The ILS Lifesaving Academy - To become better and to do more.
The ILS Lifesaving Academy has been established in 2022. Since then, a still evolving vision has been developed what the ILS Lifesaving Academy ought to be, what will be the leading projects for the period 2026-2027 an3d which quality instruments are needed for the education. The ILS academy reports back to the ILS Board of Directors to safeguard that their policies, plans and projects align with the other ILS Commissions and Committees and to receive suggestions and feed-back.
The vision of the ILS Lifesaving Academy is that its output is most of all aimed at strengthening the professionalism of lifesavers in water recreational areas around the world. At the same time, the expertise available within the ILS should become available outside the ILS to improve water safety and support drowning prevention initiatives in all aquatic environments.
This is a long shot and a rather ambitious plan that should create in its process new opportunities for both the ILS and the drowning prevention community at large.
The first visible step is the organisation of high-end adult-learning courses with international topic-related leadership and academics as teachers, both from inside and outside the ILS. For the years 2026 and 2027, courses are planned on
- organisational leadership
- psychosocial impact of critical events
- open water safety
- role of lifesaving organisation in flood response.
The target audience of the courses is any person who is keen in improving their role in lifesaving and drowning prevention. Webinars will be organised as an introduction to some of the courses. The agenda for the webinars and courses will be available on this webpage in August 2026.
Another project is the development a curriculum to become a professional drowning prevention officer. Participating in the curriculum should allow lifesavers to become involved in water safety initiatives in their local or national area. It seems a realistic expectation that such an official authority can play a vital role in implementing and maintaining WHO-advised national policies regarding drowning prevention. This project needs more time and implementation is planned after 2027.
The secretariat of the ILS-LA can be reached via
Email: secretaryilsla@gmail.com
WhatsApp: +919970005500
Members ILS-Lifesaving Academy Executive board
Jesús Alcarón Guerrero
Jesús Alarcón Guerrero is a biologist graduated from the Universidad Nacional Autónomo de México, specialised in geographic information systems, and a certified lifesaver by the Mexican Red Cross since 1992. He has an extensive background in swim training and aquatic rescue. He is the founder of the Interdisciplinary Aquatic Rescue Group (2016), an organization that actively supported lifesavers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the co-founder and vice president of the Mexican Federation of Lifesaving and Aquatic Rescue (2018). In 2026, he was appointed Director of Public Education Committee for the International Life Saving Federation Americas. Since 2019, he has been responsible for coordinating the federation's conferences and developing training manuals, outstandingly participating in the design and standardization of national and international lifesaving programs. The contribution of Jesús to the ILS Lifesaving Academy includes data gathering and analysis contributing to knowledge and strategy generation and point of contact with ILS Americas for course development.
Joost Bierens
Professor Joost Bierens is a retired anaesthesiologist with earlier positions as (visiting) professor at universities in Amsterdam, Brussels and Portsmouth, focusing on research and education in emergency and disaster medicine. Once a lifeguard as medical student, he remained highly engaged as volunteer in several activities in the lifesaving and lifeboat industry. Within the ILS-Lifesaving Academy (ILS-LA) Joost serves as dean of the academy, chairman of the ILS-LA executive board (ILS-LA EB) and voting member in the ILS board.
Christoph Freudenhammer
Dr. Christoph Freudenhammer serves as Deputy Director of Education of the German Life Saving Association (DLRG), Secretary General of the International Lifesaving Federation of Europe (ILSE) and is an experienced science manager at the Max Planck Society. He combines a strong academic background in chemistry with more than 25 years of voluntary and leadership experience in lifesaving, youth development, and education at local, national, and international levels. Since 2021, he has been actively engaged with ILS and ILSE, including observer/advisor roles and contributions to education and drowning prevention. Within the ILS Academy (Executive Board), Christoph brings strategic leadership, curriculum development expertise, and a strong commitment to evidence-based water safety education. At this moment he is the liaison with the organisation of the ILS-LA open water safety course.
Mohammad Kotb
Mohammed M. A. Kotb is a Professor of Coral Reef Ecology at Suez Canal University, Egypt. He is a Diving Instructor holding licences from IDEA, CMAS, EDLF, BSAC, PADI, and a Scientific Diving Instructor (CMAS) since 1987, and a Chief Instructor for Pool, Open Water, and Beach Lifeguards (ILS) since 1997. He is a member of the CMAS scientific committee and a member and former head of the lifesaving committee of the Egyptian Federation. He is a former secretary of the education committee of the ILS (2021-2024) and vice president for education of the ILS-Africa Academy for Lifesaving (2024-2028).
