About Us

Origins

Origins

Surfing Australia is a National Sporting Organisation that was formed in 1963 to establish, guide and promote the development of surfing in Australia

Surfing Australia is the representative body on the International Surfing Association (ISA) of which there are 86 member countries and is recognised by the Australian Sports Commission, the Australian Olympic Committee and is a member of the Water Safety Council of Australia.

Surfing underpins an important part of the Australian coastal fabric. It forms part of a lifestyle in which millions participate with a mystique in which millions more have a documented interest

The Beginnings

Surfing Australia was established to guide and promote the development of the sport in Australia. The organisation was formed in a time when surfing was not a popular past-time and in an era when there was no such thing as a surfing industry or funding to support it.

The Growth

What followed was a far more strategic approach towards the development of the sport. The framework and structure created has allowed surfing to grow both as a sport and as a lifestyle pursuit into the new millennium.

Click here to see out Surfing In Australia 4 year Strategic Plan

Patron

Layne Beachley

Layne Beachley

Layne is regarded as one of the world’s most successful athletes. 19 years on the pro tour. 7 world titles. The only surfer in history, male or female, to win six consecutive world titles. 5 won in a state of fear. 2 in a state of love.

Beyond the world titles, beach lifestyle, celebrity status, and rockstar husband, Layne’s story is one of overcoming significant obstacles in and out of the water including Chronic Fatigue syndrome, depression and family loss. Navigating her way through success and failure, Layne is a champion for mental wellness, believing our fears, setbacks and limitations are a hot spot for growth and opportunity.

Since retiring from professional surfing, Layne has channelled her intensity of a ‘tiger shark’ to continue fighting for causes close to her heart. Protecting the oceans and all that lives in them as a passionate environmental campaigner, paving the way as Chair of Surfing Australia, supporting people through their mental health challenges as ambassador for Black Dog Institute and RUOK? Day, and empowering humanity to develop its mental and emotional well-being via her Awake Academy. As a highly sought-after motivational speaker, workshop facilitator and presenter, Layne is driven to awaken a groundswell of centred, connected and confident people to design a life they love.

Layne’s no bullshit approach to life and leadership is refreshingly real, straight to the point, moving, funny and highly applicable to people in all walks of life.

She surfs every day, loves Rosé and her biggest weakness is hot chips.

Board

Adrian Buchan

Adrian Buchan

Chair

Adrian Buchan, or Ace as he’s affectionately known, is a two-time Australasian Pro Junior Tour (2000 and 2001) and two time World Junior Champion 1997 and 1999. He is the second longest serving member behind Kelly Slater on the WSL Men’s World Tour. His more recent career highlights include wins at the prestigious Teahupoo, Tahiti and Hossegor, France as well as Runner- ups at Snapper Rocks, Australia and Saquarema, Brazil.

He served as the World Pro Surfers (WPS) Athlete Representative to the WSL and as a WSL Board Member for 5 years. He is a Founding Board member of Surfers For Climate and an ambassador for WSL Pure Foundation and the Take 3 For The Sea (Ocean stewardess) Foundation. In 2019 he was awarded the WSL Pure Award for Outstanding Ocean Advocacy. He’s also a published children’s author with his book “Macka’s Barrel Into The Dreamtime.”

A Father of three young children who tour the world with him and his wife Beck he has a deep passion for protecting the environment that has allowed him to follow his dreams. As a product of the booming surf industry and thriving junior scene of the late 90’s he feels a strong responsibility to ensure Australia’s future stars are given the same opportunities he was afforded.

Fiona De Jong

Fiona De Jong

Board Member

Fiona is a former triathlete and lawyer with 19 years’ experience in sport administration. Fiona is currently leading the Australian Institute of Sport European Training Centre located in Italy in the lead up to Paris 2024 and Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Games

Previously as CEO and Director of Sport at the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), she delivered 10 Australian Olympic campaigns – 3 summer, 3 winter and 4 youth.

Recently Fiona was Head of Australia’s Nation Brand at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), leading the Australian Government’s ambitious global marketing initiatives to encourage the world to visit, study, invest and do business with Australia.

Fiona holds degrees in Law (Hons), Information Technology and began her career as a lawyer and in eCommerce.

