Making waves in the Boardroom: Elena’s inspiring leadership journey

Elena Mikhaltsevich didn’t grow up learning to swim. In fact, she didn’t even feel confident in the water, something many Australians take for granted. So, it may come as a surprise (and a celebration!) to learn that she now sits on the Finance and Audit subcommittee at Royal Life Saving Society, one of the state’s leading voices in water safety. Talk about a full-circle moment!

Born in Russia and migrating to Australia as a teenager, Elena’s inspiring story shows how our Emerging Leaders in Governance Program (ELGP) continues to make a splash for people wanting to make a difference.

For Elena, it’s not just about ticking a governance box or holding a board position. It’s about defying expectations, drawing from her lived experience, and using her voice to make water safety more inclusive for people who, like her, didn’t grow up with it.

A 2021 graduate of the Emerging Leaders in Governance Program (ELGP) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and women from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds, Elena says the program was quite literally the spring board she needed to share her insight and personal perspective at the table where decisions shape communities.

“The program gave me the clarity, courage and curiosity to step into spaces where diverse leadership is not just welcome, but essential,” Elena said.

“In Russia, it’s cold most of the year and growing up swimming in or beaches just didn’t happen, like it naturally does in Australia,” she says.

“Water safety is part of Australia’s national identity and I quickly learned that my personal experience wasn’t unique. Many migrants don’t have the same exposure to formal swimming lessons or water confidence, and so I was inspired to do something about it.”

The change came after graduating from the ELGP and joining the Finance and Audit Subcommittee at RLSS and giving a voice to making water safety education more accessible to multicultural communities.

“I might not be the strongest swimmer in the room,” she laughs, “but I know exactly what it feels like to be on the outside looking in. That’s why this work matters so much, it’s about making sure migrant voices, which make up such a big part of our population, are heard where decisions are made.”

Professionally, Elena’s background is just as impressive. With degrees in Law and Economics, she’s spent much of her career in public service, including key roles at Revenue WA and now as a Principal Research Officer at the Economic Regulation Authority. She’s known for her analytical mind and a talent for bridging complex systems and clear community impact, but it’s her heart for people that truly drives her.

It was that same drive that led her to ELGP, where mentoring, practical training, and board observations sparked a new passion for governance. “The program helped me see how I could contribute—not just with my skills, but with my story,” she says.

“It taught me how to engage critically, ask better questions, and really understand what it means to govern with purpose.”

“It’s a role I never imagined growing up, but one that now feels like the perfect fit. I used to wonder if I should’ve started my governance journey earlier,” she reflects. “But I’ve since come to learn that now is exactly the right time. And the Royal Life Saving Society is exactly the right place.”

Inspired by Elena’s story?

Applications for the 2026 Emerging Leaders in Governance Program open this August. Sign up to be the first to know when they launch and take your first step toward shaping the future of inclusive leadership.

Have a story like Elena’s?

We’d love to hear from you. Reach out to our team and inspire the next wave of bold, diverse leaders.