DR. JESS PONTING - Associate Professor and the Director of the Center for Surf Research at San Diego State University

Dr. Jess Ponting is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Center for Surf Research at San Diego State University, where he founded the world's first Center for Surf Research. He is also the Executive Director of STOKE, a sustainability certification for surf parks, and a Partner and Head of Research at Surf Park Central, which aggregates information for the surf park industry and hosts the industry's annual conference, Surf Park Summit. 

Ponting has worked on surf tourism issues with various organizations and government agencies, including the United Nations, the World Bank, Conservation International, USAID, and the World Surf League. He has also served as a sustainable surf tourism consultant in several countries, including Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Portugal. Born in Wales and raised in Australia, Ponting fell in love with surfing at the age of eight and went on to complete the world's first Masters Degree and PhD on sustainable surf tourism. His ultimate goal is to transform surf tourism into a wholly positive influence on the communities and environments it touches.