The ILS Asia Pacific Region is pleased to announce the election of Chiharu Aizawa from Japan to the ILS Board of Directors.

The ILS Asia Pacific Region is pleased to announce the election of Chiharu Aizawa from Japan to the ILS Board of Directors.

Chiharu Aizawa currently has responsibility for International Affairs with the Japanese Lifesaving Association and she has been a member of the ILS Equity and Diversity Committee since 2008. Chi has been an active contributor to lifesaving in Japan since the 1970’s having been involved in the organising committees of many national and regional events.

Chi says, “As a Full Member Federation of ILS, and with all my lifesaving friends around the world, I am very proud that my activities take part in preventing drowning throughout the world. I have learned how significant it is to take part bringing forward lifesaving activities, by members regardless of their ethnic, language, or culture, mutually share information and exchange knowledge to drive to achieve the same aim.

Unfortunately since my mother tongue is not English there are times I face difficulties. However, I have endeavoured to timely pass on utmost information as possible to promote activities within Japan and contribute to ILS as one of the Asia Pacific regional associations.

Currently ILS is strongly promoting women’s participation to the Board and Committees. In my region, the Asia Pacific region, our backgrounds in language, ethics, culture, history are so diverse that various considerations are needed to efficiently promote lifesaving. Taking this opportunity I have decided to run as a candidate for ILS Board Member to share my experience and perspective from a woman’s view willing to further develop ILS.

ILS Vice-President and Asia Pacific President Rob Bradley said, “ We are delighted to have a director of Chi’s skills and experience on the ILS Board she has a great deal to offer.

Chi will attend her first ILS Board meeting as a Board Member in Alexandria (Egypt) this coming October 2010.