged in outdoor pursuits, competing in Inward Bound for three years and later coaching the team in 2025. She continues to return to Nepal, drawn to the landscapes and people that have shaped her journey, where the mountains are not simply a chapter of her life, but a constant.

Quote

"In the mountains, distractions fade and my mind settles. There is a connection up there, to the stillness, the simplicity, and the moment, that keeps calling me back."

All photographs © Bronte Morel 2026 and not to be reproduced.