National Lifesaving Committee

National Lifesaving Committee:

Left to right: Emma Sutherland (SLSNZ Board Rep), Brianna Norris, Mike Smith, Ash Hurring, Sam Blackmore (Lifesaving Development Officer), Victoria Mulrennan, Nathan Berry, Kate Suter, David Galuszka, Andy Kent (GM - Lifesaving)

Scroll to learn more about our NLC Volunteers...

Victoria Mulrennan (Northern Region Representative and Chair)

Outside of Surf: I’m a Conference Administration Team Lead in Auckland, working on Conferences and Events across NZ & AUS

Involvement in Surf: I’m a Patrol Captain, an Instructor, a SAR Squad Member, and sit on our club’s Board, a Local Duty Officer, a Peer Supporter and a member of the SLSNR Lifeguard Advisory Group. My passion for surfing is largely for the out of water opportunities like policy and procedure management, lifeguard wellbeing, and leadership development.

Brianna Norris (Eastern Region Representative)

Outside of Surf: I’m a Primary School Teacher on the North Shore, Auckland 

Involvement in Surf: I started out at the wonderful Paekākāriki Surf Club, and am now a proud Whangamatā clubbie. I’m super involved with my club and the wider Coromandel community. The Coro is full of amazing people that I love spending time with, both on and off the beach! Currently, I serve as the Chair of the Whangamatā Lifesaving Committee and sit on the Coromandel LLC. 

What you enjoy/hope to contribute to the NLC: I hope to contribute to exciting, forward-thinking conversations that spark change while preserving the great work we are already doing in different spaces. We have an incredible group of people around the table (and on teams calls), and the problem-solving and idea-sharing currently happening is inspiring and thought-provoking! I love being a part of the NLC and am very grateful for the opportunity.

Ashleigh Hurring (Central Region Representative)

Outside of Surf: I’m a pharmacist at Taranaki Base Hospital in New Plymouth

Involvement in Surf: My main passion for surf comes from developing and supporting lifeguards. From instructing, examining, facilitating and event water safety, I am also involved in search and rescue and multiple lifesaving committees.

What you enjoy/hope to contribute to the NLC: I hope to streamline communication pathways, problem solve issues that clubs raise to the NLC, and facilitate cohesion between the Regions

Kate Suter (Southern Region Representative)

Mike Smith (Taylors Mistake - Independent)

Outside of Surf: I’m a Senior Principal Road Safety Engineer, working globally for clients and Governments

Involvement in Surf: I'm a current Instructor / Examiner and facilitator for SLSNZ courses.  Active on patrols, making sure that I have sand between my toes.  Involved in a joint club SAR response team in Canterbury along as a member of the Peer Support group.  One of SLSNZ Event Safety Officers for National events, Past Chair of NLC,  Life Member of SLSNZ.

What you enjoy/hope to contribute to the NLC: Assisting in the checks and balances of Policy and Procedures, ensuring that we consider member and club needs and are fit for purpose.  Amazed at how we empower youth to look after adults, enabling them to develop and grow through Surf Lifesaving.

David Galuszka (Raglan SLSC - Independent) 

Outside of Surf: Occupational Therapist

Involvement in Surf: In my 12 years within surf, I've been club captain, SAR member, patrol captain, and involved with beach ed. Presently, I'm an instructor, IRB examiner, Peer Supporter, Local Duty Officer, course facilitator, and then SLSNR Lifesaving Advisory Group Chair.

What you enjoy/hope to contribute to the NLC: I want to help make things straightforward for our lifeguards so that they can do their job well, being empowered to back their skills and knowledge, becoming aligned with the organizational values, while having a sense of belonging to SLSNZ as a whole. 

Nathan Berry (Westshore SLSC - Independent)