Jon Rose
Waves For Water - Founder
First Responder · Public Speaker · Former Professional Surfer
Waves For Water - Founder
- First Responder
- Public Speaker
- Former Professional Surfer
From Professional Surfer to Frontline Humanitarian to Integrated Leader
Jon Rose is a former professional surfer and the founder of Waves For Water, a global clean-water organization that has helped millions of people across 51 countries and responded to more than 40 major disasters.
For over 15 years, he worked in some of the world's most challenging humanitarian environments—from post-earthquake Haiti to war-torn Afghanistan—designing agile systems that deliver real help in real time.
After years of operating under extreme pressure, Jon stepped back from frontline disaster work to confront the personal cost of chronic stress, trauma, and burnout. Today, he shares the lessons from that journey through keynote speaking, his consultancy Odyssey 45, and his docu-series Unpacking, helping leaders and teams navigate purpose, resilience, and transformation.
“Do What You Love And Help Along The Way”
−Jon Rose
Jon Rose spent more than a decade as a professional surfer, chasing waves to the far edges of the map. The trips kept landing him in places where the surf was perfect and the water was not safe to drink.
In 2009 a surf trip to Indonesia put him in the middle of an earthquake. He had water filters in his bag. He started handing them out, and he did not stop. That was the beginning of Waves for Water.
What started as a few filters is now a global effort that has brought clean water to millions of people, through earthquakes, floods, and conflict zones most organizations never reach. Jon built it the hard way. On the ground, around the red tape. He calls it guerrilla humanitarianism. His own line is simpler. Do what you love, and help along the way.
It is the kind of conviction we build for. That is why he is here.
