Joel Pilgrim

Joel Pilgrim is a passionate thought leader and innovator in the mental health space. As Founder and CEO of mental health charity, the Waves of Wellness (WOW) Foundation, Joel and his team are pioneering surf therapy intervention in mental health. Joel is a mental health Occupational Therapist, specialising in early psychosis and rehabilitation, where his passion for innovating in the mental health space was born. Joel is an experienced public speaker and MC, presenting both nationally and internationally as an influencer in the mental health and adventure therapy space. He’s a big advocate for the outdoors, with 20+ years of surfing experience. Joel was a NSW finalist for Young Australian of the Year 2018, for his dedication to mental health promotion, and is a founding member of the International Surf Therapy Organization (ISTO). He is a 2018 Westpac Social Change Fellow, and has written a children’s book, Stand Up Stand Out, to help people from a young age think about mental health differently. Joel is currently completing his Masters of Research, at the University of New South Wales, exploring the impacts of surf therapy on mental health and wellbeing.