Justin Scarr

Justin Scarr is the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Life Saving Society – Australia, and Chair of the Australian Water Safety Council, Chair – Drowning Prevention Commission at International Life Saving (ILS) Federation and has been the convenor of the ILS World Conference on Drowning Prevention in 2011 (Danang), 2015 (Penang), 2017 (Vancouver), 2019 (Durban).

In Australia, Justin leads a range of drowning prevention initiatives in Australia, including leading the development of the Australian Water Safety Strategy (2008, 2012, 2016), facilitating national agendas on range of drowning prevention issues including swimming and water safety education, non-fatal drowning and drowning in migrants.

Globally, Justin has been a leading advocate in the development of drowning prevention across the Asia-Pacific for over 15 years. He has been the technical advisor to the Centre for Injury Prevention and Research since 2004, and has supported SwimSafe Drowning Prevention Initiatives in Bangladesh, Thailand and Vietnam. These initiatives have been instrumental in building an evidence base for the drowning prevention impacts of teaching basic survival swimming programs to primary school children in developing countries, advancing drowning prevention policy and planning initiatives through a range of partnerships.

Justin advocates a focus on the global issues of drowning prevention, and has contributed to World Health Organisation Global Report on Drowning, Implementation guide and other development activities. When not working, Justin is usually surfing or travelling with family.