Service to the Industry Award is an integral part of the Australian Surf Industry Awards. It is about recognising those who have made a significant and substantial contribution to the Australian Surf Industry.
To nominate who you believe a worthy recipient for the 2024 Service Of The Industry Award, please email our Executive Officer, Lyndall Browning on admin@sbia.com.au
Here you will find the honour roll for this prestigious award.
2023
Shayne Patterson
Surf industry “lifer”, Shayne Patterson, is our 2023 Service to the Industry recipient. Shayne is much-loved and respected and has had a multitude of office-based positions within the surf industry, spanning an impressive 42 years & counting!
Shayne started out in 1981 as the Office Manager at Rip Curl, looking after Rip Curl, Quiksilver, Wild Swimwear and Vuarnet Sunglasses for all of NSW. From there she headed over to Rip Curl HQ in Torquay to join the Advertising and Promotions team.
Shayne did a stint with Rip Curl over in California and became the Marketing and Promotions Manager back in Australia in 1989. She started Shayne Patterson Agencies in 1991, representing brands such as Hot Buttered Group, Cheetah Swimwear, Wild Swimwear, Freestyle Watches, Morrison Media Group and Legends Sunglasses.
From 1997 to 2011 Shayne was the NSW Office Manager for Rip Curl and has been an integral part of the Volcom Australia team since 2011, where she remains to this day.
2021
Layne Beachley
Layne Beachley is a former professional surfer from Manly, New South Wales. She won the World Championship seven times. Currently she is the chair of Surfing Australia. Layne has many accolades to her name such as being inducted into the Australian and US surfing halls of fame, being appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the community through support for a range of charitable organisations, as a mentor for women in sport, and to surfing as a world champion competitor, as well as countless medals and trophies. Layne was recognised for SBIA’s Service to the Industry Award for her continued dedication to the surfing industry, unwavering leadership skills and genuine passion for the industry and its people.
2019
Dougall Walker
Industry Stalwart, Dougall Walker was recognised for his service across the boardsports industry, as a competitive surfer, industry executive with Billabong and Volcom and as a mentor for upcoming generations.
2018
Simon Anderson
Simon Anderson, surfboard shaper extraordinaire and inventor of the three-fin thruster design was recognised with the prestigious ‘Service to the Industry Award’. On hand to present the Award was World Masters Champion Rob Bain and industry veteran, Dougall Walker.
2017
John Pyburne
Sparrow as he’s better known as has been at the forefront of wetsuit design and development since first working with Rip Curl in 1970. Rip Curl’s wetsuit designer and developer, Sparrow has been with the company since the first wetsuit was made in 1970 designing wetsuits for multiple world champions over the past 4 decades. Experience an understatement as the ins and outs of the wetsuit game more so than anyone else on the planet. From the first use of basic neoprene to eventually incorporating modern day technologies like Rip Curl’s neoprene, heating systems and taped seals, Sparrow has been there for it all.
2016
Mark Richards
When Mark Richards was inducted into the Australian Sporting Hall of Fame they described him as both “the man whose records Kelly Slater broke” and “the greatest surfer of all time”. To Australian surfers, MR, is an Australian icon who’s style and innovation shaped the sport to what it is today. His 4 world titles have cemented his spot as one of Australia’s best surfers and athletes. Still sur ng today he has now turned his energy into shaping and creating his iconic MR Surfboards from his home in Newcastle. We congratulate MR for his outstanding service and recognise him with the 2016 Service to the Industry Award.
2015
Recognised for all the work they do at a grass roots level for Australian surfing.
Surfing Australia
2014
Respecting what the Surf Industry is all about… The Surfboard. Australia’s earliest and longest servicing Surfboard Blank Manufacturers:
Don Burford – Burford Blanks
Midget Farrelly – Surfblanks Australia
Barry Bennett – Bennett Surfboards
2013
Founders of Quiksilver, Billabong and Rip Curl:
Alan Green – Quiksilver
John Law – Quiksilver
Gordon Merchant – Billabong
Brian Singer – Rip Curl
Doug Warbrick – Rip Curl
2012
Anthony Wilson
Founding President of SBIA (Previously SRF). Owner of Wilson Retail, Saltwater Wine | Stormriders