She is a board member of Surfing Australia, Australian Sport Diplomacy Advisory Council, Member of the National Sports Tribunal, Legal Commission of International Weightlifting Federation, and former member of the AOC Executive, Australian Olympic Foundation, Olympic Winter Institute of Australia, International Olympic Committee (IOC) Marketing Commission and IOC Taskforce on Safeguarding Athletes.

Adrian Bouris

Adrian Bouris

Board Member

Adrian has over thirty years extensive experience in investment banking and corporate and commercial law over a range of numerous industries and sectors. He was formerly Managing Director of the Australian Investment Banking Division of ING Bank N.V., and prior to that Director of SG Hambros Australia.

Adrian is currently principal and managing director of BBB Capital Pty Ltd, non-executive director of Yellow Brick Road Holdings Limited, non- executive director of the Momentum Media group and Director and part- owner of The Surf Travel Company. Prior to his appointment to the Surfing Australia Board, he was a non-executive director on the Board of Surfing NSW for approximately eight years, and holds an unending passion for “Surfing in Australia”.

Brett Chenoweth

Brett Chenoweth

Board Member

Brett brings a wealth of major international experience across media, technology, entertainment, investment and telecommunications. Brett is Chairman of Canberra Data Centres (CDC), AdairsLimited (ASX: ADH), Madman Entertainment and the Advisory Board of HRLMorrison & Co. and he is an Independent Board Director of Vodafone NZ, Saxton Speakers Bureau and NSW Land Registry. Brett also serves as Chairman of the Investment Committee for The Bombora Group and as an Independent Director of Surfing Australia.

Brett has formerly served as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of APN News and Media and has held senior executive roles at the New York based investment firm Silverfern Group, Telecom New Zealand, Publishing & Broadcasting Limited, ecorp, ninemsn and Village Roadshow Limited.

Brett holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Queensland and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia.

Graham Brimage

Graham Brimage

Board Member

Graham is one of Australia’s most experienced administrators in the sport and recreation industry and has been a passionate advocate and driving force for surfing in Western Australia. For over 20 years Graham held key governance and executive roles with a range of WA Government departments, statutory authorities, institutes and sport organisations. These roles have traversed the community sport, elite sport, outdoor recreation, fitness and leisure sectors.

He has extensive strategic planning, policy development and evaluation experience in sport at Federal, State and Local government levels. Graham generated strategic engagement for and shared policy agendas for sport with mainstream portfolios, including education, environment, transport, water, local government, justice, Aboriginal Affairs, health, communities and tourism.

Graham is passionate about utilising the ‘power of sport’ to build stronger, healthier, happier and safer communities.

He’s a past president of Surfing WA and was pivotal in having the Margaret River Pro elevated to the World Championship Tour (WCT), in 2013.

He currently leads the $4 million redevelopment project to build Surfing WA’s new headquarters at Trigg Beach and chases good days at Yallingup Main Break.

Brooke Farris

Brooke Farris

Board Member

Brooke Farris is the newly appointed dynamic CEO at the world’s leading surf company, Rip Curl, and has over 17 years of experience in the surfing industry. In the water Brooke is an avid surfer and former competitor, with 2x Australian Surfing Championships and 3x WA State Titles on her record. On land she has followed her passion and set out in her career to empower growth and equality in women’s surfing.

From working alongside 7x World Surfing Champion and Surfing Australia Chair Layne Beachley, through to working as Tour Manager for the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), Brooke successfully elevated the women’s prize purse by 70% at events around the world and set the wheels in motion for female pay equality.

Brooke then began her work at Rip Curl, a long relationship that saw her running Rip Curl surf events around the world, to leading exponential sales growth online as the GM of Digital and becoming the first female to join the company’s global executive team as the GM of Women’s at Rip Curl, renewing the focus and vision of the women’s brand while simultaneously growing the women’s business globally. In August 2021, Brooke was promoted to CEO of Rip Curl, the first female CEO in Rip Curl’s fifty two year history.

She is a Board Member of SurfAid Australia and formerly the Layne Beachley Aim for the Stars Foundation. Surfing has been a consistent thread throughout Brooke’s life and has given her the ability to live her passion daily. She hopes to support the growth of surfing in Australia and ensure its future.

