Rotary Melbourne Podcast

Angus Mitchell Oration 2021 ADJUCT PROFESSOR JOHN SKERRITT Deputy Secretary, Health Products Division (NTGA, Office of Drug Control) "The COVID-19 pandemic response in Australia and the region: vaccines, medicines and masks…where to from here?" Dr Skerritt has a high national profile dealing with the pandemic and generously agreed to fly down to deliver the 2021 Angus Mitchell Oration. Not only is he an eminent public servant but he has strong personal links with Rotary making him doubly suitable to be our Centenary Angus Mitchell Orator. He was awarded a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship (then known as a Rotary Foundation Fellowship) for post-doctoral work in pharmacology and neurology at the University of Michigan, USA to build on his PhD from The University of Sydney. In 2012 he was honoured internationally by Rotary International being the world wide winner of the ”Global Alumni Service to Humanity Award” for his contribution to greater understanding and peace through service to humanity. Only one other Australian has been so recognised – our former member Dr Alex Buchanan. John's Global Alumni Service award was made for two streams of contribution – contributions in research in health, agricultural and environmental sciences plus achievements as a leader of Australia's overseas development assistance (aid) program. While Deputy Secretary in the Victorian Government from 2009-2012 – overseeing emergency management, biosecurity, fisheries, and regional economic development through agribusiness in the former Department of Primary Industries, he was a member of Hampton Rotary Club. Effectively he remains an Honorary Member of that Club, as while he works in Canberra during the week, his weekend home is in Melbourne. He comes down for a number of weekend Rotary activities, including their popular monthly Farmers Markets. His wife, Amanda Hill is current President of the Rotary Club of Hampton. He has an extraordinarily broad range of experience in medical, agricultural and environmental policy as well as regulation, research management, technology application and commercialisation. In the 1990's he held senior management positions in CSIRO and Cooperative Research Centres. Dr Skerritt has been involved in international development assistance projects from the mid-1980s until the present, and from 1999-2009 he was Deputy CEO of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, and had overall management of about $2 billion in international aid projects. He has significant experience on boards of international and national organisations. From 2005-2012 he was Board member and then Chair of the International Water Management Institute, and he is currently Vice Chair of the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities and Chair of the Scientific Advisory Council of the Centre for Innovation in Regulatory Science. As well as his PhD in Pharmacology from Sydney University where he was the first University Medallist in that discipline in 150 years, he is an adjunct Professor of the Universities of Sydney, Queensland and Canberra – in medicine, agriculture/food and pharmacy respectively. He was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration (Victoria). With such an extraordinary range of skills, experience and plus his sustained connections to Rotary, we are privileged that John Skerritt is the Centenary Angus Mitchell Orator.

"Adolescent mental health, school failure and the juvenile justice system: where are the integrated support services?" Dr Magdalena Simonis, President, Australian Federation of Medical Women (AFMW), MBBS FRACGP DRANZCOG MHHS Magdalena Simonis is a GP, government health advisor, primary care researcher with the University of Melbourne, and a leading women's health expert and advocate. Magdalena holds positions on several not-for-profit organisations, bridging gaps across the health sector, whilst informing their health initiatives. She is on the Expert Committee of Quality Care for the RACGP, President and National Coordinator of the Australian Federation of Medical Women, Medical Women's international Association (MWIA) Scientific and Research Subcommittee co-Chair and chair of the MWIA Mentoring group. Magdalena's interests are in community health, chronic disease prevention, and the development of sustainable, equitable healthcare services.

Rosie is a passionate advocate for human rights, gender equality and universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene. She has two decades of international development experience, having lived and worked in Indonesia for six years before joining WaterAid Australia at its inception in 2004. She was Director of International Programs prior to becoming Chief Executive in 2016. Rosie's leadership manifesto focuses on being an authentic, servant leader who always pushes herself beyond her comfort zone; this is where Rosie believes she learns most and performs at her best. Rosie serves on the Board of the THREE Foundation, ACFID and is a Founder and Committee Member of Not in My Workplace, a group of executive leaders working to address workplace harassment and abuse across all industries in Victoria. Rosie has recently discovered obstacle racing and electric bikes, which keep her sane and healthy. She is a shamelessly proud mother of two boys.

