Marine Rescue NSW Board of Directors
The Board of Marine Rescue NSW is democratically elected from the organisation’s volunteer membership. The Board comprises three Regular Directors, whom the Board appoints following consultation with the Chair, one Nominated Director from the Premier’s Department, or a Major Sponsor, and six Regional Directors, elected by eligible members in their respective regions.
The 2023-24 Board is:
Regular Directors: James Glissan AM ESM KC (Chair), Robert McClelland AO and Nola Watson.
Nominated Director: Hannah Damkar PSM
Regional Directors: Darcy Henriksen (Northern Rivers), Ray Mazurek (Mid North Coast), Robin Heath (Hunter Central Coast), Kenneth Edwards (Greater Sydney), Keven Marshall ESM (Illawarra) and Glenn Felkin ESM (Monaro).
James Glissan AM ESM KC, Regular Director and Board Chair
Appointed Original Director
3 July 2009 – 11 December 2010
Elected
11 December 2010, 3 year term
23 November 2013, 3 year term
26 November 2016, 3 year term
23 November 2019, 3 year term
19 November 2022, 3 year term
James (Jim) Glissan is a member of Marine Rescue Botany Port Hacking, after joining the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association Botany Bay flotilla in 2008. He has been elected as Chair of the Board each year since 2010. He has been a Barrister since 1971 and a KC since 1985. With extensive practice in Company and Commercial law, Mr Glissan has served as a Public Defender NSW (1981-1984), Associate Judge, District Court of NSW (1989-1991) and on numerous Boards, including the Firearms Safety Awareness Council NSW. Mr Glissan was awarded the Emergency Services Medal in 2013 and made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2019.
Robert McClelland AO, Regular Director
Appointed
25 November 2023, 3 year term
The Honourable Robert McClelland AO is an Australian judge and former politician who has served on the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia since 2015 and is a former member of the Australian Labor Party. He is currently the Deputy Chief Justice of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and is the Chair of the Family Law Council. In 1996, Mr McClelland was elected as the Member for Barton, and held this position until his retirement from politics in 2013. During his political career, he held numerous Ministerial appointments and was the Commonwealth Attorney-General for five years from 2007-2011. He was responsible for implementing recommendations of the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission, including the implementation of a National Emergency Warning System. In 2022, Mr McClelland was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours for “distinguished service to the people and Parliament of Australia, to the law, social justice and law reform”.
Nola Watson, Regular Director
Appointed
25 November 2023, 3 year term
Nola Watson has deep Board and management experience across private sector, government and not for profit organisations. She is currently a Director of CareSuper and Chair of Australian Business Lawyers & Advisers. She is also a Director of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a Director of Business NSW and Vice Chair of the global World Chambers Federation. For 16 years, she held executive leadership roles in Insurance Australia Group (IAG) and prior to this worked in Senior Executive Service positions within Commonwealth and New South Wales governments, including NSW Police. Nola is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a former Telstra Australian Businesswoman of the Year.
Hannah Damkar PSM, Nominated Director
Appointed
3 May 2024, 2 year term
Hannah Damkar PSM is the Executive Director, Partnerships and Engagement at the Premier’s Department and is Chair of the Premier’s Department WHS Committee. In January 2020, Hannah sought out a secondment to the Bushfire Recovery Taskforce to assist the community impacted by the 2019-20 bushfires. This turned into an 18-month secondment as Communications Director at Resilience NSW, before being appointed to her former role as Director of Communications at the Department of Premier and Cabinet. She is involved in the NSW Government’s Senior Leadership Aboriginal Mentoring Program and is a mentor in the NSW Government Young Professionals Network program.
Darcy Henriksen, Northern Rivers Regional Director
Elected
23 November 2019, 2 year term
20 November 2021, 2 year term
25 November 2023, 2 year term
Darcy Henriksen joined Marine Rescue Point Danger in 2007 and was elected to the Board in November 2019. Mr Henriksen brings 40 years’ experience in the Royal Australian Air Force and RAAF Reserves, as well as 12 years’ civilian career experience, to his role. A radio operator in training, his service with MR Point Danger has included fundraising, general maintenance duties, and terms as Administration Officer and Project Officer. He thanked the volunteers for their vote of confidence and said he was honoured and privileged to take on the position of responsibility. He said he had learned the importance of Professional Mastery – about being professional, striving for excellence and continual improvement – and equally, would have a strong focus on Social Mastery – leadership, character and professional ethics.
