Not only do the organizers of the conference fight to protect sacred coastlines and surf breaks around the world on a daily basis, but the entire ethos of the Global Wave Conference was based on empowering activists, brands, governments, and others to do the same. With the Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve (GCWSR) serving as the conference backdrop, panelists and keynote speakers from different backgrounds in science, surfing, technology, conservation, and governance from around the world shared inspiring and educational solutions and challenges to ocean conservation and climate change. To celebrate the end of the conference, Noosa became the next World Surfing Reserve and the GCWSR earned legal protection from the Premier of Queensland for the 16-kilometer stretch of coast from Burleigh Beach to Snapper Rocks.