The Summit 2024: meet the cast

In Season Two of The Summit 14 strangers will embark carrying an equal share of one million dollars, must reach the 2400 metre peak of a distant NZ mountain in just 15 days to win the cash they’re carrying.

Along the journey they’ll need to work as a team as they tackle dangerous terrain, wild conditions, and overcome adrenaline-charged challenges blocking their path to the mountain.

But ill they reach the top in time, or vote each other off the mountain, and who will walk away with the cash?

Jai Courtney (below) returns as host with some familiar faces in the second season cast.

Mat
48 | Qld | Sporting Legend
Footy legend and ‘The Godfather’ of Australian Survivor, Mat has taken on many adventures and challenges with a competitive edge but has never done anything like this before. Growing up in a rugby league family, it was inevitable that Mat would follow in the footsteps of his famous father who captained Australia. A former professional rugby league player, Mat surpassed his father’s record as the greatest pointscorer in his club’s history. After a stellar career representing Queensland, the Kangaroos and the Wallabies (when he switched to rugby union) Mat finished back in the NRL, playing for the Gold Coast Titans. Retiring in 2011, he stepped away from the game to concentrate on his other love – being a dad and starting his own charity that helps kids with autism. It’s something close to Mat’s heart as his son is autistic. After playing two games of Australian Survivor, Mat knows size and physical strength isn’t what will get you to the end – it’s about strategy and outsmarting the opposition. And while he’s mentally and physically prepared to climb the summit, there’s just one thing worrying him – “I have a fear of heights! A real fear of heights. I can’t even go on a ferris wheel, but I’m hoping my competition mode will switch on and I can get through it.”

Simmone
51 | NSW | Actor & Single Mum
An Australian TV favourite from her work on the long-running McLeod’s Daughters series, Simmone has taken a back step from the spotlight to raise her 13-year-old son. As a single mum, Simmone is used to giving to others rather than taking time to herself, so going on an adventure like The Summit is one she’s doing to make not only her family proud but mostly herself. She says: “The last two years have, by far, been my worst. I started a new business but the financial pressure is really intense. My Dad is sick and we’re living in a shed and caravan at his place and my niece had a horrific accident. There’s just been lots happening. And I guess after two years of relentless pressure I lost my hair, even my eyelashes and eyebrows. so I need to do this for myself to prove I can.” With her son as her inspiration, Simmone is hoping to use the appeal of McLeod’s Daughters to her advantage when trying to bond with her fellow hikers. “I don’t really have a strategy, the only thing that might come in handy is if they are fans of the show, because if you are a McLeod’s fan you’re a diehard and maybe then they’ll keep me around, ha ha. If they haven’t seen the show then I’m screwed!”

Tiffani
46 | NSW | Former Pop Star
Claiming she’s ‘A mum of six crazy kids, seven if you include my partner,’ Tiffani has had a life and career that’s hit the highest of highs and lowest of lows. Finding fame as a singer on the series Popstars, Tiffani was part of the Aussie girl band Bardot who had number one hit singles, were nominated for ARIA Awards, and toured the world. But when the band split, Tiffani’s life changed dramatically. She says: “That chapter felt like it was huge but it only lasted for a small time, although it was a huge loss for me when we split. And when that chapter closed I became a mum and that’s what I’ve been doing the last 16 years. Since then I think I’ve lost a sense of self – I’m not the Bardot person anymore and I don’t want to just be a mum. I feel there’s a piece missing and I wanted to give myself a challenge, and this will certainly be that.” Planning to go with the flow rather than stick with a strategy, Tiffani admits she hates liars in real life but won’t judge any of the hikers if they have to do what’s necessary to get to the top and to the prizemoney.

Olympia
31 | VIC | Actor
Olympia says there are two sides to her life, and while most people regard her as a glamorous actress, the reality is not always as glitzy as they think. Olympia says: “I use social media for pretty things – pretty dresses, pretty makeup, but it’s superficial. No one really knows what my life is like behind closed doors. There have been some incredibly dark times. I’ve had miscarriages and tried so hard for a baby, and we’re going down the IVF path now. My life isn’t all red carpets and parties.” Funny and self-deprecating, Olympia has never hiked a day in her life. “I think this adventure will show people who I really am. It’s funny, because people always meet me and say, ‘Oh, I thought you would be a b*tch!’ And I get it because I’m posing and doing my job, but hopefully people will see the real me out here.” Hoping the other hikers will be slower than her to maintain the illusion that she’s keeping up with the competition, Olympia knows her weakness will be people-pleasing and having to vote people out.

