People.
Our team combines unique experience in real estate development, law, private equity, project finance, renewable energy, capital markets, surf park operations and surf tourism to drive exceptional outcomes.
Nicholas Edelman
Co-Founder | Chief Executive Officer
Nicholas leads the executive team and is responsible for company direction, product development and strategic relationships.
Prior to co-founding Aventuur, Nicholas worked at a boutique surf hotel owner combining his professional background with his passion for adventure sports. Previously, Nicholas had spent six years at Deutsche Bank in Singapore, Hong Kong and New York where his main focus was on project finance in the renewable energy & infrastructure sector. Prior to Deutsche Bank, he worked at a commercial property fund and originator in Sydney, working closely with developers, construction partners, valuers and quantity surveyors.
Nicholas grew up in Australia and currently lives in Los Angeles. He is a passionate surfer and skier and competed internationally as a rower.
University of Cambridge, LLB (Hons) | University of Sydney, BEc
Richard Duff
Co-Founder | Chief Investment Officer
Richard is focused on the underwriting and due diligence of development projects.
Prior to co-founding Aventuur, Richard worked at a boutique surf hotel owner where he was responsible for the underwriting and structuring of acquisitions and the financial operations of the portfolio. After studying in the UK, Richard moved to the United States and spent five years investing on behalf of Fox River Partners. The Fox River portfolio consisted of residential land, environmental mitigation banks, water rights, energy and hotels. He began his career at Goldman Sachs JBWere in New Zealand where worked on both the Markets and Institutional Equities desks.
Richard grew up in New Zealand, he currently lives in Los Angeles and is a passionate golfer.
University of Cambridge, MFin | University of Auckland, BCom (Hons) | Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
Andrew Ross
Chairman | Chief Development Officer
Andrew is focused on developing large scale, integrated recreation and leisure destinations which include a surf park as the central feature of the ecosystem.
Prior to joining Aventuur, Andrew was the Founder and CEO of URBNSURF Group where he was responsible for the development of the first surf park in the Southern Hemisphere, URBNSURF Melbourne. Prior to founding URBNSURF, Andrew was the Managing Director of two international oil and gas exploration and production companies. Andrew began his career as a lawyer in Australia before moving to Europe where he worked as the in-house legal counsel for a listed oil and gas company, and as a Director of Corporate Finance with a London based merchant bank.
Andrew lives in Perth, Western Australia and is a passionate surfer, skater, snowboarder, photographer, and musician. As a goofy footer he enjoys chasing swells at Strickos and Lefties.
Murdoch University, LLB, BCom | Graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors
Rupert Partridge
Chief Revenue Officer
Rupert is focused on creating market-leading products, sustainable revenue streams and timeless brands for Aventuur developments and business units.
Prior to joining Aventuur, Rupert was integral to the successful launch and commercialisation of the first surf park in the Southern Hemisphere, URBNSURF Melbourne. Rupert formerly led URBNSURF Group’s product, commercial, brand, marketing, technology, communications, research and partnerships initiatives.
Rupert has over 10 years’ professional experience as a commercial manager, brand builder, sports marketer and lawyer, and has been actively involved in the surf park industry since 2013. Rupert also co-founded, grew and sold an experiential property, retail and placemaking consultancy in Sydney, working with family offices and ASX-listed developers to activate large-scale or high-value property assets.
Rupert lives on the Gold Coast, Queensland and is an avid surfer, snowboarder and explorer. He can often be found chasing cyclones in his spare time.
Bond University, LLB (Hons), Bachelor of Intl. Relations (Business) | Stab Magazine 30 Under 30
Jess De Simone
General Counsel & Company Secretary
Jess is focused on delivering exceptional legal services and advice for our team, coordinating the activities of the Aventuur Board, and managing governance and risk.
Jess has over 10 years of experience in Australia and the United States as a mergers and acquisitions lawyer, possessing deep knowledge of major infrastructure projects from construction, through delivery, to operations.
Prior to joining Aventuur, Jess was Senior Legal Counsel at Transurban where she was involved in acquiring infrastructure projects with an enterprise value of over $33 billion. Before moving in-house, Jess was a solicitor at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP in New York City and Clayton Utz in Melbourne. She is admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the High Court of Australia, and after passing the New York Bar in 2016, was admitted as an attorney to the New York State Bar. Jess is also the Vice President of the Australasian Surfing Lawyers Association.
Jess lives in Byron Bay and is a natural waterwoman, with a love for surfing, free diving, yoga and meditation. You can often find her cross stepping at right-hand point breaks on Australia’s East Coast.
University of Melbourne, JD | University of Sydney, BA
Adrian “Ace” Buchan
Director of Surf and Sustainability
Adrian, or "Ace" as he is affectionately known, is focused on delivering exceptional surf experiences at Aventuur's surf parks and ensuring the company's social and environmental initiatives are industry-leading.
An elite surfing athlete, Ace has spent the last 16 years competing on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour - achieving two event victories over Kelly Slater at Hossegor (France) and Teahupoo (Tahiti), and consistently maintaining a Top 20 ranking.
During his career, Ace has served as an ambassador for some of the world's leading sports brands and represented his fellow competitors as the World Pro Surfers Athlete Representative between 2014-2018. Ace is also a Board Member at Surfing Australia and formerly sat on the WSL Board.
His work as a social and environmental advocate includes being a founding director and board member of Surfers For Climate and serving as an advocate for Take3 For The Sea Foundation, WSL Pure and The Sapphire Project. He is also a published children's author.
Ace lives on the Central Coast of NSW with his wife and 3 young children but is most at ease on the road with his family creating "homes" in places like Oahu, Bali and J-Bay.
WSL Professional Surfer | WSL Pure Award for Outstanding Ocean Advocacy (2020)
William Cahill
Associate
Will is focused on optimising Aventuur’s business performance, supporting our development, product and finance divisions through detailed modelling, reporting and data analytics.
Prior to joining Aventuur, Will spent several years working as a strategy consultant in London implementing data-led growth initiatives and providing strategic M&A, pricing and operations advice. His experience spans a wide range of industries, including technology, hospitality, energy, industrials, education and healthcare.
Will grew up in Cape Town, South Africa, where he developed his love for the mountains and the ocean. He is a passionate surfer, skier, swimmer, and rower – you will likely find him either in the water, or on it.