ILS Commissions and Committees

The ILS has created the following four Commissions:

  • Drowning Prevention Commission
  • Rescue Commission
  • Sport Commission
  • Business Commission


Drowning Prevention Commission

The Chair is Justin Scarr – Royal Life Saving Society Australia


Rescue Commission

The Chair is Adam Weir – Surf Life Saving Australia

This Commission operates through the following Committees:

  • Rescue Operations Committee
  • Education Committee
  • Medical Committee

Sport Commission

The Chair is Dave Thompson AM – Surf Life Saving Australia

This Commission operates with a project-based management structure to allow members to freely contribute and participate in several projects.


Business Commission

The Acting Chair is Claire Ann Alfonso – Norwegian Lifesaving Society.

The Commission covers various topics such as Risk Assessment, Marketing and Revenue Generation, Social Media etc


ILS Standing Committees

The ILS has the following Standing Committees that are represented in the ILS Board of Directors:

  • Chancellery
  • Membership Committee
  • Event Management Committee
  • Athletes Committee
  • Academy
  • Anti-Doping Committee

Chancellery

ILS President – Graham Ford AO (Australia-Surf)
ILS Secretary General – Dr Harald Vervaecke PhD (Belgium)
ILS Vice-President for the Africa region – Sameh El Shazly (Egypt)
ILS Vice-President for the Americas region – Peter Davis (USA-USLA)
ILS Vice-President for the Asia-Pacific region – John Baker AM ESM (Australia-Surf)
ILS Vice-President for the European region – Dr Dirk Bissinger PhD (Germany-DLRG)

Membership Committee

Chair: Dott Giorgio Quintavalle (Italy)
ILS Secretary General – Dr Harald Vervaecke PhD (Belgium)
Secretary General of the African Regional Branch – Helen Herbert (South Africa)
Secretary General of the Americas Regional Branch – Leo Manino (Argentina)
Secretary General of the Asia-Pacific Regional Branch – Justin Scarr (Australia-Royal)
Secretary General of the European Regional Branch – Dr Christoph Freudenhammer PhD (Germany-DLRG)

Event Management Committee

Chair: Graham Ford OA (Australia-Surf)
Secretary: Dr Harald Vervaecke PhD (Belgium)
For the LWCFor the WCDP
Dave Thompson AM
Jelle Meintsma
Greg Allum AM
Perry Smith
Wim Nuyens (ex-officio)
Justin Scarr
Prof Dr Joost Bierens MD PhD
Ingy El Shazly
Wim Nuyens (ex-officio)

Athletes Committee

the ILS Athletes Committee is tasked to empower the athlete’s representation in the ILS decision-making processes, to support the athlete development in their sporting and nonsporting careers, and to represent the athlete’s views in the decisions across the ILS.

It will endeavour to represent all athletes and liaise with all committees and commissions when required, to aid in the betterment of LIfesaving sport.

The Chair of the Athlete Committee has a voting role on the ILS Board of Directors to ensure athletes’ voices are involved in ILS decision making.

Academy

Dean: Prof Dr Joost BIERENS MD PhD MCPM (The Netherlands)
Dr Harald Vervaecke PhD (ILS Secretary General)
Prof Dr Mohamed KOTB PhD (Egypt)
Pamela Simon (Australia – Surf)
Dr Christoph Freudenhammer PhD (Germany-DLRG)
Vijay Kumar SAH (India – ILLSF)
Fernando Martinho (Portugal – AsNaSa)
Dr Ana Catarina Queiroga PhD (Portugal – AsNaSa)
Dhaya Sewduth (South Africa)
Humaid Al Houti (UAE)
Dr Ted Popov MD (Bulgaria)
Ingy Elshazly (Egypt)

Anti-Doping Committee:

Greg Allum AM (Australia – Surf) – Chair
Karin Obus (Belgium) – ILS Executive Director and Anti-Doping Administrator
Ian Fullagar (Australia – Surf) – ILS Legal Advisor
Dr Andrea Felici MD (Italy) – Chair ILS TUE Committee
Dr Sjors Pietermans MD (The Netherlands) – National Team Physician
Dr Peter Wernicki MD (USA) – National Team Physician & Member ILS TUE Committee
Tanya Hamilton (New Zealand) – SLSNZ High Performance Director and Educator