Board of Directors
Marcus Judge - Chairman, Treasurer and Public Officer
Marcus has been a surfer for about 30 years and a Christian for longer than that, having grown up in a Christian family and been convicted of his need for Christ while a teenager. He is stoked to help CS take the message of a real God and a real life to the surf communities of the world. Married to Anne wth 3 adult children, Marcus also heads up the ecommerce and payments division of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. He has a background in corporate life, training in marketing, commerce, finance and law, and experience in church leadership and administration, Sunday school teaching and youth work, including a role as a leader in pioneering days of a local CS mission in Kiama, NSW. His commitment to being on the board is to help CSI in its mission to support and encourage CS leaders in the nations of the world.
Brad Whittaker
Brad is married to Fiona and has 3 children (Jake 10, Paris 8, Chelsea 6). He has an employment background in education but currently works as the operations manager for Cronulla Beach Sydney. Brad’s involvement in CS has been as part of the organising team for the annual Jesus Pro Am surfing event. Since his inclusion in the Surfers Bible Brad has taken on a more active role for CSI which has included taking on the role of chairman of the CSI board. He has also participated in two trips to Tahiti to assist Kevin Hemingway as well as numerous speaking engagements sharing his testimony and promoting the Surfers Bible which he has personally distributed 5,000 copies. Brad is an accomplished Longboard surfer achieving top ranking’s in State and Australian Championships as well as at other major events in Australia. Brad brings to the board an insight into grass roots surfing, skills in leadership and management coupled with practical experience in surf mission and a passion to serve others.
Brett Davis - International DirectorBrett pioneered the Christian Surfers movement in Australia as their first national director in 1983, then pioneered the international movement since 1999. He is passionate about seeing the church connect with its surfing community in effective mission. He recognises the world surfing community as a global tribe, an unreached people group. As an unchurched surfer he was reached by a fellow surfer and wants other surfers to have the same opportunity. He brings a lifetime of experience and contacts and is forever networking with CS and other agencies worldwide. He is still surfing, diving, and going on adventures, and has a secret outlet in woodturning and gardening. He believes his far greater achievement is his wife Gillian persisting with him for 20 years. He has three children – Jackson 15, Taylor 13 and India 8 along with Calvin the wonder dog.
Gillian Davis
Director. As Brett Davis’ wife, Gill has walked a long journey with CS and knows the movement and its people. Mother to three children, homemaker, hospitality and never ending host of CS people and beyond. Gill is also a public speaker in her own right speaking in churches and evangelistic meetings about being more authentic in life and faith. She does extensive outreach to local public schools via the religious education program. Gill is a summer surfer when Brett tows her out, but fully immersed in the beach culture.
Jonathon Mak
Jonathon says `I don’t surf and can’t swim very well’. He has been involved with the CSI board for 3 years and visited the CS missions extensively over his travels. He has a background in international sales and marketing and has been mission active for most of his adult Christian life (20 years). Currently in Venture Capital big V little C and directs 7 companies along with being actively involved in an inner city church plant. He is married to Liz and they have no children but an ample collection of fine wines and cars. jon@m28.com.au
Stewart Hunt
Born and raised in Melbourne, Stew is married to Bronwen and has four children; Daniel 15, Nat 14, Jade 11 and Joel 8. They are faith financed missionaries with Pioneers Australia. He had the privilege of growing up under Christian parents and came to an early decision for Christ at age 8. After a stint with the Victorian Police, Stew studied at the Bible College of Victoria before taking on an Associate Pastorate in Queensland then joined the team at New Hope (formerly Blackburn North Baptist) for a year whilst transitioning into Caleb Ministries - a leadership training organization. The `Leadership Matters’ Course was a major part of his life for 5 years. They then joined Operation Mobilization’s ship the MV Doulos for 3 years, followed by a placement in OM’s USA headquarters for a further 2 years. He has recently moved to Pioneers with a specific focus on equipping people and facilitating partnerships for world mission. After doing some training for CSI leadership, stew found a kindred spirit with CS and is keen to see them expand their development into unreached cultures. He has limited surfing experience but appreciates the beach culture and the unreached people group of surfers.
Francois Basson
As a founding member of the South African CS governing body in 2000, Francois has a long history in developing a national movement. He is married to Meegan with three children Danielle 8, Ethan 6, Rachael 3 and is on the eldership of a New Covenant church. A busy property developer, Francois sees his gift in mobilising resources for missions and heads up short term missions to Madagascar and beyond. He endures endless teasing about his paddle ski riding and says it keeps CS humble. He is willing to serve CSI with an international perspective and see the mission grow in its international outreach.
Linda Harding – Director. Linda has been on staff with Youth for Christ some 25 years along with her husband Chris and bring a wealth of practical experience on both a national and international level. Passionate about relating the gospel in a wholistic way to Australian youth, Linda has a long history in evangelism as well as pastoral care They have raised a number of grommet boys themselves, Linda’s greatest surfing achievement!. She is part of the Sydney Anglican community and a missional church plant within a local school. linda.harding@yfc.org.au