CEO of Waterbom Bali and chief of sustainability
We have been around for almost 29 years; we have been through the unimaginable, and now we have the mature duty to be a company that is conscious.
Tell us your story – how did you get here?
Ah where to begin…well, I was conceived in Bali, (apparently in Sayan near Ubud, hence the name) and spent my early years in Bali. I lived in Europe for a short stint before returning to Bali. I went to high school in Singapore and University in Australia. I grew up in multicultural surroundings, which allowed me to broaden my perspectives and change my school of thought. I feel very fortunate to now call Bali home.
I grew up around Waterbom; my father was the founder of the park and the visionary who wanted to build a waterpark where people would be sliding amongst the trees. Therefore, no trees were cut down to build it. He wanted to challenge the plastic model of waterparks so that it wouldn’t be a detriment to the land, but instead a place to make people happy, where fun happens. This culture seeped into my veins.
During my school years, I would spend my holidays learning every segment of the park. From engineering, to being a lifeguard to maintenance and cleaning. I started with a role in the operations department of Waterbom and after three years, I started focusing on how to reduce the company’s impact on the earth. We then looked at how to use our platform of success to motivate individuals and businesses alike.
In 2017 I became CEO of Waterbom, and prior to the pandemic, we took major steps forward in our sustainability initiatives. We are constantly learning, and I know we still have a long way to go, but we will get there, and we will make a difference. In the coming 12 months, we plan to make an exciting announcement related to this, but for now, that’s all I can hint… Watch this space!
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
There is no singular accomplishment I’m proud of. For me, accomplishments are a set of building blocks on the overall impact one can make, like the impact of making people happy through choosing the right slides and creating a great experience for guests, or the impact of who you inspire through your actions, like a Ted Talk or releasing a film. I’m just proud that I believe I can always get through challenges and barriers, purely because of the way I interpret things in my mind. I don’t see impossibilities, just opportunities.
What impact have you made in Bali?
It’s not so much the impact that I have made, but the impact that we (as Waterbom) have made. We have been around for almost 29 years; we have been through the unimaginable, and now we have the mature duty to be a company that is conscious. We want to spread the word that businesses can work within the realms of sustainability, and anyone can do it. Highlighting the wins for the planet, wins for the business, and a win for the soul. If we can do it, so can others.
What does 2022 look like for you?
Well, the rest of 2022 looks busy but inspiring, and most importantly, exciting! We are ready to move things into a new gear. The last two years have been a time for reflection, dream building, and some time spent stressing and waiting… Now it’s time to put the dreams into action.
Ideally, we can develop the park and enhance our facilities at some point in the near future, which weaves in our sustainability plans. Once the economy picks up again, we can dive deep into the planning, so that we are ready to make 2023 something to really talk about.
What do you love most about Bali?
The nature, the culture, the people… but most importantly, the feeling. Bali is a vibe; it’s vibrant, it’s alive, and the energy here is so prominent that it can be overwhelming sometimes, but also magical.
What's one thing everyone can do to protect our home planet?
I think people need to realise that our resources are finite. Think about what kind of legacy one wants to make during their time on earth, and what world you want to leave for future generations to come. Realise that sustainability is not impossible, and realise that nature can eat us up when it wants to.
Having this realisation brings us to a deeper level of awareness; an awareness that can lead to change. And that starts with small things – like using electricity and water only when needed – because everything we do has a consequence.
Awareness and consciousness is a powerful tool. It is the ultimate agent of change.
Who is your Local Legend and why?
It’s the collective that makes the story, so it’s hard for me to choose just one person. There are so many great individuals in Bali that are so selfless in making their part be impactful and powerful.
Everyone is doing their part, which becomes the building block to a better life, a better world. One person takes care of trash, another finds a way to harness the sun’s energy, the other spreads the voice of sustainability. And so it goes. Legends are everywhere, and are needed for the change we want to see in the world today. A domino effect has to happen and we all have to do our part, as a collective.