Marine Rescue NSW Chair, Jim Glissan AM ESM KC, has announced the election of three new Regional Directors following the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held last Saturday. This leadership transition comes as Greater Sydney Regional Director, Ken Edwards, Illawarra Regional Director, Keven Marshall ESM and Monaro Regional Director, Glenn Felkin ESM, stepped down from their positions.
The Board warmly welcomes Peter Steigrad (Greater Sydney), John Samulski CSC (Illawarra) and Caron Parfitt ESM (Monaro) as the newly elected Regional Directors.
“With their extensive leadership experience spanning maritime and corporate sectors, these new Regional Directors bring a wealth of expertise to our Board,” Mr Glissan said.
“Their dedication to operational excellence, innovation and community engagement will be instrumental in advancing Marine Rescue NSW’s mission of saving lives on the water.”
At the AGM, outgoing Directors Mr Edwards, Mr Marshall and Mr Felkin were recognised for their extraordinary contributions.
“Together, they have served an impressive 22 years on the Board, shaping and strengthening Marine Rescue NSW during their tenure,” Mr Glissan said.
“Their ability to balance the needs of the organisation with those of unit members has been invaluable.”
Beyond their Board roles, all three have remained steadfast in their commitment to saving lives, dedicating a combined 55 years of service as active members of their local units—Cottage Point, Ulladulla and Batemans Bay.
“On behalf of the Board and our 3,400 volunteers, I extend heartfelt thanks to Ken, Keven and Glenn for their remarkable service and leadership,” Mr Glissan said.
Peter Steigrad – Regional Director, Greater Sydney
Peter Steigrad has been a committed member of Marine Rescue NSW for over 15 years, dedicating more than half of this time to leadership roles at Marine Rescue Middle Harbour. He served as Unit Commander from 2018 to 2024 following a two-year term as Deputy Unit Commander from 2016 to 2018. Peter is a Marine Rescue NSW Master, holds an AMSA Certificate of Competence M<24M and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.
Beyond his Marine Rescue NSW experience, Peter brings a wealth of business and governance expertise. A Foundation Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Peter served on the State Council from 1990 to 1996. He has served as Chair and/or Director at various organisations including the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Australian Advertising Industries Council, the Australian International Hotel School and the Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia. Peter was the Trustee of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia and Chair of Indigenous Community Volunteers.
As a member of the Greater Sydney region leadership team for eight years, Peter has developed a deep understanding of the challenges facing unit leadership, including financial constraints and growing operational demands. He is committed to working with the Marine Rescue NSW Directors to support units in delivering exceptional service to the boating community. In 2021, Peter was honoured with a Premier’s Citation. His dedication to Marine Rescue NSW was further recognised in 2024 with a Commissioner’s Citation, along with a mention of his service in State Parliament, which was recorded in Hansard.
John Samulski CSC – Regional Director, Illawarra
John Samulski has been a member of Marine Rescue NSW since 2019. He was elected as Marine Rescue Ulladulla Unit Commander in 2022 and has also held the role of Deputy Unit Commander.
John’s leadership experience is built on an exceptional career in military, government and civilian sectors, including an incredible 35 years in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). His extensive military service includes roles such as Deputy Air Commander Australia, Chief of Defence Force Liaison Officer to Headquarters Central Command (USA) and Commanding Officer of 36 Squadron.
In addition to his operational expertise, John brings significant governance and strategic planning experience. He has operated at board level within Defence, overseeing capability management, organisational training and current operations. He is Vice President of a charitable foundation and co-owner of a small business, further showcasing his ability to lead and manage across diverse sectors.
John’s expertise in crisis management, risk management and search and rescue operations is complemented by his commitment to fostering strong, cohesive teams focused on achieving shared goals.
Caron Parfitt ESM – Regional Director, Monaro
Caron Parfitt has been an active and dedicated member of Marine Rescue NSW for over 11 years, serving as Marine Rescue Bermagui Deputy Unit Commander from 2016 to 2018 and as Unit Commander from 2018 to 2024. As a Marine Rescue NSW Coxswain and Watch Officer, Caron possesses a comprehensive understanding of Marine Rescue NSW operations, both on the water and in the radio room.
Caron holds a Masters of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Statistics. Over her 40-year career, Caron gained extensive experience across information technology, marketing, customer service, strategy and project management. This includes a decade as an independent management consultant, where Caron frequently advised company boards on strategy and operational improvements.
Her leadership at Marine Rescue Bermagui has been marked by a strong focus on communication, stakeholder engagement and risk management. As Unit Commander, Caron successfully managed significant changes, including the implementation of new technologies like ROIP (Radio Over Internet Protocols) and Seahawk, as well as updates to operational procedures. Caron is also an active member of the South Zone Diversity Group, supporting efforts to increase diversity across Marine Rescue NSW. In 2023, Caron was awarded the Emergency Services Medal in recognition of her dedication to saving lives on the water.
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