President - Mr Vaughan Davies (2017 – Present)
Having grown up the regional WA towns of Esperance and Kalgoorlie and starting his working life as a casual pool lifeguard, Vaughan has developed an extensive career in the public sector. He spent 10 years in local government working in community services and overseeing the management and construction of swimming pools across regional Australia, before moving into a role as regional manager of Tourism WA based in Broome. From there he joined the Department of Aboriginal Affairs where he became the Director General of the Department in 2016.
Vaughan currently works at the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage as the Assistant Director General of the Heritage and Property Division - responsible for the management, protection and promotion of Western Australia’s Aboriginal and Historic heritage assets as well as the Western Australia Planning Commission’s property portfolio .
A keen long-distance open water swimmer, with a few Rottnest Channel solo swims to his name, Vaughan spends as much time in or on the water as possible as a keen boaty and fisherman. Impressed by the work Royal Life Saving WA does through the Remote Aboriginal Swimming Pools program in regional WA, he joined the board’s Aboriginal Reference Group in 2017. Seeing Royal Life Saving WA as a well-established, solid brand steeped in history and filled with talented, professional and committed staff, he saw a position on the board as an opportunity to work with like-minded people, while also giving back to a cause that has been a part of his entire life.
Vaughan believes swimming is a life skill that every Western Australian should enjoy 100% water safety across all parts of the community is a goal he would like to see the organisation achieve - from infant aquatics, swim & survive, seniors water safety through to working with non-English speaking and remote Aboriginal communities. He sees this as an achievable aim through good governance, strategic thinking and creating partnerships with government and corporate organisations.
Mrs Carol Harper (October 2015 – Present)
Carol has worked in the Swimming Pool industry for over 25 years. She currently works as an Independent Consultant and Project Manager in the residential aquatic industry drawing from her experience as owner/manager of the Pool Spa & Outdoor Living Expo, and prior to that being co-owner/manager of Exclusive Pools for ten years.
Carol has extensive knowledge and networks in relation to outdoor living in WA, and has won more than 50 industry awards with Exclusive Pools for individually designed swimming pools. Along with her experience in running small businesses she is in a good position to make a positive impact through her work with Royal Life Saving WA as the Society aims to prevent drowning across the Western Australian community.
Coming from the swimming industry Carol believes it is vitally important to learn First Aid and resuscitation skills so that everyone can be a lifesaver. Since becoming a member of the Royal Life Saving WA board in 2015 she has found her involvement with the Society to be extremely rewarding as she sees the impact being made right across Western Australia. Looking ahead Carol is keen to see this impact expanded into more communities in the future.
Justine Leavy PhD (2018 – Present)
Dr Justine Leavy is an Associate Professor in Health Promotion in the School of Population Health at Curtin University. She is the Discipline Lead for Health Promotion and Sexology and a Research Fellow with the Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health (CERIPH).
Justine is an experienced lecturer, researcher and supervisor of research students. Her research focuses on health promotion evaluation and knowledge translation methods, design and evaluation of injury prevention programs, health related mass media campaigns and their design and evaluation.
Justine has been part of the research and evaluation team for the past 10 years that has been evaluating Royal Life Saving WA’s drowning prevention Keep Watch Program, Adult Water Safety Program and Youth Water Safety Program. Widely published in peer-reviewed journals, Justine is an expert in the field and is a member of the International Drowning Research Alliance (IDRA) which allows her to connect with drowning researchers from around the world including Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the World Health Organization. Justine is the co-Director of the Drowning Prevention Evidence and Evaluation Project (DEEP) at Curtin University (https://www.ceriph.org/deep).
She was an Academic Board Member for the Faculty of Health Sciences Curtin University (2021-2023), director of the Australian Health Promotion Association (AHPA) 2013-2022. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Board Member and Provost Fellow for 2024, Curtin University. Justine is a member of the Mass Media Advisory Panel for the US National Physical Activity Plan.
