By the official signing of the merging agreement at the jointly organised General Assembly in Leuven (Belgium) on 24 February 1993, the Fédération Internationale de Sauvetage Aquatique (FIS) and World Life Saving (WLS) were merged into a single, worldwide lifesaving organisation known as the International Life Saving Federation (ILS).

On the same day FIS and WLS agreed on a draft ILS Constitution and draft Bye-Laws and elected an interim Board of Directors tasked to set up the final merger between FIS and WLS under the Presidency of Kevin Weldon, AM (Australia – Surf).

The International Life Saving Federation was finally constituted on Saturday 3 September 1994 in Cardiff (United Kingdom).

Facts

• The creation date of FIS on 27 March 1910 in Saint Ouen (Paris) – France is considered as the official founding date of ILS.
• The merger date of FIS and WLS is 24 February 1993 in Leuven – Belgium.
• The constitution date of ILS is 3 September 1994 in Cardiff – United Kingdom. Ever since, the ILS has provided the single uniting force of lifesaving around the world.

Presidents of ILS

• 1993 – 1994 – Kevin WELDON, AM (Australia – Surf) (interim president)
• 1994 – 1996 – Kevin WELDON, AM (Australia – Surf) (founding president)
• 1996 – 2000 – Derrick Swift WHITTING (South Africa)*
• 2000 – 2008 – Alan Brian WHELPTON, AO (Australia – Surf)
• 2008 – 2012 – Dr Steve BEERMAN, MD (Canada)
• 2012 – 2012 – Dr Klaus WILKENS, PhD (Germany – DLRG)
• 2012 – 2016 – Graham FORD, AM (Australia – Surf)
• 2016 – 2020 – Graham FORD, AM (Australia – Surf)
• 2021 – 2024 – Graham FORD, AO (Australia – Surf)
• 2024 – 2028 – Graham FORD, AO (Australia – Surf)