Meet Joel Pilgrim
SHAPED BY THE SEA
Joel often says he would live in the ocean if he could. Growing up in Caves Beach, NSW, Joel and his twin brother spent every spare second of daylight in the surf. They chased adventure, trying every ocean sport imaginable, and forged an unbreakable bond with the outdoors. For Joel, the beach wasn’t just a playground—it was a place of freedom, connection, and resilience. Today, that same shoreline is where Joel does his most meaningful work, using it as a canvas to connect, inspire, and empower others to embrace nature as an integral part of maintaining mental fitness.
SOCIAL CHANGE MAKER
As a clinician, Joel’s unique approach combined his expertise as a Mental Health Occupational Therapist with a deep love for the great outdoors, where he spearheaded innovative clinical pathways that shifted how we understand and address mental ill-health. This bold action moving treatment away from the sometimes sterile clinical setting, and into nature, transformed traditional mental health support by making therapy far more approachable and accessible.
Joel serves as a Non-Executive Director of Californian-based nonprofit, the International Surf Therapy Organization (ISTO). He is also a children’s book author, with his book Stand Up Stand Out supporting young people to build mental fitness early in life.
PASSIONATE WATERMAN &
Big WAVE SURFER
As a passionate waterman, Joel has an affinity with the ocean. Whether it’s a 220km paddle board mission, or taming giant waves as a big wave surfer, the ocean has played a pivotal role in his life and wellbeing. Joel seamlessly weaves in his own gripping experiences and adrenaline-filled adventures to clearly demonstrate the power that nature can have on our wellbeing. When Joel isn’t chasing waves, he’s chasing his young daughter around beaches and playgrounds, embracing the beautiful chaos that is fatherhood.
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