Justine joined the board of Royal Life Saving WA in 2018 to bring her expertise and provide strategic advice to the Directors about research, evaluation and knowledge translation pertinent to drowning prevention and the public health profession. She sees the opportunity to be part of the Royal Life Saving WA Board as a chance to build aquatic safety capacity and give back to the community.
Justine’s vision is for Royal Life Saving WA to be recognised as a leader in knowledge translation for drowning prevention in Australia, and internationally. She’s excited about the way the organisation has been very progressive in working together with researchers to develop and implement evidence-informed drowning prevention interventions, and wants to help the organisation to ensure evidence-informed strategies are communicated to all Western Australians, enabling them to be safe when in and around waterways, and reduce fatal and non-fatal drowning in WA.
Mr Aaron Brinkworth GAICD (2020 - Present)
Aaron is an experienced bio-pharmaceutical industry executive of more than 25 years across the Asia Pacific region with a strong focus on solving complex problems and advancing public health for under-served and at-risk populations globally.
As a lifelong active Surf Lifesaver, Aaron has a strong understanding of the significant risk water can pose to many within our diverse population across Western Australia. With his strong interest in corporate governance, risk and strategy, his role as part of Royal Life Saving WA’s board of directors enables Aaron to fulfil his desire to contribute to the broader community in our state and to the strategic direction and effective governance of the organisation.
Aaron believes Royal Life Saving WA’s vision and purpose is very clear and he is determined to help ensure that no one misses out on swimming and water safety skills. Aaron is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course.
Ms Lisa Lilleyman (2021 - Present)
Lisa has been involved with Royal Life Saving in various capacities since 1999. These include the Department of Education’s Vacswim program and the Honours and Award Committee. She possesses a detailed understanding of aquatics, the multi-faceted nature of Royal Life Saving and, importantly, opportunities for growth and development.
Promoting water safety within the WA community is a genuine passion and Lisa offers extensive experience in delivering strategic advice, collaboration with stakeholders and working with not-for-profit organisations and Government.
Lisa was the Relationship Manager of the Australian Olympic Committee and is currently Chief Operations Officer at The Friendship Games. In these leadership roles she has achieved many strategic outcomes, engaged with a wide range of stakeholders and works with all tiers of sports and government including Ministers.
Leading people in program implementation, organisational change and ensuring this is done with respect and valuing all levels of input through the process is important to Lisa.
Mr Jonathan Seth GAICD (2021 - Present)
Jonathan is an accomplished executive with 30 years’ experience in CEO, senior leadership and director roles. He recently stepped down from his position as CEO of LGIS (local government discretionary mutual) after a successful nine-year tenure. His executive career included senior leadership roles with leading risk management, consulting and financial services organisations, including Marsh/JLT (18 years) AIG and Aon (20 years).
Throughout his professional journey, Jonathan has focused on risk management, strategy and governance in the not-for-profit and for-purpose sector. He has worked with organisations including St Vincent’s, Activ Foundation, and Amana Living; bringing his expertise to enhance their operations.
Jonathan holds a number of non-executive positions including director roles at Dale Cottages, Scouts WA, LMDRF and SCHCS. He also serves as an independent member for Finance and Audit committees including Local Governments and the RSPCA.
A graduate of the AICD Program (GAICD) he holds Fellowship and Life Membership with ANZIIF, and an MBA from Deakin University.
Ms Donna Oxenham (2022 - Present)
Donna Oxenham is a Yamatji woman and a descendant of the Malgana people of Shark Bay in the north-west of Western Australia. Donna is currently the Manager at Danjoo Koorliny at the University of Western Australia and has considerable experience undertaking research on Indigenous children, families, and communities.
Donna has provided her expertise to Royal Life Saving in the development of our Reconciliation Action Plan as a valued member of our Aboriginal Steering committee. Donna also compiled an Aboriginal history of the area where our head office is located, where she researched the Whadjuk Nyungar relationships to country surrounding the Mount Claremont region.