New Board of Directors

An internationally awarded film producer, two journalists (one of whom founded Greenpeace Australia), a marine ecologist, and an environmental engineer/artist grace the new Surfrider Australia board of directors.

The new board, comprising of Directors from around Australia, was elected during the Surfrider Foundation's Annual General Meeting/National Conference, held on the weekend of March 11th and 12th at the Currumbin environment centre.

Topics addressed by speakers at the conference included: international and local trends in the growing eco-tourism industry; working with indigenous communities; creating marine education programs for schoolchildren and environmental "best practice" policies in stormwater drainage and design.

Reports were also given by Surfrider Branches around Australia, which enlightened the audience to the large volume of work undertaken by Surfrider volunteers.

Spokesman Greg Howell, Executive Director of the Surfrider Foundation in Australia, said that the conference and the election of the directors represented one of the most important chapters of the organisation's history.

"The sheer diversity and the wide-ranging expertise offered by the new directors and our Advisory Board will have a positive and even spiritual aspect to their input over the next year. At the end of a wonderful weekend we all felt that the year 2000 and beyond will have significant positive aspects for Surfrider."

The new Surfrider Foundation (Australia) Board of Directors are:

Michael Legge-Wilkinson, Chairperson of the Board of Directors from Surfers Paradise, Queensland. Michael is a registered professional engineer and environmental consultant. He is also an award winning professional artist and author of the 1996 Surfrider report "Human Impact on Australian Beaches".

Jodi Adams, Education, Fundraising/Media Director from Glebe, NSW. Jodi is undertaking combined Journalism/Cultural Studies major at the University of Technology in Sydney. She has worked as a journalist and sub editor on the Sydney Morning Herald, the Sun-Herald, and the Daily Telegraph and Daily Mirror newspapers and has written for magazines including Tracks and Rolling Stone. In 1978 she founded Greenpeace Australia.

Tim Baker, Communications, IT/Media Director from Currumbin, QLD. Tim holds a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Technology in Melbourne and undertook a cadetship at the Melbourne Sun newspaper. He is a former editor of both Tracks and Australia's Surfing Life magazines, a contributing editor to Surfing World and US Surfer, and a contributor to magazines including Rolling Stone, GQ and Inside Sport.

Stuart Ball, Finance Director, Chief Financial Officer and Administration Procedures from Tweed Heads, NSW. Stuart holds degrees in Management and Administration and has a long involvement in environmental and surfing organisations. He is a committee member of the Gold Coast Environment Centre, a director of Dune Care, and a former Vice-President and Team Manager of the Kirra Surfrider Club, for which he is currently Contest Director.

John Foss, Legal Director from Jan Juc, Victoria. John is a film producer who co-produced the short film "Harry's War", produced in conjunction with SBS television recently won the Best Short Film Award at the Hollywood Black Film Festival in LA award for "Harry's War". He has also produced many other films, which have won awards around the world. John is the Founder of the Surfrider Surf Coast Branch, is active in Indigenous issues and his stance against sewage ocean outfalls.

Sallyann Gudge, Indigenous Liaison and Education Director, from Point Lookout, QLD. Sallyanne is a marine ecologist who has previously worked in marine park management with the Moreton Bay Marine Park Authority and is now working for the Land and Sea Management Agency of the Quandamooka Lands Council on North Stradbroke Island.

Neil Lazarow, Research, Projects and Lobbying Director from Bondi, NSW. Neil has a B.A. in philosophy. He is an environmental consultant who is currently completing a Ph.D in Coastal Management at Macquarie University in Sydney. Neil has a background in natural resource management and community education, and is currently working on a range of community education programs in conjunction with local councils and NSW state government departments.

For further information or to arrange a meeting with any of the directors, please contact Surfrider Foundation at the National Office on (07) 5534 2855 or email info@surfrider.org.au