Surfest Newcastle, Australia celebrated its 38th anniversary in 2024. The event is the largest surfing festival in the southern hemisphere. Organisers were concerned that we wouldn’t be able to secure funding to hold the Indigenous Classic Round in 2024. This event has been held for over 24 years and with the event quickly approaching, we feared we might have to cancel altogether. That’s when Christine Artis came to our rescue. With her determination and business network, she managed to secure a sponsor in a really short turnaround. But she didn’t stop there. She went above and beyond, helping us raise the event to the next level. Under her guidance, we added the First Nations Business and Careers Expo, providing an incredible experience, not just the surfers but for their families and the whole community. Christine is Surfest family now. We’re very grateful to have had her in our corner this year and look forward to working with her in the future to secure sponsorships and funding as well as broaden the appeal of Surfest to the business community.