About Us

Origins

Surfing WA is responsible for managing events across the state from grassroots level events through to international professional events such as the Margaret River Pro (WSL World Championship Tour event), Whalebone Classic (WSL Longboard Tour event) and the WA Pro Surf Series (Mens and Womens WSL QS1000).

Surfing WA has over 20 affiliated boardrider clubs and over 18 licensed surf schools, operating from Karratha in the north of the state to Esperance in the south.

Surfing WA is proud to now manage all disciplines of surfing including; shortboard, longboard, bodyboard and stand up paddleboard. The cohesion of all disciplines is an important goal for Surfing WA’s strategic direction.

Surfing WA encourages all members, boardrider clubs, coaches and judges to visit the play by the rules website here www.playbytherules.net.au. The website provides information, resources, tools and free online training to increase the capacity and capability of administrators, coaches, officials, players and spectators to assist you in preventing and dealing with discrimination, harassment and child safety issues in sport.

Click here to see SWA Strategic Plan summary

Board

Matt Woods

Chair

Matt Woods is a Senior Partner at KPMG in WA, where he leads the firm’s Enterprise Mid-Market practice, along with its Turnaround and Restructuring, Deal Advisory, and Infrastructure practices in the Perth office. He is also the Client Lead Partner for KPMG’s WA Government Account. Beyond his professional role, Matt serves as Chair of Edge Employment Solutions Inc., an organisation that has secured over 9,000 jobs for people with disabilities. He is also a committee member of the Western Australian All Abilities Football Association Ltd.

Georgia Young

Deputy Chair

Georgia Young is one of Australia’s most accomplished longboarders, a two-time Australian Champion and multiple State Champion. She has represented Australia at the ISA World Surfing Games and competed on the WSL Longboard Tour for over 10 years, achieving a ranking of fifth in the world. Georgia has a Bachelor of Geography and Commerce and a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning, working as an urban planner for Hames Sharley. 

Amanda Bourke

Amanda Bourke is the Senior Legal Counsel for the South Metropolitan Health Service. Prior to working as an in-house lawyer in public health, she spent eight years in private legal practice, including as a senior corporate mergers and acquisitions lawyer at Corrs Chambers Westgarth. A lifelong surfer, she has served on the boards of Mercedes College and the Motor Neurone Disease Association of WA, and is a Group Coordinator for Surfing Mums Australia, helping parents get back in the water.

Caroline Thomson

Caroline Thomson is a senior communications and stakeholder engagement executive with more than 25 years’ experience across strategic communications, reputation, issues management and stakeholder engagement. Caroline grew up in a WA surfing town and, thanks to her teenage children, has recently found her way back onto a board and rediscovered the joy of being in the ocean.

Sarah Parkinson

Sarah Parkinson is the Director of Private Assets for a Family Office managing procurement, project development, legal, tax, investments and a treasury function. Sarah’s interest in surfing developed several years ago while working at SRM, a sport and entertainment agency based in London. In this role, Sarah provided high-level strategic advice to corporate executives from top-tier sporting clubs and leagues, including the World Surf League.

Michelle Prior

Michelle Prior is the Director of Active Transport at the Department of Transport, leading a multi-disciplinary team to support people to walk, wheel and ride. A strong advocate for physical activity, she has extensive experience in public health, transport planning, behaviour change and advocacy. A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Michelle has served on Government and National Boards including the Road Safety Council and Australian Women Sport and Recreation, and is Chair of Cycling Walking Australia New Zealand.

Peter Tomsett

Peter Tomsett is a Chartered Professional Civil and Structural Engineer with over 27 years’ experience across the private and public sectors both in WA and abroad. He spent six years as a Senior Project Manager with the City of Wanneroo and is now State Lead Civil Infrastructure Manager for Stockland Developments. A lifelong ocean enthusiast, Peter has competed at local, state and national levels in multiple surfing disciplines and once managed a local surf shop while completing his engineering studies.

Patrick Warr

Patrick Warr is a long-time local surfer with nearly 50 years of experience in the water and is a current member of Scarborough Boardriders Club. He brings extensive business and consulting experience, having been a partner in a national accounting firm and held senior commercial and consulting roles both locally and internationally. Now semi-retired, Patrick continues to consult and serve on not-for-profit boards and remains passionate about giving back to WA’s surfing community.

Staff

Matt Wilson

ACTING CEO & CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Sharon Lane

Finance Manager

Kim Clift

Regional Development Manager

 

Katja Verreydt

Community & Membership Manager

 

Kane Holtom

Senior Project Officer

 

Emma Catlin

Sport Development Officer

 

Rachel Malcolm

Office Administrator & Bookings Coordinator

 

Dan Neilson

Surf School Manager

-

Events Manager

 

Brooke Clarke

Partnerships & Marketing Manager

 

Raeley Jones

Communications Officer

 

-

Content Coordinator

 

Summer Bernard

Assistant Surf School Manager

 

​