David Gyngell

Board Member

One of Australia’s most influential and experienced media executives, David Gyngell has had a very successful and extensive media career for over 20 years. Up until his retirement in 2015 he was the Chief Executive Officer of Nine Entertainment Co. Pty Ltd (NEC) and remained on the Board until November 2018.

During his time as CEO David was instrumental in the debt refinancing of NEC in October 2012 and then successfully listed Nine Entertainment Co on the ASX in December 2013.

David was the founder and Chairman of Australia’s first subscription streaming service Stan which commenced streaming movies and television shows in Australia in January 2015. He was the Chairman of Balter Brewery from 2016 to 2020 and has also been the Chairman of FreeTV and Surfing NSW.

David was the owner of the iconic Brunswick Hotel and a number of retail and property businesses.

He has been involved with surf retail from 1994 to 2020 which included Bondi Surf Co, Maroubra Underground and Beach Culture.

David has held several directorships in a range of high-profile companies including Nine Entertainment Co, ACP Magazines, Ticketek, Ninemsn, Carsales, Hoyts, Perisher Pty Ltd, Crown Pty Ltd, Ebay, Charles Schwab, Wizard Home Loan just to name of few.

David was on the Board of the Sydney Roosters for ten years and is a Life Member and was appointed to the NRL Players Union Advisory Board in April 2016.

Life Members

Andrew Stark

2024

Mark Lane

2023

Don O'Rorke

2017

Norm Innis

2015

Mal Gregson

2013

Robert Mitchell

2009

Alan Atkins

2001

Rod Brooks

2000

Snowy McAllister

Our Team

Alaina Termenini

Alaina Termenini

Executive Assistant to Chief Executive Officer

Chris Mater

Chris Mater

Chief Executive Officer

Kate Wilcomes

Kate Wilcomes

High Performance Director

Luke Madden

Luke Madden

Chief of Sport – Events, Participation & Community

Sam White

Sam White

Chief of Finance & Operations

Clarissa Pike

Clarissa Pike

Head of Partnerships

Rohan Hass

Rohan Hass

Technical Digital Manager

Noni Lubans

Noni Lubans

Learning Development and Support Officer

Chris Smith

Chris Smith

Head of Production, Media and Owned Channels

Natalie Schenken

Natalie Schenken

Digital Marketing and Communications Manager

Jo-Jo Alpers

Jo-Jo Alpers

Digital Marketing
Social & Channel Specialist

Glen Elliott

Glen Elliott

Manager - Boardrider Clubs and Judging

Michelle Mitchell

Michelle Mitchell

Athlete Wellbeing & Engagement Manager

Nakia Schubert

Nakia Schubert

Camp and Competition Manager

Peter Duncan

Peter Duncan

Camps and Competition Coordinator 

Cathryn Hammond

Cathryn Hammond

Partnerships Account Coordinator

Chelsea Hedges

Chelsea Hedges

Talent Pathway Coach

Clancy Dawson

Clancy Dawson

Performance Pathway Manager

Nimai Strickland

Nimai Strickland

Senior Content Producer

Glen Workman

Glen Workman

Lead Physical Preparation Provider

Jason Patchell

Jason Patchell

Lead Psychologist

Kate McMahon

Kate McMahon

National Integrity Manager

Joanna Parsonage

Joanna Parsonage

Research and Innovation Manager

Tom Greer-Smith

Tom Greer-Smith

Pathways Performance Psychologist

Owen Milne

Owen Milne

High Performance Videographer

Reuben Koorey

Reuben Koorey

Performance Analysis and Skill Acquisition Manager

Linton Fafie

Linton Fafie

Surf Coach

Paul Wiedersehn

Paul Wiedersehn

Physiotherapist Lead

Eric Haakonssen

Eric Haakonssen

Performance Support and Podium Manager

Hannah Jessup

Hannah Jessup

EA to National High Performance Director

Jay (Bottle) Thompson

Jay (Bottle) Thompson

Talent Pathway Coach

Cohen Crispen

Cohen Crispen

Strength and Conditioning Coach

Katie Waugh

Katie Waugh

Office Administrator

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