ISA Executive Committee and Staff

Bio:

FERNANDO AGUERRE BIOGRAPHY

Fernando Aguerre was born and raised in the coastal city of Mar del Plata, Argentina.  From a very early age Fernando was groomed by his father, a successful attorney and ranch owner and his mother, an attorney and a psychologist to become a lover of the ocean and an entrepreneur.  Fernando is proficient in English, Spanish and Portuguese and maintains a basic knowledge of Italian and French.  His fluency in language is one of the many traits which lead him to his success in international business and nonprofit organizations.

Fernando had his first taste of becoming an entrepreneur at the age of 12.  His brother and longtime friend, Santiago, introduced him to surfing in 1969 which resulted in a passion that shaped the future of surfing in Argentina and the rest of world, and that has since encompassed his whole life.  His first business was a surfboard repair shop.  During the military dictatorship of the 70’s, in 1977 surfing was banned in his native Mar del Plata. Fernando founded the Argentinean Surfing Association, promoted surfing, and organized the lobbying for the lifting of the ban. He got the ban lifted a few months later, which was followed by a surf boom. He also founded the first surf and skate magazine in Argentina and opened Ala Moana, the first surf and beach clothing store in his hometown of Mar del Plata.  The Surfshop evolved into one of the leading beach clothing manufacturers in the country.

In the midst of his surfing career, Fernando entered Law School in 1978. He continued to run the Argentinean Surfing Association and maintained his duties as managing partner of the surf shop while attending law school.  In 1984, Fernando completed law school and with a law degree in hand, turned down offers from both his father and friends to join their law firms, resigned as president of the Argentinean Surfing Association and left for California to join his brother, Santiago.

By early 1985, the Aguerre Brothers were into something new – beach sandals. From this modest beginning of a two man, one desk operation with the sale of 3,000 pairs in 1985, the leading surf brand Reef originated, eventually becoming the #1 beach sandal company and one of the leading surf labels in the world.   Fernando continued to run Reef as CEO until 2003 and in early 2005, looking for a lifestyle change closer to family, waves and charitable work, the Aguerre brothers sold Reef to VF, the largest apparel company in the world.

In May of 1994, Fernando was elected President of the International Surfing Association.  He has been a key player in the recent expansion and promotion of his beloved sport and his passion for surfing has been an inspiration for many surfers around the world. Fernando led the ISA in obtaining recognition by the IOC in 1997.

It is under Fernando’s leadership that the ISA has grown to its current status as the very recognizable and widely respected International Federation for wave riding sports.  The ISA sanctions three annual events – the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship, Billabong ISA World Surfing Games and ISA World Masters Surfing Championship; and has the following development programs:  Adaptive Surfing Program dedicated to the support of surfing for all; a Scholarship Program created to financially support young surfers in need of financial support to further their education and surfing careers; a Coaching & Judging Program to further develop the teaching of surfing; and a Surf School Register dedicated to providing legitimacy to surf schools for the safety of surfers around the world.

Fernando has always been heavily involved in the sport of surfing.  In addition to his long term Presidency at the ISA, he co-founded PASA, the Pan American Surfing Association in 1992 which he presided until 2002, when he decided not to run for re-election.  He serves in the Senior Advisory Board of Directors for SIMA (www.sima.com), the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association of the United States and as President of the SIMA Humanitarian Fund (the humanitarian arm of the surfing industry).  Fernando actively participates as a member of several humanitarian and environmental surf based organizations, always as an unpaid volunteer in search of his dream of a better world.

He’s the father of 16 year old triplets. He continues to surf daily, near his home in La Jolla, California.

Bio:

Alan Atkins held the position of Secretary General of the ISA for 4 years prior to being elected as a VP and Executive Committee member in 1994, a position which he currently still holds.  He is a Life Member of ISA.

With business and teaching credentials, Alan was the first full-time employee in surfing administration in Australia and held the CEO position at Surfing Australia from 1981- 2006.  He was voted Australian Sports Administrator of the Year in 1990.  Co-contributor to the first Level 1 Surfing Instructor manuals in 1980 and then later editions, Alan has presented courses for surfers in a number of countries.  He also managed National Australian surfing teams over 20 years to all ISA International events, and is a Life Member of Surfing Australia and Surfing Victoria.

Atkins began competing on short boards at the age of 15 years, and now competes in masters events in longboard and SUP.  Amongst his contest credits are 15 State Titles and 8 Australian Championship wins, including the current Over 60 Longboard Title.

He holds the position of ISA World Championships Technical Director, is a member of the ISA Technical Committee and also contributes to development of ISA Education programs and mentoring of ISA Education Course Presenters around the world.  He has officiated in all ISA World Championship events since 2006 [excluding the Masters].

Atkins lives in Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia where he surfs and SUPs daily with his family and is an active member of his local Byron Bay Malibu Club.

Bio:

Karin Sierralta was first elected as a Vice President to the ISA in 2008. In 2012, he was re-elected to continue for his second 4-year term on the ISA Executive Committee.

A devoted surfer and competitor since 1980, Karin  has been a driving force in the development of professional surfing events as well as the organization of international surfing events throughout Latin America. In 2002, he co-founded ALAS (Latin Pro Tour) and to this day holds the position of Executive President. He has also served as the Executive Director of the Peruvian Surfing Federation, FENTA, since 2008.

