DAVID PAYNE

DIRECTOR OPERATING SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING

Key Experience:

Designed, built, and operated one of the first Indoor Climbing Centres in Queensland in 1994.
Established one of the first commercially run Learn to Surf Schools in Queensland in 1995.
Established a Registered Training Organization specializing in Outdoor Recreation in 2002.
Offered the first Nationally Accredited alternative Surfing Instructor Courses in Australia.
Developed and facilitated multiple adventure-based programs for schools, corporates, and tourism-based organizations. Group sizes range between 30 to 400 people per program. Numbers of participants would be in the 10s of thousands.
Developed and won the GCCC Tender for the only outdoor rock-climbing and abseiling location at Pt Danger, Coolangatta.
Won the GCCC Tender for the Water Activities and Hire Permit at both Currumbin Creek and Tullebudgera Creek, Gold Coast.
Conducted multiple QLD State Title Indoor Climbing competitions.
Participated on an Industry Advisory group in the development of the key standards for the Outdoor Recreation Training Package.
Independently lobbied Gold Coast City Council to recognize and include in the GCCC Surf School License Guidelines, Vocational and Educational Training qualifications relating to Surfing Instruction.

Background & Motivation

David Payne is the Managing Director of multiple Adventure Activity and Adventure Instructor Training Companies. With 27 years of hands-on experience in running these businesses, David Payne is recognized as a leader and innovator in the development of programs, events, and training systems within the Outdoor Recreation Industry.

David is a passionate surfer above anything else. After catching his first wave at the age of 7, nothing has come close to the stoke that he gets out of riding waves. Being able to encompass a lifelong passion into his vocation has been a huge bonus and privilege. Sharing the stoke with hundreds and thousands of people to the excitement of adventure-focused activities has been his commitment over the last 27 years.