Segment #1 | Eric Stanton – Senior Director, Action Watch
Segment #2 | Retail Panel: Ian ‘Wooly’ Macpherson – Owner, Star Surf + Skate / Kevin ‘Kevmo’ Morris – Buyer, Heritage Surf and Sport
Segment #3 | Fireside Chat: Vipe Desai – Executive Director, SIMA / Chris Grow – Marketing Director, Firewire Surfboards
The SBIA, in partnership with the Surf Industry Members Association (SIMA) in the USA, will be hosting a Global Hardgoods Summit via Zoom Webinar on May 10th at 10am AEST (8am WA, 5pm USA West coast, 8pm USA East coast). Please note that if you are in America, this Summit will take place on May 9th.
We are excited to invite all of our members from both SBIA and SIMA to participate in this exciting event and are working hard to ensure this Summit will be invaluable for all participants. This is one global discussion you won’t want to miss!
ABOUT OUR SUMMIT SPEAKERS
Ian ‘Wooly’ Macpherson – Owner, Star Surf + Skate
Wooly’s been surfing in Mandurah since he was a kid, and if he’s not chasing the best break or reviewing surfboards, he’s teaching others how to surf, coaching aspiring pro-surfers and sharing tips at his surf shop – Star Surf + Skate. Star has been owned and operated by Wooly since 1998.
Kevin ‘Kevmo’ Morris – Buyer, Heritage Surf and Sport
Kevmo has been surfing since 1979. He is a NJ Surfing Hall of Fame Inductee (class of 2023). Kevmo is a buyer for Heritage Surf and Sport, which have 4 locations in Southern New Jersey. He is also the President and co-founder of the South Jersey Boardrider Clubs.
Kevmo has worked in the retail surf industry since 1984 and is continually involved in the purchase, sale and performance of surfboards. He’s worked with many highly-respected shapers throughout his career, developing board models that cater to the local surf community.
Eric Stanton – Senior Director, ActionWatch
As the Senior Director at ActionWatch, Eric brings 20+ years of experience in product management, strategic planning, sports research, sales, merchandising, and marketing in both the US and Asia Pacific for the likes of Nike, KEEN footwear and a number of sports-connected companies. He has a history of working with clients to design and implement effective strategies that drive their brand.
Vipe Desai – Executive Director, Surf Industry Members Association (SIMA)
Within his role as Executive Directive for SIMA, Vipe champions the mission of supporting the surf industry’s dynamic growth through fearless innovation, endless stoke, and sustainability. As the guiding force of the association, he provides industry members with the tools, resources, and programs to thrive. In addition, he boldly advocates the organisation’s environmental vision that with healthy oceans, there will be a healthy surf industry.
Chris Grow – Marketing Director, Firewire Surfboards
Chris Grow is Marketing Director at Firewire Surfboards, where he has spent the past seven years in collaboration with Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, Dan Mann and a deep stable of other international athletes and surfboard designers such as Harley Ingleby, CJ Nelson, Taylor Jensen and more. Based in Carlsbad, California, Chris works with a talented global team across Firewire’s offices in Australia, the U.S., Europe, Thailand and Japan to enhance the surfing experience with innovative shapes and construction methods while supporting surf retailers as the cornerstone of our surfing culture.