Glen ‘Sharksey’
30 | QLD | Unprofessional Poker Player
A classic case of not judging a book by its cover, Glen is an ex-miner and poker player from the Gold Coast who says, ‘The old ladies at poker call me Sharksey.’ Knowing people will judge him on first appearance, Glen is hoping to use that to his advantage, saying: “I’m going to hide in plain sight, I won’t be a threat. They won’t perceive a dude with eyeliner and painted nails as a threat.” Glen is a deep thinker, introverted with high morals, so coming into a competition where you have to cut fellow hikers loose is going to be hard. Yet he knows you must do what you need to in order to get ahead. “I have the ability to be an arsehole, but that’s not really me. I’d rather kill them with kindness. However, if I have to be an asshole, I can.” Admitting that leaving his family and friends behind will be harder than he thinks, Sharksey also says he’ll push through any fear or pain and do whatever it takes to get to the top of the summit.

David
59 | WA | Theatre Director
A geek who wears the badge proudly, David is the technical director for the West Australian Ballet, and has worked for some of the biggest companies and events in Australia and overseas, including the Sydney, London and Beijing Olympics. David is a planner and a strategist who loves doing puzzles and knows flexibility with a battle plan will be key in getting to the top.Hoping to make his children proud, David also knows it won’t be easy getting to the summit. But he won’t let anything stop him, insisting: “It’s going to be an amazing achievement, and I want to show my two boys that if you put your mind to it you can accomplish absolutely anything.” As the oldest hiker, David says: “Maybe I’m not the youngest chicken in the shed, but I think that also makes a statement that anybody of any age can take on a challenge like this. “I don’t look 59. I’ll be the babyface assassin.”

Lochie
31 | TAS | Dairy Farmer
Tassie born and bred, Lochie is a third-generation dairy farmer and local government councillor. One of four boys, competitiveness and drive is instilled in him. Used to working hard on the farm, sometimes waking at 3am and working till 10pm at night, Lochie hopes this will help him physically on The Summit and hopes his political side will help him with the social game. Keen to use his political nous in the competition, Lochie says: “I feel like I’m a chameleon of sorts in terms of my personality. I’m hundred per cent me but I can tone that down or build up depending on the situation. I hope to just blend myself into how they are and match who they are to build trust. If you go too far over or under, the person you’re dealing with just thinks you’re a dickhead.” Lochie says getting to the top will be the most important thing, but he has great plans if he wins the prizemoney, saying it will help him and his partner buy a house and go towards a wedding.

Taylor
28 | VIC | Wharfie
A natural leader who knows he’ll need to step back to avoid looking in control, Taylor is a stevedore from Melbourne. Growing up playing AFL and rugby, Taylor has always looked to push himself, and is excited by what The Summit has in store for him. He’s a competitive person due to playing high-level sports who also loves helping others and hopes to do a bit of both on the mountain. Taylor says: “I’m definitely a strong believer of putting everything, all my energy, into everything, so getting to the summit would be astronomical, just the most incredible feeling. I’m already in awe of this beautiful country and it would be a life-changing experience.” He says the hardest part will be hiking with anyone who is lazy, and he might find it difficult to not “give them a kick up the arse”.

Phil
43 | WA | Bali Bombing Survivor
A survivor of the Bali bombings, Phil has spent 21 years fighting and overcoming the hardest of adversities. As the captain of his footy club, Phil and his 19 mates were in Bali when the attacks left him presumed dead for 12 hours, with his front teeth blown out, shrapnel wounds, and burns to 60 per cent of his body. Following his recovery, Phil discovered his love for martial arts and motivational speaking which he does to this day, saying: “I just remember crying and shivering with emotions the first time I spoke about what happened to a small group, but I thought maybe this is why I’m here.” Married with three kids, Phil thinks the hardships he’s endured will help him face the summit. “When the chips are down on the mountain, I’ll definitely be able to switch the narrative. There hasn’t been one circumstance or situation I have faced that at first I thought was challenging or maybe impossible, but I haven’t been able to switch it and overcome it.” One of his main motivations to take on The Summit is to honour his mates who didn’t come home, and his family.