Ray Mazurek, Mid North Coast Regional Director
Elected
20 November 2021, 2 year term
25 November 2023, 2 year term
A member of Marine Rescue Forster Tuncurry, and former member of the Marine Rescue Crowdy Harrington unit, Roman (Ray) Mazurek joined the then Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol in March 2004, and was elected to the Board in December 2021. As a marine engineer, Mr Mazurek worked on a range of small ships for the Australian Army, before moving on to civilian employment where he worked for several large air conditioning companies. With the decline of the domestic air conditioning industry, Mr Mazurek ran a successful heavy haulage and earthmoving business until his retirement. Mr Mazurek brings considerable experience to the role of Director, notably his small ships military experience, 17 years’ experience as a Marine Rescue volunteer and personal experience as a boat owner. As a MRNSW volunteer, Mr Mazurek has served in roles as diverse as Divisional Commander, Watch Officer and Coxswain, giving him a broad understanding of the needs of members, and he still heads out regularly to help boaters in need.
Robin Heath, Hunter Central Coast Regional Director
Elected
25 November 2023, 2 year term
Captain Robin Heath has been appointed as Hunter Central Coast Regional Director for a two-year term. Robin joined Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie in 2021 and in early 2023 gained the rating of Coxswain. He is a recently retired Marine Pilot with over 40 years’ experience in the maritime domain in Canada and Australia. He currently sits on the Board of the Canadian Coast Guard College Alumni and was the technical advisor to the Sydney Pilot Service Board. Captain Heath brings a wealth of skills, knowledge and experience to the Board and looks forward to making a greater contribution to the strategic objectives of Marine Rescue NSW.
Kenneth Edwards, Greater Sydney Regional Director
Elected
24 November 2018, 2 year term
21 November 2020, 2 year term
19 November 2022, 2 year term
Kenneth (Ken) Edwards joined Marine Rescue Hawkesbury in 2010 before transferring to MR Cottage Point in 2019. He has previously served as MR Hawkesbury Unit Commander (2016-2018), Deputy Unit Commander (2013-2016) and Administration and Stores Officer. Mr Edwards holds a Certificate III Marine Operations, a Master rating and a Certificate IV Training and Assessment and maintains his role as a regional Trainer and Assessor. A Justice of the Peace and licensed real estate agent, he has been the director of both a franchise and a family real estate agency for 33 years.
Keven Marshall ESM, Illawarra Regional Director
Elected
25 November 2017, 1 year term
24 November 2018, 2 year term
21 November 2020, 2 year term
19 November 2022, 2 year term
Keven Marshall ESM joined the RVCP at Ulladulla – now Marine Rescue Ulladulla – in 1998. He has held a number of positions including Deputy Unit Commander, Training Officer, Assessor and Operations Officer. Undertaking regular Radio Operator shifts, he assists with fundraising and has been instrumental in the maintenance of the unit’s rescue vessels. A former skipper of an Australian Customs vessel, Mr Marshall holds a Master 5 marine qualification. Awarded the Emergency Services Medal in June 2017, he also is a Justice of the Peace. Mr Marshall was originally elected for a one-year term to fill a casual vacancy.
Glenn Felkin ESM, Monaro Regional Director
Elected
28 November 2015, 1 year term
26 November 2016, 2 year term
24 November 2018, 2 year term
21 November 2020, 2 year term
19 November 2022, 2 year term
Glenn Felkin ESM is a member of Marine Rescue Batemans Bay, after joining the RVCP in 2009. A Marine Master, he has held positions including Acting Deputy Unit Commander, Training Officer, Watch Officer, Crew Leader and maintenance controller. Mr Felkin was a crew trainer and assessor for the new MR Moama and an introductory trainer for the roll-out of the Seahawk vessel tracking system for units from Kioloa to Eden. He has a professional background in the aviation and motor industries, including more than 20 years with Qantas. He was originally elected for a year to fill a casual vacancy. Mr Felkin was awarded the Emergency Services Medal in 2019.