I started surfing at Manly Beach when I was 4 years old. My dad and older brother both surfed and were active members of the Life Saving movement. I didn't join nippers because I simply wanted to surf.

By the time I was 5 years-old I was paddling out the back and challenging the boys for waves on my ‘foamie’. I graduated to a fibreglass board when I was 14 and joined the ASP world tour at 17, once I completed high school.

I fell in love with the sun, sand and surf before I learned to walk! I experience joy, freedom and a sense of belonging when I immerse myself in the ocean.

Surfing keeps my mind, body and soul relaxed. I’m happiest when I am in the water and enjoy how balanced and happy I feel after every surf.

My mum died when I was 7 which was devastating, then dad decided to tell me I was adopted when I was 8. I believed I had been abandoned by my mum so this drove me to become a world champion, to prove to the world that I am deserving of love.

Chasing big waves and world titles resulted in many serious injuries such as a severe disk herniation in my neck and a crushed lumbar spine, fractured ribs, 10 stitches in my face and torn ligaments in both my knees, to name just a few. I suffered from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome twice which was physically, mentally and emotionally debilitating.

I lost my step mother to breast cancer when I was 30 and lost my biological mother to ovarian cancer when I was 45. All of these challenges have inspired me to have an attitude of gratitude, prioritise my health and wellbeing and commit to doing something I love every single day. Life is short so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.

Learning to surf at Manly Beach taught me the importance of knowing what I want, standing up for what I believe in and finding my allies. Many of the boys gave me a hard time but there were others who were supportive and encouraging.

I quickly learned to surround myself with the positive guys and ignore the mean negative ones. Sometimes it was all too much and I came in crying but I went back out the next day and gave it another go. We become the sum of the top 5 people we spend the most amount of time with so I choose my friends wisely.

Absolutely. I was riddled with self-doubt when I was younger which often prevented me from achieving my goals.

A willingness to fail, consistently challenging myself and spending quality time with quality people who believed in me more than I believed in myself enabled me to overcome these challenges and taught me to choose a more positive mindset. Choice, not Chance, determines our destiny.

Sport was an important part of my childhood. I played many different sports such as cricket, tennis, soccer, basketball and surfing at school.

I loved building cubby houses, skateboarding and climbing trees. I surfed across our backyard pool in my school uniform every morning before school. I attended tennis camps in school holidays.

I played Toto from the Wizard of Oz in the school play in year 8 of high school because I was the smallest kid in high school for my first two years.

Upon reflection, I now realise my sense of worthiness and identity was wrapped up in becoming a world champion, however I always wanted to become the best of the best. The determination to win 6 consecutive world titles was fuelled by my fear of rejection and the need to prove that I was worthy of love.

My 7th world title was achieved through inspiration, gratitude, grace and love. I learned to succeed in a more sustainable and enjoyable way. This requires a lot of trust and letting go of old patterns and behaviours.

My 7th world title proved to me that I can succeed in a sustainable and fun way. I won 5 world titles in a state of fear and 2 in a state of love.

My first world title was special and a memorable achievement, but from then it became a matter of necessity which eliminated a lot of the fun. After recuperating from my severe neck injury post my 6th world title victory, and surfing without physical pain for the first time in 5 years, competing for my 7th world title was an absolute joy instead of a job.

The most powerful mindset shift was very simple- follow the process! When you’re not winning, you’re learning!

Success is determined by your unique personal definition.

You may define it as becoming a world champion athlete, a parent, a CEO, a healthier happier version of yourself or fulfilling a life long goal.

No matter how you define it, only you can determine what success is. The key is clarity then taking daily actions to get you closer to it!

Writing goals down increases the likelihood of achieving them so I had my goals and positive affirmations stuck to my bedroom mirrors as daily reminders.

I surrounded myself with people who were better than me, who held me accountable, ensuring my daily actions were edging me closer to my goals.

Sometimes I sabotaged myself and had to rely on my support crew to get me back on track. Stop dreaming and start doing! Action is the antidote to fear.

Surprisingly, no. Deciding to retire at 36 was straightforward, though it remains the most significant leap I’ve ever made.

The decision boiled down to one simple question: “Am I willing to put in the effort outside the water to achieve the results I want?” My honest answer? No.

After 19 years on tour, my passion for competition had faded, and my focus began shifting to life beyond surfing.

While the decision itself was clear, the transition was not. It took me years to adapt, a sentiment echoed by many others I’ve spoken with who’ve stepped away from long-held roles or careers.

We set the standards by what we allow. I have high personal standards and I am fuelled by my values which I refuse to compromise on.

These serve as my guiding principles - Authenticity, vitality, growth and giving back.

My daily mantra and gratitude practice keeps me positive, while doing something I love every day, such as surfing, or meditating keeps me motivated and inspired.

Women hold up half the sky, yet we fail to receive half of the opportunities advanced to men.

I believe the majority of women don’t believe they can achieve greatness until they see another woman go before her.

Fortunately, there are female pioneers, trailblazers and renegades who shatter this belief and pave the way for future generations of female leaders to follow.

The world needs us now more than ever and I am committed to empowering and supporting women to lean in and step up to achieve greatness.

There are days when my energy levels are depleted which is a sign I have pushed myself too hard. This is when I need to slow things down and engage in activities that fill my cup such as surfing, napping, reading, meaningful conversations, travel, learning, sharing time with loved ones and being immersed in nature.