Surfing Queensland 2013 Annual General Report 2013 | Page 8

BOARD MEMBERS

JOHN CHARLTON

CHRIS SOMERVILLE

LUKE MCKENZIE

John has been surfing the Queensland coast
since his love affair with the sport began
many years ago surfing on “surf o planes” as
a young boy. John manufactured surfboards
on the Gold Coast during his 20s with icons of
the surfing world such as Dick Van Straalen,
Richard Harvey, Geoff Darby, Keith Paul and
Greg Clough.

Chris is a multi-channel marketing strategist,
specialising in retail. In a marketing career
spanning two decades, including 3 years as
Director of Hitworks, Multi-channel Retail
Consultants, and 12 years at City Beach as
Chief Marketing Officer, his depth of knowledge
in retail and e-commerce businesses gives him
the experience to deliver impactful, cohesive
marketing strategies that return solid results
based on ROI. Chris drives the development of
retail marketing strategies for both bricks-andmortar and online channels. As a solutionsdriven campaign developer, he is constantly
finding new ways to apply technology to deliver
end-to-end campaigns that increase consumer
engagement and drive revenue.

Luke has been on the Board of Surfing
Queensland since 2010. He has surfed for
over 30 years and relocated to the Gold Coast
in 1999 to allow more time to surf the great
waves in the region. He has a passion for the
sport and is now encouraging his own kids and
their friends to enjoy what surfing can offer.
Professionally, he is the Managing Director of
Balmain PNG Limited and a Director of Balmain
Commercial, a diverse financial service provider
and fund manager. Luke has postgraduate
qualifications in Applied Finance and Investment
and is Fellow of FINSIA.

John’s knowledge of surfboard manufacturing
led him overseas where he produced surfboards
whilst residing in France. Upon his return,
John shifted his attention to the surf clothing
industry and managed a “baby” Billabong as
well as Cheetah swimwear prior to starting up
the adventurous Sea Island label with Dick Van
Straalen.
By then, John had started working in the media
producing surf reports for FM 104 and then
Triple M. This experience led John into TV, which
is where he spent 11 years producing segments
focusing on surfing for “Brownie’s Coastwatch”
and “Creek to Coast”.
John’s involvement with the grassroots level
of the sport is also extensive. He was a
regular fixture at Surfing Queensland events
as a commentator for many years, as well as
providing written weekend surf reports for The
Courier Mail.
John is currently the Chief Reporter and advisor
for Coastalwatch and produces beach reports
for radio station 4BC. John currently resides on
the Gold Coast; however he spends much of
his spare time on his property in the Sunshine
Coast hinterland where he is a regular fixture in
the lineup at Noosa and surrounding areas.

8 – SURFING QUEENSLAND ANNUAL REPORT 2013

Chris has a long relationship with Surfing
Queensland through the supporting sponsorship
of many events including the City Beach Pro,
Billabong Kirra Pro, Billabong Indigenous Pro,
Billabong Pro Junior, and the early sponsorship
of Surfing Queensland Surf Schools. He is very
passionate about the development of the sport
of surfing in Queensland, and the opportunity to
contribute to its growth.