Two weeks to go for the 2026 World Surfing Conservation Conference Gold Coast Queensland.

WORDS: Andrew McKinnon PHOTOGRAPHY Photo of Ziggy MacKenzie (WSCC 2026 key speaker) by Beatriz Ryder @be_ryder

February is a massive month of world surfing events on the Southern Gold Coast. The World Club Championship at Snapper Rocks 13^th – 15th and the Gold Coast Open WSL QS at Burleigh 18^th – 22^nd. Right in the middle of it all is the 2026 World Surfing Conservation Conference 16^th – 19^th February at Gold Coast Campus, Southern Cross University.

“The program of speakers is stacked to the rafters,” said host organizer AndyMac & President of the Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve celebrating their 10^th year of operations.

Surfing Conservation NGOs are well represented including Save The Waves Coalition, the governing body of WSRs, Surfrider Foundation, Surfers for Climate, Conservation International, WILDCOAST, Patagonia, Surfline Coastal Intelligence, WSRs & NSRs.

As an exclusive to the Conference, the latest Artificial Reef successfully constructed in Mexico will be unveiled by Coastal Engineer Simon Brandi Mortensen who designed the Palm Beach AR. Shark Mitigation will be addressed by Dave Pearcon shark survivor & President of the Bite Club and Shanan Worrall from Shark Eyes Esperance WA with their latest research.

2025 Australian of the Year Tasmanian Seaweed farmer Sam Elsom will open the inaugural conference followed by 7X WWC Layne Beachley AO on day one Monday 16^th February. There’s something for everyone covering all the demographics from Surf til 100 by 82-year-old Felipe Pomar to the youngest key speaker, 15-year-old conservationist Jarrah Small.

Highlights include live Conference construction of a “Caballito de Totora”  (Peruvian Reedboard) by Huanchaco 500^thdescendant Huevito. Together with Triseah the Mermaid and paddlers, Huevito will launch the Reedboard with a 6am Paddleout at Greenmount on Wednesday 18^th joined by the Australian Assistant Minister of Immigration Matt Thistlethwaite a surfer from Maroubra and two times world champion & three times Pipe Master Tom Carroll. The Minister will introduce Tom as the first speaker on Wednesday 18^th February.

Thursday 19^th is the final day of the Conference featuring a group panel session discussing the following: First Nations Caring for Sea Country, Coastal Protection Policies, High School groups, and City of Gold Coast’s two new strategy’s Recreational Water Quality monitoring and the Surfing Infrastructure Master Plan (SIM) amongst a diverse range of topics.

100 speakers from 20 countries will be in attendance over the four days. Other activities include free movies in the SCU main auditorium Monday & Tuesday night, Surf Art Exhibition by Steve Valliere at Rydges Hotel, a nighttime Astra Lumina Tour of Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and surfing photography exhibition from the sixties to the 2025 TC Alfred swell at The Collective.

A Finale night Party will commemorate the Conference at The Collective Palm Beach Thursday 19th with live music Red 40, Peruvian Marinera dancing, and a charity auction for Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Conference category prizes, Lucky registrations draw for accommodation package to Matanivusi Eco Resort Fji & Valla Santai Rote Indonesia plus lucky door prizes. A momentous occasion for everyone to celebrate 10th anniversary of Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve 2016 – 2026. For more info go to https://www.wscc2026.com.au/program

Many thanks to COALAR (DFAT) & PROM PERU, TEQ (Tourism Events Qld) & Experience Gold Coast, SCU, EMRO, Brazilian Style Imports, City of Gold Coast (Div 14 &13), WILDCOAST, Kollosche, Troy Dowker, Patagonia, DHI, Surfing Mums, GG Enviro, OCC APPAREL/Vissla T-shrts, Rydges Gold Coast Hotel, Reef Safe Sunscreen, Save The Waves & WSCC 2026 Team.

For more info & registration go to www.wscc2026.com.au