Hopkins briefly worked for 2GB prior to becoming a full-time lifeguard. He has worked as a lifeguard with Waverley Council, which oversees Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte Beaches, since 1991 and has been involved in more resuscitations than any other lifeguard in the service. He was appointed head lifeguard in 2000 and is one of the longest serving and most experienced lifeguards on the roster. In 2006 he won the Australian Lifeguard of the year award, and has recently picked up 2 Gold medals at the Australian Surf Lifesaving titles in the Double Ski and the Board Paddle. Bruce ‘Hoppo’ Hopkins is one of the world’s most influential and recognised Lifeguards, a well- respected water sportsman and Australian media personality. As Bondi’s Head Lifeguard, Hopkins has appeared in fourteen seasons of the hit television show, Bondi Rescue. The Network Ten show is based around the Lifeguard Service at Bondi Beach following the numerous rescues and day-to-day activities. The hugely successful show now airs in over 180 countries worldwide and has won six Logie Awards to date and also had nine nominations for ‘Most Popular Factual Television Show’. The show has reached over 1.6 million viewers during the highest rating period and is still the most watched show on the Discovery Channel. Hopkins is a regular guest speaker at various international corporations and organisations about his role as Head Lifeguard, expertise in water safety, his leadership skills and teamwork management and is a regular guest at high-profile red carpet events, launches and film premieres. Recent press coverage in 2017 has included a photo shoot with international supermodel, Karlie Kloss. Coverage ran in Vogue Australia, OK!, WhoDaily Mail and Channel Ten. Hopkins was recently interviewed on The Project, Ten News, Seven Network, Nine Network, Studio 10, NOVA, KIIS FM & WSFM and more reaching over 10 million people in conjunction with a national water safety campaign to highlight water safety in the ocean and back yard pools given the recent drowning epidemic. As Vice President of Surf Education International, an organisation that specialises in the education of water safety with a key focus to minimise drowning numbers globally. SEI has taken Hopkins around the world as a consultant to Japan, India, Maldives, Dubai, UK and Sweden. Hopkins is a keen philanthropist, a regular competitor at Perth’s Rottnest Island Swim for the charity category for the past eight years and has proudly supported many charity organisations over the years, including The McGrath Foundation, Livin, Randwick Children’s Hospital and R U OK? As an instantly recognised Australian media identity, Bruce Hopkins has worked with many leading brands for endorsement and commercial partnerships including; Virgin Atlantic, UNIQLO, Holeproof Undies, Samsung, Australian Tourism, G’Day LA, Energiser, Bondi Lifeguard Sun Care, Clever Buoy, Stella & Marco Skincare, Casio Watches, LIIVE Sunglasses, Optus, Heineken, QT Hotels & Resorts and Moccona Coffee. In May 2017 Hopkins became an ambassador for Shark Mitigation and Clever Buoy technology.
Personal life
Hopkins was born and raised in Bronte and has been competing in surf competitions since the age of six. Hopkins has two daughters, Lauren and Georgia Hopkins currently resides in Sydney in the Eastern Suburbs with his partner, Karen Griffin.
