Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific’s brand ambassador, and seven-time ASP Women’s World Champion, Layne Beachley received an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AO) this past Australia Day.
“I am very honoured and humbled by the award. I have always loved what I do and feel very blessed that I have been able to make a contribution to Australian surf culture and our community,” said Beachley.
As one of Australia’s greatest athletes, dominating the sport of surfing for almost two decades, Layne made her debut on the ASP Women’s World Tour at the age of 16 and by the time she was 22, she was ranked number three in the world.
Layne’s first tour event win came in 1993 and in 1998 Layne won the first of her six consecutive world titles (from a total of seven) in her illustrious career, making her the most successful female professional surfer of all time. She remains the surfer with the greatest number of consecutive world titles, male or female. Amidst her vast trophy cabinet and career honours, in 2004 Layne was presented the prestigious Laureus World Alternative Sportsperson Award. Layne was also inducted into the Australian Sporting Hall of Fame in 2011.
In addition to her sporting and business endeavours, Layne established the Aim For The Stars Foundation, which provides financial and moral support for girls and women across Australia to invest in their future and fulfill their potential in academia, the arts, business, music and sport.
President and Managing Director of Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific Barry Robinson said, “As brand ambassador for Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific for the past eight years, Layne epitomises the power of a positive attitude, focus and determination. She serves as an inspiration to our staff and is the embodiment of our company values of integrity, leadership, innovation and growth.
“The Australian honour system represents the highest level of recognition accorded by our nation for outstanding service and achievement. Layne’s long term contribution to Australian surfing and the community makes her Order of Australia richly deserved and we are immensely proud to call her our ambassador,” said Robinson.
Layne works with Wyndham’s some 2,000 South Pacific staff conducting motivational talks and workshops on building powerful personal brands. She is also actively involved in a number of exciting new initiatives aimed at promoting staff development and wellness, in line with Wyndham’s corporate ‘Be Well’ health program.