Our People

Meet Paul, armed with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Melbourne and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Queensland, he’s more than just a wave rider. Originally from the chilly South Coast of Victoria, Paul now calls Noosa home, sharing his love of surfing and passion for wellbeing through WOW. 

His favourite surf spot is still the hidden gem and quiet beach town of Mallacoota in Victoria’s north-east coast. Beyond the waves, Paul is passionate about community development, mental health, and fostering well-being through surfing, all while maintaining a quiet admiration for Chicken Joe from Surfs Up.

Simon is one of our legendary volunteers turned facilitators, having been a phenomenal presence in the Bondi programs for many years.

He studied Exercise Science at Sydney Uni and went on to do a GradDip of Psychology at Monash. Simon learnt to surf in the gentle waves of Byron Bay and took it back to his home town of Sydney's northern beaches, although he counts the South Coast of NSW as the best place to shred.

He also works for a speech/communication tech start up and has scars on his arm from a tiger attack (or a quad biking accident as a child... depending on who asks!).

Nick’s Bio is Coming Soon!

Cheyne joined the WOW team in 2025 and is stoked to be able to combine her love for surf with her professional interest in holistic mental health interventions. Cheyne is a registered Psychologist who is passionate about anti-oppressive and intersectional approaches to addressing barriers to well-being.

Cheyne has a special interest in working with people impacted by complex trauma. Cheyne learnt to surf in her 20’s in Peru and these days loves to jump on a wave at her local ‘concrete’ break at UrbnSurf Melbourne.

Besides surfing Cheyne loves anything in the great outdoors, reading and languages – she is currently working hard on her Bahasa Indonesia skills - Selamat berselancar!

Chad’s Bio is Coming Soon!

Anika’s Bio is Coming Soon!

Fiona’s Bio is Coming Soon!

Rob’s Bio is Coming Soon!

Tracey joined the WOW family in 2019 bringing her experience as an outdoor activities educator, social worker and training in counselling.

She has experience with depression, anxiety, relationships and conflict resolution - not to mention her love for the outdoors and adventure! WOW has given Tracey the opportunity to combine her group debriefing experience with her passion for strengthening resilience and post traumatic growth within the community.

Tracey counts her closest beach, Seven Mile Beach as her favourite for an ocean swim, surf or even sea kayak. Every morning she inflicts her chooks with her halting, badly phrased French, yet they still lay eggs!

James is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist & Exercise Scientist, currently studying a Post GradDip in Psychology. He first caught our eye as the Founder of The Positivity Project - designing and delivering wellbeing projects in schools, community and business sectors.

He’s a country boy, born and bred in Dubbo, but headed east to learn to surf in North Bondi. While he grew up riding horses and chasing cattle in the Central West, NSW he now loves riding foamies and chasing waves on the Central Coast, NSW.

Will’s background is in high school PE teaching and he’s a Level 2 Surf coach with 20 years of surfing behind him. He has travelled the world surf coaching and teaching, and loves the positivity and perspective surfing can bring into people's lives.

Will lives by the motto "If in doubt, paddle out" and draws inspiration daily from his two biggest heroes; Mary Poppins and Kanye West.

Originally from the cold waters of Canada, Erica gained an Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Toronto before moving to Oz to complete a Master’s degree in Counselling from UniSC.

Erica is a registered counsellor and draws upon nature-based interventions to support people experiencing mental health challenges which is why she loves working for WOW! Erica's favourite surf spot is in Noosa. When Erica isn’t surfing, she’s sailing!

Martin hails from Chile where he gained a Bachelor in Psychology and a Masters in Organisational Psychology at Universidad Adolfo Ibanez.

Since moving to Oz he has studied Fitness, Strength & Conditioning and picked up a Diploma in Sport Development, learning how powerful exercise can be in the journey of healing and personal change.

He grew up surfing the freezing waters of Chile but these days prefers a cosy corner in Northern NSW. While he’s a frother by day, at night he tapes his mouth up make sure he breathes through his nose!

Heli's home is Byron Bay NSW. She has Masters Degrees in Counsellng and Social Ecology and a Bachelor of Arts in Outdoor Education. Heli is a professional lifeguard, Apnea Instructor, Antenatal Educator, and Therapist.

