The Director: Norman J. Innis
Norm Innis is currently 53 years old, and has been involved in a number of aspects of the Surfing Industry for almost 30 years. He is a qualified CPA, and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce from Deakin University in Victoria, Australia.
Beginning his career with Quiksilver in Torquay, Victoria in 1982, Norm Innis was appointed General Manager in early 1987 (aged 29 years). At the conclusion of 1987, he assumed the role of Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand. In late 1994/ early 1995, Norm Innis assumed the role of Managing Director, Quiksilver Asia/Pacific, and relocated to Asia, based first in Indonesia for 2 ½ years, then Hong Kong for just over 2 years, and finally Thailand. He returned to Australia at the end of 1999, and in 2000, was appointed General Manager of Quiksilver International, based in Sydney and Los Angeles - the position he held until his retirement from the company at the beginning of 2004.
Norm Innis has also been active in the administration of the sport of surfing - first becoming involved in 1991, when Surfing Australia became responsible for professional surfing within Australia. In 1999, Norm Innis acted as a consultant to ASP International (Association of Surfing Professionals) as they relocated from Los Angeles to Australia. He acted as interim Chairman for the whole of year 2000, before Quiksilver duties overseas prevented his on-going involvement.
Since retirement, Norm Innis has been a director of Surfing Australia (and ASP Australasia). In addition he assumed the role of President of the Noosa Malibu Club for the 2006/07 year, and was the Director of the Noosa Festival of Surfing in 2007.
Since January 2008, Norm Innis has been the Chairman of Surfing Australia.
Obviously surfing as a recreation, and as a sport, is very important to Norm. Partly through his involvement with Quiksilver, and partly through his own travels, Norm has been fortunate to surf regularly in Indonesia, Hawaii, Tahiti, Fiji, Philippines and the Maldives. He has also surfed in England, France, Spain, California, South Africa, Mauritius, China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Taiwan.
As a result of the wonderful opportunities afforded to him over his career, Norm Innis established his own Charitable Foundation in 2003. This charity contributes to a number of different worthy projects, but has adopted a specific brief to support disadvantaged children and youth in conjunction with the sport of surfing.
Norm currently resides in Noosa Heads, Australia and is married to Veronica Balatti. They have two children (twins Sebastian and Sophia). Norm also has a daughter, Lauren, from his first marriage.
