Our Board

Sarah became SLSSA President in 2023, after joining the Surf Life Saving SA Board as a Director in 2018. She has been a patrolling member at Somerton SLSC since 2012 and is a patrol vice-captain.

An MBA-qualified executive manager and senior strategic marketer, Sarah brings broad experience in business, marketing and communications across several industries to the SLSSA Board.

She is currently CEO of the Leaders Institute of South Australia, which delivers leadership and governance programs, including the prestigious Governor’s Leadership Foundation program. Previously, Sarah was Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at South Australia's largest university, UniSA.

Rachel is a globally recognised expert in marketing and evidence-based growth. As a Research Professor and Associate Director at the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute for Marketing Science, she has played a pivotal role in building a world-renowned research body, and supporting many of the world’s leading brands across industries and countries.    

Rachel is an experienced board director, having held multiple governance and editorial roles and currently serving on the Victor Harbor Horse Tram Authority board.  A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, she brings to the SLSSA Board a strong understanding of governance, integrity, and strategic thinking.

An active patrolling member of the Port Elliot Surf Life Saving Club for over a decade, Rachel is an IRB Driver and Vice-Captain of the Commodore Patrol. Her passion for community safety and regional inclusion, make her a strong advocate for SLSSA’s mission to achieve zero preventable drownings in South Australia.

With over 20 years of membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, Anita has been a director at Perks, an Adelaide based accounting, business services, and financial planning practice since 2009. She works closely with her clients, assisting in their financial management and business affairs. Anita has significant experience and passion for helping her clients reach their personal financial goals, often through financial analysis, profit and cash flow improvement strategies in their businesses or implementing accounting systems and processes.  In addition, advising them on the optimal way to operate within the Australian taxation and financial planning landscape.

Anita really enjoys volunteering and being involved in various ways in the community.  She currently devotes time each month across a sporting club committee position, assisting in hands on packing days or food delivery for the underprivileged and being part of her businesses Social Responsibility Committee.  She, along with her family are also dedicated members of the Glenelg Surf Life Saving Club and Anita is a proud parent of two sons who introduced her to surf lifesaving when they started their nipper journey many years ago. Anita loves being active and spending time outdoors, including many hours on the beach watching the kids compete and learn valuable life skills surf lifesaving offers.

Kevin has some 45 plus years’ experience in local government in New South Wales and South Australia and recently retired as General Manager, having extensive experience and knowledge across a wide range of disciplines at an Executive Level.

His career has seen him managing iconic parklands systems, major events and developing/managing major sporting and leisure infrastructure as well as overseeing portfolios such as Planning & Building, Regulation & Compliance, Cemeteries, Libraries, Economic Development, Tourism, Engineering, Recreation, Environment & Sustainability.

He holds qualifications in Management from The University of Adelaide and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

He has been an active member of Parks and Leisure Australia serving on boards and committees and held the roles of regional and national President at various times and received a Distinguished Service Award and awarded Life Membership in 2018.

Kevin has been involved in Surf Life Saving since the late 1970’s and is an active patrolling member and masters competitor for Port Noarlunga Surf Life Saving Club and was previously a member of Glenelg, Killcare (NSW) and North Cronulla (NSW) Surf Life Saving Clubs and is also the recipient of the Australian Sports Medal.

Sarah is an experienced strategic and transformational leader with a passion for people. She is currently the Head of Group Planning & Portfolio Management for Westpac Group leading the annual investment planning and quarterly business review cycle for a $2bn+ annual budget. Sarah has also worked with many Boards and Executive teams to lead and/or advise on the development of strategic plans and successful Transformation programs, including at Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, Rural Bank and SLSSA. 

Sarah brings expertise in Strategy, Planning, Program Management, Human Resources and Management Consulting, having previously been the Head of Consumer Strategy and Head of Group Performance, Talent & Reward for Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, the GM People & Transformation for Rural Bank and a management consultant with Macquarie Bank and PwC.

Sarah has been a member of the Glenelg SLSC since 2020 and is a proud nipper parent who thoroughly enjoys encouraging the kids to get involved in surf safety and sports.

Kevin Whelan has been an active member of Surf Life Saving since 1979, dedicating his time and expertise to the Brighton SA Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC). Over the years, he has held various leadership roles, including Club Captain, Junior Vice President, Age Group Manager, Official, Trainer, Assessor, and has served on both the Emergency Operations Group and the Patrol Audit team.

Currently, Kevin is a member of the Finance and Audit Committee and Chair of the Surf Sports Committee for Surf Life Saving South Australia (SLSSA).

In addition to his contributions to Surf Life Saving, Kevin brings extensive strategic, analytical, and consulting expertise, having worked with organisations such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), Indo China Starfish Foundation (ISF), Uniting SA, local and state governments, and the private sector. He holds a Diploma from the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), a Master's in Business Administration from the University of South Australia (UNISA), a Certificate IV in Training and Education, and is a Justice of the Peace.

Kevin continues to compete at a high level in Surf Sports at both local and national championships, while actively coaching nippers and youth at Brighton SLSC.

Professionally, Kevin serves as the General Manager of Concrete and Quarries at Boral in South Australia. With over 30 years of leadership experience, his career spans multiple sectors including construction, infrastructure, local government, emergency services, financial services, and energy. For the past seven years, he has focused on fostering collaboration and innovation between industry stakeholders and government bodies across Australia and New Zealand, particularly in the infrastructure and construction sectors.

BCom, FCA, GAICD

Shayan is an active patrolling member and patrol captain at West Beach SLSC.  Shayan has been a trainer, assessor and facilitator of various surf lifesaving qualifications for over 15 years, and previously held leadership roles, including Chief Instructor and Club Captain at West Beach SLSC and St Kilda LSC. He is also a member of the state Emergency Operations Group as a Rescue Water Craft (Jet Ski) Operator. Shayan has been a member of the SLSSA Finance and Audit Committee since 2022. Shayan is a keen open water swimmer and a regular competitor in surf lifesaving masters competitions.

Shayan is a Senior Finance Manager at AustralianSuper – Australia’s largest superannuation fund with the purpose of helping members achieve their best financial position in retirement. Prior to his role at AustralianSuper, Shayan was an Audit Director at EY where he spent over 13 years providing financial and regulatory assurance services to financial services clients in Australia and the USA.

Shayan holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Corporate Finance) degree from the University of Adelaide and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. He is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Shayan is currently pursuing a Senior Executive MBA at the Melbourne Business School.

Shayan brings a unique mix of global and Australian finance, audit, risk and governance expertise, and local volunteer and community service experience. He is a passionate advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, with a special focus on intersectionality, and believes that there is a place for everyone in the surf lifesaving movement.

Shayan is also a Board Director of SHINE SA (The leading not-for-profit sexual and reproductive health service provider and educator in South Australia) and SMART Recovery Australia (The only national provider of professional and peer-led, evidence-based, and self-empowering addiction recovery support).