Norman Farmer AM ESM

Executive Director– Non Voting Board Member

Norman Farmer AM ESM has been a key figure within the lifesaving and drowning prevention for several decades and not only provides invaluable time and commitment to the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS), but to the wider community.

Norm has held many roles within lifesaving in Victoria, Australia including  as a Board member, Hon. State Secretary, and then CEO of RLSS Australia Victoria Branch from 1998 to 2005, and joint CEO of Life Saving Victoria.

Norm has been involved in a voluntary capacity within the international lifesaving community and events over many years.  He was on the RLSS Commonwealth Development Committee, Chair of the RLSS International Competition Task Force which developed the rules for the 1991 RLSS Centenary Championships on which subsequent Championships were based and co-chair of the 2007 World Water Safety Conference. He has also held numerous roles with the International Life Saving Federation (ILS) between 1994 and 2021.

In 2015, Norm became Honorary Executive Director of the RLSS.  He has been instrumental in governance improvements and has been a driver for engaging youth and delivering major projects for the RLSS such as emerging leaders, regional workshops, CPR and survival swimming projects, and the development of a Sport for All programme.

Norm has championed aquatic related research and has presented and published work on a variety of aquatic safety topics including swimming pool safety, coastal safety and international lifesaving development.

As a result of his reputation and wide-ranging experience, Norm continues to support and mentor many lifesaving organisations around the world.