Board Members

Appointed to the SLSWA Board in September 2017 and elected President in September 2023. Heidi is a recognised leader and experienced commercial lawyer.  She has over 10 years’ experience in corporate law and disputes working in top-tier law firms in Perth and Sydney, and in-house roles. She is experienced in corporate governance, contract negotiation, dispute resolution, and risk management.

Heidi is currently a Principal in the BHP Global Business Development team. She was previously Senior Legal Counsel and Assistant Company Secretary at Lynas Rare Earths Limited, and an Associate with global law firm Clifford Chance. Heidi also has extensive experience in the not-for-profit sector. She is currently a tribunal panel member of Football West, and a Community Representative Member of the Australian Bravery Decorations Council (an advisory council to the Governor General).

Heidi is a two-time Olympian in the sport of open water swimming. She has competed at the world championships in both surf lifesaving and swimming, and is a multiple medallist at both the State and National Surf Lifesaving Championships. Heidi is a member of the City of Perth SLSC and has been an active patrolling surf lifesaver since 2005.

Appointed to the SLSWA Board in September 2023. Jack is Senior Project Manager primarily within the Western Australian resources sector. His skills as an effective leader, manager, facilitator, and a proactive communicator, complement the responsibility as a Board member as well as an approachable peer club member.
Joining the Surf Lifesaving community in 2006 as a Nipper parent, Jack progressed to Board level at Fremantle SLSC in 2010, including the role as President from 2019 to 2023.

Appointed to the SLSWA Board in September 2023, Vicki’s passion for surf lifesaving is a testament to her commitment to ensuring that the iconic past time of being at the beach, is safe for all to enjoy, as well as a commitment to community service, and developing our youth members and pathways within surf lifesaving.

Since 2010, Vicki has been a member of the Mullaloo SLSC. Her journey began when she joined the club to support her children. However, her dedication quickly became apparent, and she assumed the role of Club Director from 2012 to 2019. During her tenure, Vicki played a pivotal role in shaping the club’s success.

From 2017 to 2021, Vicki served as the Chair of the SLSWA’s Development Committee. Her leadership in this role facilitated the implementation of many member development initiatives, ensuring the continued growth and sustainability for members and the movement.

Her enthusiasm for surf sports knows no bounds. As a qualified Senior Official, she contributes her expertise across all aspects of surf sports.

Beyond her surf lifesaving roles, Vicki is a leading not-for-profit CEO and a skilled fundraising professional. Her dedication to fundraising earned her the prestigious Arthur Venn Fundraiser of the Year award from the Fundraising Institute Australia in 2018.

Appointed to the SLSWA Board in September 2023, Richard has been an active and dedicated surf lifesaving volunteer since 2009. In this time, he has earnt a reputation as a versatile and skilled leader; developing qualifications and experience across the full spectrum of surf lifesaving activities. As an active trainer, assessor, member of the Emergency Response Team, Development Ski Coach and surf sports competitor, Richard has a strong understanding of the rich diversity to the movement and is deeply committed to continuing to provide the community with contemporary, capable and sustainable surf lifesaving services.

Richard and his family are active members of Sorrento Surf Lifesaving Club. Together with his daughters he proudly represents the club as a surf ski paddler, developing board paddler, and between injuries as a beach competitor in Masters and occasionally Open competition.

Beyond surf lifesaving, Richard has considerable senior leadership experience delivering vital operational and technology services in large and complex organisations. Following more than 16 years’ service as an Australian Army Officer, he went on to lead commercial businesses servicing the resources, government, commercial and construction sectors with mission-critical telecommunications capabilities. More recently he has applied his broad skills as a senior public servant in the Western Australian State Government, and in the delivery of transformative technology projects in the utilities sector.

Appointed to the SLSWA Board in June 2019, Leesa is SLSWA’s Honorary Medical Officer and SLSWA’s representative on the Australian Resuscitation Council WA Branch. Leesa was the 2015 SLSWA DHL Lifesaver of the Year, sat on the SLSWA Lifesaving Advisory Committee from 2015-2016, and was a mentor in the first and sixth cohorts of the SLSA Women’s Mentoring Program in 2020-2021 and 2025. Leesa has been a member of the SLSA National Medical Advisory group since 2023 and the International Life Saving (ILS) Medical Committee since 2024. Leesa is a member at both Swanbourne-Nedlands SLSC (joined 2009) and North Cottesloe SLSC (joined 2022). As an active member of Swanbourne Nedlands SLSC, Leesa has continued to hold multiple officer positions at her club within the Lifesaving, Education and Competition portfolios and competes at Club, State and National level, achieving numerous podium positions across each level.

Leesa is an Emergency Medicine Specialist, working at both Fiona Stanley Hospital Emergency Department and Joondalup Health Campus Emergency Department. She completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Medicine and Surgery (HONS) in 2012 at the University of Western Australia, completed her Fellowship in Emergency Medicine in 2020 (FACEM – Australasian College of Emergency Medicine), and holds a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment; Certificate of Clinician Performed Ultrasound (CCPU) AAA/eFAST/FELS (Australasian Society of Ultrasound in Medicine) and her Diploma of Diagnostic Ultrasound – Emergency (DDU) (Australasian Society of Ultrasound Medicine).

Appointed to the SLSWA Board in September 2022.  Mike is 2022 SLSWA Assessor of the Year, 2019 SLSWA Volunteer of the Year and 2019 Trainer of the Year.  Mike has been the Chair of the SLSWA Education Advisory Committee since 2016.  An active patrolling surf lifesaver since 2011, after gaining his bronze medallion at Fremantle SLSC.  Mike was President of Fremantle SLSC from 2013 to 2017 and has been the Club’s Education Manager since 2019.  He is an active trainer of Bronze Medallion, Advance Resuscitation and First Aid and, conducts commercial training in Surf Rescue Certificate and First Aid for a number of schools.

Mike gained his Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (Honours) in 1980 from Sydney University and was employed in the oil and gas industry, working in Australia and overseas for 27 years for majors Exxon and Woodside, before becoming an industry consultant in petroleum engineering for the next 10 years.  Mike retired from paid work in 2017 to focus his efforts on member training in surf lifesaving.  He gained his Certificate IV in Training and Assessment in 2016.