Alex started his career in leisure as a lifeguard and swimming instructor at the age of 16, working his way up through the ranks from Duty Manager, Operations Manager to General Manager. Alex worked for the RLSS UK for 11 years as the ‘Pool Programme Manager’ and finally ‘Head of Vocational Qualifications’ and was the lead author of many of their training manuals including ‘The Lifeguard’, ‘First Aid’ manuals and the ‘National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers & Coaches’. Whilst at the RLSS UK, Alex also developed the Ongoing Training and Competency Assessment Plan for Pool Lifeguards and the Pool Extraction Board (PXB) in collaboration with Ferno UK, supported the development of leisure industry guidance and had input into the HSE publication ‘Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools’, PAS 520 and the British and European swimming pool safety guidance ‘BS EN 15288’. Before working for the RLSS UK, Alex was the Group Lifeguarding Manager for a large leisure operator overseeing 68 pools, specialising in swimming pool safety, induction, training, written procedures and implementation of quality systems. Currently Alex is working as the Group Head of Facilities and Operational Management for a global swimming lesson company based in Exeter (Water Babies).