Surfing Australia today announced that Chris Mater will be stepping down as Chief Executive Officer, effective 31st October 2025. The Board of Directors have commenced a transition process to ensure continuity and maintain momentum on the organisation’s strategic priorities.
Reflecting on his tenure, Mr Mater said:
“I joined this purpose-driven organisation to make a difference in the sport of surfing – for surfers, our members, and Australia’s coastal communities. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together, and the results have exceeded my expectations. It’s been an honour to serve this amazing sport.”
During his time at the helm, Mr Mater transformed Surfing Australia into one of the country’s most respected and high-performing national sporting organisations. Under his leadership, the organisation has:
- Built a world-leading High-Performance Program, supporting athletes to medal success at both the Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games.
- Delivered a 165-day annual events calendar, including the iconic Australian Boardriders Battle, which reached record audiences and was named ASE Sports Broadcast of the Year in 2025.
- Grown the organisation to 54 full and part-time staff, achieved strong eight-figure revenues, delivered consistent annual net profits, grown the current ratio to 1.23, eliminated over $1 million debt, and established robust cash reserves.
- Launched groundbreaking initiatives such as Rivals, Seas the Day, The Australian Online Surf Championships, the Irukandjis national team identity, the Rise Female Talent Program, launched the Australian Junior Series event system & rankings, the First Nations Youth High Performance Program, and the Come to the Edge television special to name a few.
- Reached the milestone of over 100,000 SurfGroms participants nationwide & record setting 120,000 new female surfers aged 15+ the most of any sport in Australia in 2023
- Secured and grown strategic commercial partnerships critical to Surfing Australia’s success generating well over $10 million in revenue.
Mr Mater also oversaw a complete overhaul of the organisation’s operating systems and drove an integrated approach to content, partnerships, participation, and elite sport that set new standards for Australian sporting bodies.
“On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Chris for his service to Surfing Australia” said Adrian Buchan, Chair of the Board. “Chris leaves us with a strong financial platform for the future. We are focused on strengthening relationships with our key partners and stakeholders, continuing to provide the best pathway for our athletes and investing in the sport at a grassroots level.”
Mr Mater described his decision to depart as “bittersweet”:
“It’s never easy to step away from something you love. This organisation and our community mean the world to me. I want to thank the entire Surfing Australia team, our members, surfers, partners, and the two remarkable chairs I’ve had the privilege to serve under—Layne Beachley and Ace Buchan. To each of the Surfing Australia Board of directors for their steady leadership, and to the wider surfing community for their incredible support over the past seven years. No matter what, I’ll always be in the lineup, supporting surfing.”
Applications for the position of CEO at Surfing Australia are now open. Interested candidates to apply HERE.
On Chris’s departure, Surfing Australia Chairman, Adrian ‘Ace’ Buchan, will step into the role of Acting Chief Executive Officer, ensuring continuity of leadership and stability for the organisation until a permanent appointment is confirmed. Ace brings 8 years’ service on the Board and 16 years’ experience as an athlete on the World Surf League Championship Tour.
Media Contact:
Jo-Jo Alpers, Director of Marketing
Surfing Australia
Phone: +61 04 06 584 002
Email: jojo@surfingaustralia.com
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