Heli loves to bring together her love of the ocean and lifetime as an athlete, with her passion for helping others connect with their esensce, find their inner calm, and love the life they live.

Louise studied a Bachelor of Accounting (Honours) from Charles Darwin University while living in Alice Springs. She was drawn to WOW by its potential, recognising the effort we put into making a difference. Although she lives in Canberra she has fond memories of swimming in the hot springs in Mataranka and the waterfalls of Litchfield park.

When she’s not striking numbers you’ll find her striking out at a tenpin bowling alley. Louise is a champion bowler, representing Australia 3 times!

Kate’s Bio is Coming Soon!

Jessica brings eight years of experience in digital marketing, partnerships, and community-focused work, helping shine a light on the life-changing impact of WOW’s surf therapy programs!

A strong advocate for women in sport and LGBTQIA+ inclusion, Jessica is passionate about creating spaces where everyone can feel welcome, supported, and able to participate.

When she’s not working, you'll likely find Jessica watching sports, jumping in the ocean for a reset, or stopping to pat every dog she sees. 

Dannielle believes deeply in the ocean’s healing power and its impact on mental health, and is proud to support WOW’s mission.

She studied Social Media Marketing and later Design & Visual Communication at SAE University College in Perth, developing a practice rooted in creativity, storytelling, and purpose-driven design.

With Summer as her middle name (literally!), she feels most at home along sunny coastlines- surfing and snorkelling to the soundtrack of 70s, 80s, and Latin classics.

Tim is an ex-banker specialising in risk management, returning to Oz from Hong Kong in 2020. He is a Non-Executive Director of Bank of China Australia Limited and Indue Limited. He loves the way WOW delivers practical results for those needing support and that our approach is supported by solid clinical research. He calls it a winning combination of heart and head! You’ll find him surfing anywhere with an open-faced left hander, a gentle offshore and ideally with his son as a surf buddy. And if you were wondering, Tim tells us you CAN surf in Hong Kong… if you search hard enough and are very patient!

When she’s not striking numbers you’ll find her striking out at a tenpin bowling alley. Louise is a champion bowler, representing Australia 3 times!

Phil is a clinical neuroscientist and UNSW professor of psychiatry who has always loved body surfing. Since working with Joel Pilgrim in 2013, Phil has been blown away by the positive outcomes that surf therapy can achieve for people living with mental health challenges.

Phil is a passionate advocate for building the evidence base for this novel therapy and is inspired by the positive vibe that surrounds WOW and the people who support it.

As a Co-Founder of WOW, Joel is incredibly passionate about the power of surf therapy to promote wellbeing. Originally a mental health Occupational Therapist, Joel swapped the clinic for a surfboard as he took therapy to the beach with WOW.

Joel is humbled by the countless people who have shared that our programs have saved their life. After nine years leading WOW as CEO, Joel now serves as an Executive Director on the Board, guiding fundraising and strategic partnerships to increase this impact. Joel is passionate about the role mental fitness plays in high performance.

When he's not speaking on stages about this or big wave surfing, you'll find Joel chasing his young family around the Central Coast.

Helen embarked on a portfolio career in Oz after spending decades abroad as a corporate lawyer working in Europe and China. She loves the energy, sense of purpose and the depth of research and experience that are the pillars supporting WOW. Not to mention the joy and connection among program participants and facilitators.

When she’s not working you’ll find her at Elwood beach on Port Philip Bay, where she is gently easing herself into year-round open water swimming. She also backs herself as a trivia master, so long as the music questions are capped at the nineties!

Libby comes from a background in Finance, as the Chief Financial Officer at UNSW Sydney she is responsible for the University’s financial direction and management.

Prior to this, Libby has been a Senior Executive in the NSW Government and held senior leadership roles in the Justice, Communities, Arts, Education, Treasury and Health portfolios. Originally from Dubbo, Libby grew up far from the ocean, yet her awareness of the significant Mental Health strain on the community led her to the board of directors at WOW.

When Libby isn’t crunching numbers or offering financial advice, you’ll find her snuggled up with her two chihuahuas - Josie and Javier - her self-expressed ‘replacement children’.

Lindsey’s Bio is Coming Soon!