SURFER I ENTREPRENEUR I NON PROFIT FOUNDER
Dr Roxy Davis is a visionary entrepreneur, athlete and advocate for social impact. An eleven-time South African surfing champion, she has combined her passion for the ocean with business, research and community empowerment. As the founder of Surf Emporium and Ocean Freedom, Roxy has been instrumental in promoting surfing as a tool for personal growth and development.
Roxy is also the founder of the Roxy Davis Foundation, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to improving mental and physical well-being through ocean-based therapy. Her groundbreaking research in health sciences focuses on the impact of ocean-based therapy for children with disabilities in South Africa, contributing to innovative approaches in rehabilitation and inclusion.
Through her leadership and commitment to creating transformative opportunities, Roxy harnesses the healing power of the ocean to drive wellness, empowerment and inclusivity. Her work exemplifies the intersection of research, business and social good, leaving a lasting impact on individuals and communities.
Q&A with Roxy
1. What’s your biggest achievement / Something you’re proud of yourself for?
“One of my biggest achievements is building a life and career around my passion for the ocean whether through surfing, coaching, or inspiring others to connect with the water. I’m especially proud of the impact I’ve had in empowering young women to feel confident and strong in spaces where they may have once felt out of place.”
2. What’s your biggest fear / something that holds you back?
“One of my biggest ongoing challenges is navigating expectations both the ones placed on me by the world, and the quieter internal expectations I place on myself. There’s this underlying pressure to always be improving, always moving forward, always becoming something more. It can make rest feel like something that has to be earned and slowing down feels like falling behind. But I’ve come to realise that many of these expectations aren’t even truly mine. They’re inherited, absorbed from environments, systems, and stories that prioritise constant output over simply being. And yet, they can still shape how I measure my worth and my pace. So the real challenge has become learning to question those expectations and to consciously choose which ones I carry forward and which ones I’m ready to put down.”
3. What’s your biggest contribution / Something you like to share?
“A big part of what I like to share is the connection between the ocean, wellbeing, and personal growth. In 2023, I completed my PhD in Surf Therapy, titled A world of possibilities: an exploration of experiences of children with disabilities participation in a surf therapy programme in South Africa. I also published a peer-reviewed journal article expanding on this work, contributing to the growing body of research around sport, nature, and wellbeing titled Benefits of surf therapy for children with disabilities in South Africa: a single case story. Beyond the academic space, I’m passionate about making this knowledge accessible using surfing as a tool to help people build confidence, resilience, and a deeper connection to themselves.”
3. Fun fact:
“I’m a trained chef, but my husband does most of the cooking.”
Thank you for being you!.
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