Dawa Tashi Sherpa, the sole survivor of the 2014 Mount Everest avalanche that killed 16 people, was elected to the Nepal Mountaineering Association board in August 2025. Born in Solukhumbu, he left school early due to poverty and worked as a porter before becoming a trained high-altitude guide, leading treks and summiting Everest. After being seriously injured in the 2014 disaster, he could no longer climb above 6,000 meters and shifted his focus to social work and leadership. He founded Dawa Gear Projects to support Sherpa communities and wrote an autobiography about his life. As a leader in mountain tourism, he also helped Nepal gain full membership in the International Mountain Leader Federation. Today, he is a symbol of resilience and dedication to Nepal’s mountaineering community.