Kessock RNLI brings Women in SAR Scotland event to Inverness

Hosted at HM Coastguard Highland’s facilities and supported by Inverness Marina, the event celebrated the vital contribution women make to lifesaving work across the region and marked a milestone in RNLI training initiatives in Scotland. It also reflects the RNLI’s continued commitment to inclusivity and professional development within its volunteer crew.

The idea for the event was inspired by the Women in SAR event held in Poole in March 2025. Event organiser and RNLI volunteer Helm Jane Hier explained, “Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to attend the RNLI Women in Search and Rescue event down in Poole, and I came away so inspired. Hearing from so many incredible women across different operational roles really reinforced how vital it is that we continue to support and celebrate women within the lifesaving community.
I knew right away that I wanted to bring that same energy and opportunity back home to Scotland - to connect, encourage and shine a light on the amazing women who play such key roles on station, afloat and ashore. The RNLI is built on teamwork and inclusivity, and events like this remind us how strong we are when everyone has the chance to step forward and be part of the crew.”

The day seen crews from across Scotland, representing nearly 20% of all operational women within the RNLI in the country, come together for collaborative training. Currently, there are around 195 women in operational roles across Scotland, undertaking 492 positions - some individuals holding multiple responsibilities as helms, shore crew, and station team members.

Using Kessock’s Atlantic 85 Robert and Isobel Mowat and Invergordon’s Shannon class lifeboat Agnes A P Barr, participants took part in a range of practical afloat exercises throughout the day. These included search pattern training to locate a man overboard, towing exercises using both lifeboats, slow-speed boat-to-boat transfers, electronic navigation training aboard the Shannon, and boat handling drills - all taking place in the waters of the Moray Firth. The afloat sessions were made possible with huge thanks to the male lifeboat crew from Invergordon, who have generously given their time to support the event and share their knowledge with attendees.

Alongside the on-water training, a strong line-up of guest speakers and learning sessions ran throughout the day. Dr Julie Hunt, a Maritime Doctor explored topics such as managing menopause, returning to lifeboat service after pregnancy, and how to avoid or manage injuries that might prevent crew from going afloat. Mandie Cran brought her vast operational experience to a range of chart work training sessions. Jillian Whyte Senior Coastal Operations Officer with HM Coastguard demonstrated key Coastguard rescue skills and equipment, covering operations including mud, flood, rope and search, as well as providing insight into their casualty care system and kit.

Martin Hier, also from HM Coastguard showcased kitesurf rescue equipment and explained how power lines function in these challenging scenarios. A remote session from Belfast was delivered by Jess Russell, a Tokyo Olympian and Coastguard Operations Room Officer, who shared her own journey and offered advice around communication, confidence and coaching. One of the questions submitted for her session was, “As a coach, have you any tips for how we can help crew become more confident in their own abilities? I see my fellow crew members being awesome and doing a fantastic job but sometimes they just can't see it in themselves.” It’s a powerful question that reflects a core message of the event - the importance of building each other up, recognising our value, and working as one crew.

The event has received strong support from senior RNLI leaders. Jill Hepburn, RNLI Head of Region for Scotland, gave the go-ahead for the event and shared “The RNLI’s Women in SAR event has been a fantastic opportunity for women to come together, share knowledge, and grow stronger as a community, all while developing new lifesaving skills. It’s a real milestone having our first regional event and sees us join many of the other regions in promoting and supporting our Women in SAR. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Jane Hier for her leadership and dedication in bringing this event together with support from the team in Invergordon and making it such a success, well done".

Additional thanks go to Bruce Rae, Regional Resilience Coxswain, Rachel Farmer, Volunteering Advisor, Carlos Hamlet, Area Operations Manager, and Stuart Gudgeon, Regional Operations Lead, all of whom have offered fantastic support, encouragement and acknowledged the impact of an event like this for operational development and teamwork.

The RNLI extends its sincere thanks to HM Coastguard Highland, not only for their generous hosting of the event in their facility, but also for their ongoing collaboration and teamwork with lifeboat stations across the region during shouts and training.

Thanks also go to Highland Dental Plan, who were delighted to sponsor the event and support vital training efforts that ultimately help save lives at sea in the Highlands and across Scotland. Also to our incredible photographer Johny Cook who gave up his day to support us and captured the day perfectly.
Special appreciation is also extended to Inverness Marina, where Lee and the team were extremely helpful in welcoming both lifeboats and supporting the afloat programme, and to all the fantastic guest speakers and volunteers who made the event such a valuable experience.