After 11 years of exemplary leadership, Andrew Judge will be stepping down as SurfAid CEO. Andrew has been instrumental in SurfAid’s tremendous success over the last decade including securing both New Zealand and Australian government support, and leading recovery efforts for five major natural disasters in Indonesia. Andrew will stay on as a SurfAid Board member and continue to serve as a conduit for the incredible amount of goodwill and dedication facilitated through SurfAid.
SurfAid will continue to deliver on the idea of surfers and the likeminded, giving back to those living in the remote places we travel. Andrew will be replaced by Doug Lees who brings with him extensive experience in the action sports industry. Most recently, Doug was the General Manager of 3CMG group, the largest action sports publisher in Australia.
Charlie Lanchester, SurfAid International’s Board Director in Australia, had this to say about the transition, “I am delighted to welcome Doug as the new CEO of SurfAid International. Doug comes to us having led the team at Coastalwatch and Surfing World for over a decade. He is deeply connected with the surfing community and a considered advocate of SurfAid’s Mission – to improve the health and well-being of people living in isolated regions that are connected to us through surfing.”
Doug will officially begin his new role at SurfAid on January 1. You can learn more about Doug and his passion for helping others on SurfAid’s latest blog.
About SurfAid:
SurfAid’s core mission is to save the lives of women and children in remote areas connected to us through surfing. We specialize in working in very isolated villages where the maternal and child mortality rate is extremely high.
Many in our communities suffer from preventable causes. SurfAid implements a “hand up, not a hand out” philosophy toward aid. Local staff provides advice, training, and expertise, but it is up to the community to implement and embrace change. We educate communities on simple things like washing hands before delivering a baby, sleeping under a mosquito net, exclusive breastfeeding, and improved nutrition. All of which have enormous positive impacts on the health of women and their families.
In the past 18 years, in addition to building award winning health programs, SurfAid has helped communities re-build their lives after five major natural disasters – earthquakes and tsunamis in the area.