As a member of the ISA Executive and technical Committees, Karin works alongside the ISA President, Fernando Aguerre and the other Vice Presidents to grow and expand the footprint of the sport world-wide.

Bio:

Debbie Beacham was elected as a Vice President to the ISA in 2010. A former surfing World Champion in 1982, Debbie came to the ISA with an extensive background in surf events and culture. In 1980 she founded the Women's Pro Surfing World Tour, and she has dedicated most of her career to improving women's surfing along with also making important humanitarian and environmental contributions in California.

Debbie continued to make an impact in the surfing world throughout her career in her positions as National Advertising Manager for Surfer Magazine, Women's Representative on the ASP Board of Directors, and co-producer of the award-winning documentary film, Surfer Girl.

As a member of the ISA Executive Committee and Chairwoman of the ISA Athletes Commission, Debbie will work alongside the ISA President, Fernando Aguerre and the other ISA Vice Presidents to increase the ISA's footprint to new nations around the world and especially to bring more women into the sport.

Bio:

Layne Beachley was elected as an ISA Vice President in 2012. A eight-time Women's World Champion (7 ASP, 1 ISA Masters), Layne has numerous awards, including having been inducted into the Sport Australia Hall Of Fame in 2011.  She serves on the Board of many charities, and has dedicated her life to pioneering commercial opportunities for women in surfing. Today, Layne oversees the richest event on the Women's ASP World Tour, the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic.

As a member of the ISA Executive Committee, Layne works along side the ISA President, Fernando Aguerre and the other ISA Vice Presidents to ensure the growth of the sport, and especially for women, around the globe.

Bio:

Marcos Bukao has been the ISA Contest Director since 1996. A dedicated surfer since 1970, Marcos has spent the majority of his professional career working in the sport. In 1981 he served as the Santos City (Brazil) Surfing Association President for three years. In 1986 he became the President of the Sao Paulo State Surfing Federation and held that position for 10 years. As a Contest Director he has organized over 160 surfing and SUP events.

A native Brazilian, Marcos is an active surfer, triathlete and mountain biker. As an appointed member of the ISA Executive and Technical Committees he works alongside ISA President Fernando Aguerre and the other committee members to enhance the competitive rules for the sport of surfing, SUP and all other wave riding disciplines.

Bio:

Bob Mignogna joined the ISA in February, 2010 after a 37 year career in the surf industry.  Upon graduating from Fordham University, New York City in 1970, Mignogna taught elementary school for three years.  In 1973 he moved to the North Shore of O'ahu to surf and learn surf photography.  He eventually moved to Southern California for what became a 30 year career in media, mostly as the Publisher of Surfing Magazine, but also as Group VP over a number of action sports media properties. Mignogna co-founded SIMA, the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association, and sat on the Advisory Board for many USA-based surf competition and environmental organizations, including Surfrider Foundation and the SIMA Environmental Fund, among many others.  In 2008, Mignogna was inducted into the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame.

A native New Yorker, Mignogna is a regular in the lineup at Lower Trestles, and he enjoys time with his three children and three grand children.  As the Director General at the ISA, he works with the ISA President to develop global surfing, and he manages the day-to-day operations of the organization and staff.

Bio:

Carlos Escaba came to the ISA in 2012 with a professional background in marketing, new media, communications and event execution. After moving to San Diego from his birth place in Mexico City, he graduated from the University of California in Los Angeles in 2010, and then joined the New Media team at FUEL TV. From there went to work in marketing at FOX Deportes.

Carlos is an avid surfer, traveler, enjoys surf photography, and loves food. As the Marketing and Media Manager, he will be in charge of the strategy, planning, and execution, for all ISA marketing and media initiatives including events, consumer outreach, media relations, communications, and fundraising to maximize the integration, value and global reach of the ISA.

Bio:

Summer Nelson joined the ISA staff in 2012 with a professional background in surf retail management and development as well as almost a decade of surf coaching. After living and working in Central America for five years, she returned to her hometown of San Diego, California, to rejoin her family which boasts three generations of surfers dating back to the early days at San Onofre, California.

Summer enjoys surfing, sailing and reading good literature in her free time. Originally hired as the ISA Educational Programs Manager, she managed the daily operations and further development of the Coaching & Instructing Courses as well as the Judging & Officiating Courses that the ISA conducts globally. In April of 2013, Summer was promoted to the role of ISA Membership Manager where she oversees all ISA Membership Relations as well as the Development Programs which include the Scholarship Program, the Anti-Doping Program, and the Educational Programs.

Bio:

Jose Duarte Solis came to the ISA in 2012 with a professional background in journalism, editorial and coverage of surfing events. Based in San José, Costa Rica, he graduated from Universidad Internacional de las Américas, and then joined the staff of Surfos Magazine, first as a journalist, then as their Editor in Chief. Here he also had the opportunity to be the Local Media Manager on diverse ISA events.

Jose, besides being a regular surfer, also enjoys longboard skating, music, new technologies, photography and video shooting. As the Latin American Media Coordinator, Jose will be tasked with bulding the ISA's media exposure in Latin America.