Ep 76. Surfrider Foundation & Varuna Surf | Leading National Grassroots Campaigns, Protecting the Ocean, Crafting Sustainable Wooden Surfboards, Coming Back from Head Injury with Damien Cole

Damien Cole is a well-known environmentalist, public speaker, and community leader. He is the National Campaign Director for Surfrider Foundation and led paddle-out protests across Australia in the Fight for The Bight campaign in early 2019 which saw the activation of 56 additional local communities paddling out at their local beaches in opposition to oil drilling in the Great Australian Bight.

Damien is also co-founder of Varuna Surf, a sustainable wooden surfboard company on a mission to redefine the world of sustainable surfing. Varuna boards are designed by iconic shapers and made responsibly in Indonesia.

Last but certainly not least Damien was an independent candidate in both the 2018 Victorian election and the 2019 Federal election, leading a very unique campaign style with a strong focus on true community representation and intergenerational social and environmental well-being. 

Mentioned in Conversation:

• Damien’s role as National Marketing Manager at Surfrider Foundation and the path through politics that led him there

• Speaheading grassroots campaigns such as Fight for the Bight and against PEP 11 to protect potentially devastating effects on the Australian coastline 

• Launching sustainable wooden surfboard brand Varuna Surf with the mission to redefine the world of sustainable surfing.

• Damien’s recent traumatic head injury as a result of a car crash and his road to recovery

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