Theo
49 | VIC | Stay-at-home Dad
Stay-at-home dad and local footy coach Theo says his family are his everything. Deciding to take time away from work and spend more time at home with his two kids to give his wife the opportunity to focus on her career, Theo says it wasn’t all smooth sailing at the beginning. “It was quite challenging at the start. I reckon I probably destroyed some of my wife’s favourite clothes [washing] and getting into the rhythm of lunches and drop-offs, but it’s been good since!” Happy and positive, Theo believes his fellow hikers will see him and think, “Look at this handsome, middle-aged Greek man,” who they’ll fall in love with real quick. Leaving the family behind will be the hardest thing for Theo to overcome, but he knows their belief in him will help him through the hard times. “I want them to never be afraid to take a step and do something you didn’t think you could. They’ve given me a bracelet with the acronym YGT, which means you’ve got this. I’ll look at that if I’m feeling scared and it will give me the strength to keep going.”

Trisha
43 | SA | Personal Trainer
Trisha is a Muluridji woman, mother of two and personal trainer. After her own self-transformation nearly six years ago, she loves to motivate and encourage women to look after themselves and inspire people around her. She says: “I lost 25 kilos and started my own fitness journey from trail running on country, and I want to share that experience with everyone else. It was such a phenomenal sort of transformation and experience and I love getting to share that. I became a personal trainer and have now finished my hiking guide training.” While she’s not worried about the physical side of hiking up the summit, she says there will be a few things to be nervous about. “I am scared of green frogs and snakes. I know frogs aren’t scary but I’m terrified of them. I also think I’m going to miss real food and coffee. I was probably supposed to say my family, but coffee, ha ha.”

Charlotte
35 | NSW | Nurse
At first glance Charlotte is used to people underestimating her, but her perseverance and wicked sense of humour proves she’s not one to give up. Charlotte was born with a congenital birth defect which has left her with half an arm, but it hasn’t stopped her yet and it won’t stop her from getting to the top of the summit. She says: “Most of the time I’ll just tell a story like I had frostbite while climbing Mount Everest as a child. And I might leave that story hanging in the air for days or seconds, depending on the person and how much I like them. “I got into big trouble at school for telling that story. I started at a new school and my folks got called in and thought it was hilarious. I like to disarm people with humour and it breaks the ice. That’s what life’s about.”

Ros
41 | QLD | Farmer
Wild and fun, Roslyn lives on a farm in Queensland with her two children and admits to being a jack of all trades but master of none. She’s competitive and ready for a new challenge, saying: “I have a competition with my kids to be the first one to the toilet in the morning. I could not be more competitive. I don’t like to lose. I won’t be vocal about it but I will be there to win.” While she’s always up for a laugh, Ros gets serious when talking about how getting to the top of the summit won’t just be a personal gain – she needs to win so she can keep her farm. Admitting she’s close to losing it, Ros won’t give up easily. “I don’t want to win a million dollars. I need to win a million dollars. I won’t be the first farmer that’s been in this situation and I won’t be the last, but there’s no want, there’s need.”

Ava
29 | WA | Aerospace Engineer
An aerospace engineer who has worked at NASA, Ava can admit her day to day is actual rocket science. One of the only females, let alone Australian females, to work at NASA, Ava is a trailblazer who feels ready to take on the adventure of a lifetime by climbing the summit. She says: “I think I have all the aspects to do well out here. I have the physical – I do mountaineering, I go backpacking, rock climbing. I have the mental aspect – I am really strong mentally with the work I do. And I have the social aspect, because I don’t think many people could move from Perth to Alabama and get the respect to work on flight projects like I do.” She admits her blunt honesty can sometimes get her into trouble and says she’s not afraid to play a ruthless game because she wants to win for her family.

Sunday – Tuesday on Nine.