Fernando Martinho
Fernando Martinho has been involved in the lifesaving training of the Instituto de Socorros a Náufragos (ISN – Portuguese Institute for Rescue Shipwrecked Survivors) from 1974-1994. Since 1993 he is involved in the development of the content and pedagogical methodologies of professional courses in water safety and rescue. These courses are approved by the Portuguese government and supported by the European Social Funds. Since 1977 he also participates in the curriculum of the Professional Schools in Portugal to prepare trainees to become qualified as Aquatic Safety and Rescue Technician [Level IV of the European Qualifications Framework – EQF]. Currently Fernando is also working as a drowning prevention and water rescue consultant for the UniNorte – Multipurpose Cooperative unity for Integrates and Qualified Systems to Prevent Drowning and promotes Update Water Safety Rescue, with the Lifesavers Association [AsNaSA] and Lusophone University in Porto [Civil Protection Higher Education Courses], and with lifesaving organizations in all Portuguese spoken countries. His experience in the successful applications of EU Programs, such as ERASMUS, will be much needed to obtain sponsoring and subsidies.
Ted Popov
Professor Todor (Ted) A. Popov is medical doctor, specialist in internal medicine and clinical allergology, with special interests in airway diseases and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. He was involved in research and teaching, organized the first system of Continuous Medical Education (CME) in Bulgaria. Parallel to his career as a clinician he has been involved in sports activities as competitive swimmer and participant in water life-safety national and international events. His involvement in water sports had a natural continuation in the activities of the Water Life Safety Service by the Bulgarian Red Cross: working as a lifeguard, trainer of lifeguards. He has been long- standing representative of Bulgaria in the Board of Directors of ILSE, and since more of a decade in ILS. Ted will use his experience with CME to appraise the quality of the education program to be developed by the ILS-Academy.
Catarina Queiroga
Ana Catarina Queiroga PhD is a Portuguese microbiologist, public health researcher, specializing in drowning prevention and aquatic safety. She is a researcher of the Institute of Public Health (University of Porto) and has been engaged in lifesaving initiatives, research, and teaching since 2006. Her work focuses on injury prevention, drowning epidemiology, and evidence-based strategies to improve aquatic safety for children, vulnerable populations, and high-risk communities. She has contributed extensively to task-forces, publications, reports, panels, and presentations at international events. She is a co-founder of the International Drowning Researchers’ Alliance (IDRA) and holds leadership and committee roles within the International Lifesaving Federation. Her global engagement includes serving as the European data coordinator for the World Health Organization’s Global Status Report on Drowning Prevention. Within the ILS-Lifesaving Academy, Catarina brings high-level international drowning prevention expertise and networks.
Vijay Kumar Sah
Vijay Kumar Sah is the CEO of WaterWorld India and vice president of the Indian Lifesaving and Lifesaving Sports Federation. He is a member of the ILS Sports Commission and the International Federation of Swimming Teachers’ Associations. As an international technical official in lifesaving sport. Vijay is also a subject matter expert and master trainer with India’s Sports, Physical Education, Fitness and Leisure Sector Council. His work focuses on advancing drowning prevention through aquatic infrastructure, water safety education, and the development of lifesaving sport ecosystems. Within the ILS-LA-EB Vijay serves as Secretary.
Dhaya Sewduth
Dhaya Sewduth M.Ed. serves as a Board Member of Lifesaving South Africa (LSA) and manages the media portfolio for the national federation. He previously served two stints as President of Lifesaving SA as well as established the first Directorship of Drowning Prevention on the LSA Board. He currently serves in the ILS Business Commission and the Education committee of the ILS Rescue Commission as well as Vice President of ILS Africa (Southern Africa region) and the RLSS Commonwealth (RLSS) Lifesaving council. He also serves on commissions within the South African Sports and Olympic and Paralympic Confederation (Sport SA) and continues to help develop lifesaving among some of the African nations. A highlight of his journey in voluntary lifesaving, as LOC chairman, was delivering the successful WCDP2019 in Durban, November 2029 – a first for Africa. As a long-standing educator and academic, Dhaya plays an important role contributing to educational upliftment by means of the ILS Lifesaving Academy.
Pamela Simon
Pamela Simon is Learning and Development Manager at Surf Life Saving Australia, leading national education strategy, training systems. Her portfolio spans member development, diversity and inclusion, and volunteer recognition and retention. With over 20 years in Surf Life Saving, she has held multiple leadership roles and represented Australia internationally through the International Life Saving Federation since 2012. Named among the 36 most influential women in drowning prevention in 2017, Pamela also serves as President of the Enterprise Registered Training Organisation Association (ERTOA), advocating for industry-based RTOs. She holds a Master’s in Adult Education and is passionate about inclusive learning and community impact. Within the ILS-LA Pamela is preparing the ILS-LA course Resilient teams, safer minds and the curriculum of the Drowning Prevention Officer. She is the point of contact with ILS Asia-Pacific.