Craig Smith-Gander
President
Craig was elected as President of Surf Life Saving WA in August 2014. Craig is a former president of North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club and a life member of the Club. He is a past Chair of Surf Sports for Surf Life Saving Western Australia and past member of the Australian Surf Sports Advisory Board
Craig is the owner and Executive Chairman of Kwik Logistics and a Director of the Future Force Foundation. Craig has had a life time involvement in sport, including hockey and surf boats at elite level, and competed in Australia and overseas in cycle road racing. He played lots of rugby union in the Army and has tried his hand at pretty much every sport available. Craig continues to ride bicycles a lot, and competes as a sweep in surf boat competitions.
Chris Brien
Board Member
Chris was elected to the Surf Life Saving WA Board in August 2014. Chris has considerable experience at club and state levels. He has been an active patrolling Surf Life Saver since 1991 after gaining his bronze medallion at Scarboro SLSC. Chris and Family moved back to Esperance in 1994 where he became a member of the Esperance Goldfields SLSC.
As well as rowing and sweeping Surfboats, Chris is also a trainer, assessor and officiates at carnivals. Chris has held a wide range of positions at Esperance Goldfields including 10 years as President and is a Life Member of Esperance Goldfields Surf Life Saving Club. In his early years as a club President Chris sat on the state council until the governance change in 2005. He then attended president forums until he resigned as President in 2012. Chris has been key in establishing the Jet Ski Team in Esperance and is the Coordinator and Duty Officer for the South East region.
In 2010 Chris was awarded a citation of appreciation from the Western Australian Police for his leadership during the Bremer Bay search. In 2011 Chris was honoured with the inaugural Support Operations Volunteer of the Year award. Chris has owned and run several businesses since leaving the Army in 1984. For the past fifteen years has been operating a successful concrete and roof truss business in Esperance.
Garry Williams
Board Member
Garry is an active member of Secret Harbour SLSC, having joined the club in 2006 and is the Peel Support Operations Area Coordinator.
Garry is an Aeronautical Engineer and serving member or the Royal Australian Navy. Garry has 30 plus years of Heavy Lift Helicopter Aviation Engineering Experience both in embarked Navy Frigates and ashore in Naval Aircraft Squadrons. Garry is a recipient of the Defence Conspicuous Service Medal for meritorious achievement and devotion to duty.
Garry has extensive Leadership and project management experience gained through his work in Defence and is currently the Navy Project Manager for the integration of the 24 new Navy Sea Hawk (MH60 Romeo) Helicopters into the Navies ANZAC Class Frigates and Defence Leadership Facilitator. He is a member of the SLSA National Development Standing Committee. Garry was awarded Surf Life Saving’s National Volunteer of the Year in 2009. Garry was appointed to the Surf Life Saving WA Board in April 2013.
Gemma Tognini
Board Member
Gemma was appointed to the Surf Life Saving WA Board in August 2015. Gemma is the founder and director of gtmedia – strategic communications, which was established in July 2003 and is a winner in the 2014 Prestigious Telstra Business Women’s Awards. She is a highly sought after corporate advisor, media strategist, columnist, broadcaster and conference speaker with clients spanning from a wide variety of industries. Gemma also delivers media training and conference keynotes around Australia on subjects as diverse as media strategy, crisis and reputation management and internal and stakeholder communications.
Gemma attended Curtin University of Technology where she completed her Bachelor’s degree with in English and Politics. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and also sits on the state advisory boards of the Salvation Army and the Starlight Children’s’ Foundation. Gemma is also a member of the WA Executive of the Communications Council of Australia (WA).
Jarod Stone
Board Member
Jarod was appointed to the Surf Life Saving WA Board in May 2012. Jarod is a Chartered Accountant who has worked in the accounting and finance industry for the past 17 years.
Jarod has previously worked with Ernst & Young, Gooding Partners Chartered Accountants and spent time working in the UK and Europe. Jarod returned to Perth in 2004 to establish and manage Mulloway Pty Ltd (a private family office) and has experience across various industries and in businesses including television and film production, aviation, domestic and international property, commercial aquaculture, construction and finance.
Most recently, Jarod held the position of Chief Operating Officer of Warburton Group Pty Ltd and is currently Chief Financial Officer at C2CE Pty Ltd. Jarod was previously a Director of Prime Health Group Ltd (now Kinetic Health) and Market United Pty Ltd (Digital marketing agency acquired by Q Ltd), is a founding Trustee Director of the Azure Foundation, and a Board Member and Treasurer of not for profit FORM.
Kelly Moss
Board Member
Kelly was elected to the Surf Life Saving WA Board in September 2011. Kelly has had a career in the sport and recreation industry spanning over 15 years, including working for the Department of Sport and Recreation in regional Western Australia and as a Director of sports event management company CIC Events.
Kelly has vast experience in Surf Life Saving, having previously been North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club’s General Manager and Finance Officer. She has been a member of the club since 1996, competing in the surf boat arena for many years and is currently on the Centenary Committee. Kelly is also the Managing Director of her business Platinum Bags and the mother of two young girls.
Sarah Leonard
Board Member
Sarah was appointed to the Surf Life Saving Board in October 2014. Sarah is a Partner of Corrs Chambers Westgarth. She is an experienced projects lawyer who has worked on some of Western Australia’s largest resources projects, including the Ichthys LNG Project and the Roy Hill Iron Ore Project. She has strong experience in contract negotiation and risk allocation.
Sarah was recognised in the “Best Lawyers” peer review in Construction/Infrastructure in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Sarah was formerly the Education Officer at City Of Perth SLSC and was a participant in the SLSA National Leadership Development Program.