Andrew Crisp, Emergency Management Commissioner 2019/20 Victorian Bushfires - One year on - Partnering with East Gippsland Rotary Clubs. Andrew Crisp APM is Victoria's Emergency Management Commissioner. The Emergency Management Commissioner has responsibility for coordination before, during and after major emergencies, including the management of consequences of an emergency. During his career, which includes experience in senior emergency management and policing leadership positions, Andrew has developed a passion for community safety across metropolitan and regional Victoria and while working overseas in Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste. He has been involved in responses to a number of major incidents, such as the Ash Wednesday Bushfires, the 2009 Victorian Bushfires, Christchurch earthquake, Queensland floods and the 2017 Bourke Street Tragedy. Andrew has, and continues to, work closely with emergency management organisations, agencies, government departments, and communities, focusing on building and maintaining strong relationships and capability across the emergency management sector. He is passionate about connecting communities, with a focus on building an emergency management sector that is sustainable, and reflects and meets the needs of communities. Advocating for people and communities has, and will always be, a priority for him. Andrew believes everyone has valued perspectives and a positive contribution to make. He is committed to learning and listening so our emergency management sector and communities can work together to keep people safe. Andrew Crisp APM @CommissionerEMV

The Journey to the Toilet: How Mark Balla is getting girls to school by solving a problem no one else saw. Mark Balla, Vice Chair at Water and Sanitation Rotary Action Group, is President of Rotary Box Hil, a philanthropist, TED speaker and Author.

Dr Tania Miletic Assistant Director Centre for Peacebuilding at University of Melbourne. Recently appointed Assistant Director working to establish a new interdisciplinary Centre for Peace building at Melbourne University. Dr Tania Miletic is an experienced academic and practitioner with a commitment to working collaboratively on real-world challenges from conflict prevention, social cohesion to good governance, with an ambition to influence positive change. Since May 2015 she has been engaged on the Australian International Conflict Resolution Project, which seeks to enhance the role of conflict prevention and peace building in Australian foreign policy with the School of Social and Political Sciences, formerly with the Melbourne School of Government, University of Melbourne. She also teaches and supervises students on postgraduate peace and conflict studies programs with Victoria University and the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, based in Cambodia. Tania has been engaged as a consultant and facilitator to a range of government and non-government organisations and stakeholders in the areas of peace building, political affairs and community engagement.

Cassandra Goodman, Thrive Global Facilitator, Coach and Author. In addition to running her own business focused on helping people in organisations and their leaders understand that true success and happiness in life flows from being who we are, not changing who we are. She also works with Thrive Global, an organisation founded and led by Arianna Huffington with the mission to end the global epidemic of stress and burnout. Cassandra will speak on the importance of social connection and how the practice of self-fidelity can improve individual and community welfare.

"The Ethical Advantage: The Economic and Social Benefits of Ethics in Australia" Dr Simon Longstaff, AO, Executive Director, The Ethic Centre, Sydney If ethics is defined as “a way of structuring human reasoning to help choose what is right or best”, how ethical is Australia? Only 56% of Australians think that most people can be trusted. In 2019, Australia achieved an overall score of +37 on a scale of -100 to +100 (‘somewhat ethical') on the Governance Institute of Australia's Ethics Index survey. A 2018 review found that while most ASX200 companies disclosed a code of practice, only six percent had leading practice. The recent scandalous allegations surrounding Australia Post, the Badgery Creek land transaction, branch stacking, ASIC, sexual misconduct within Federal Parliament House and many others have shone the spotlight on the lack of ethics within the public service. Australia faces many significant challenges in the post-COVID era. Navigating the health and economic impacts, responding to emerging issues around the future of work and introduction of new technologies, preparing for an increasingly risky geopolitical environment and addressing long-standing social and environmental challenges including climate change and reconciliation with Indigenous Australians are some of them. Improving trust and social capital allows for smoother functioning of markets and reduces the cost of regulation and compliance. A recent report by Deloitte Access Economics projects an increase in GDP of AUD 45 billion if Australia lifts its trust level to that of global leaders. BIO Dr. Simon Longstaff, Executive Director of the Ethics Centre, discusses the economic and social benefits of ethics to Australia. Simon Longstaff began his working life on Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory of Australia. He is proud of his kinship ties to the Anindilyakwa people. After a period studying law in Sydney and teaching in Tasmania, he pursued postgraduate studies as a Member of Magdalene College, Cambridge. Simon has been Executive Director of The Ethics Centre for 30 years. In 2013, he was made an officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for “distinguished service to the community through the promotion of ethical standards in governance and business, to improving corporate responsibility, and to philosophy.” Simon is an Honorary Professor at the Australian National University, a Fellow of CPA Australia, the Royal Society of NSW and the Australian Risk Policy Institute.

"Is it detrimental to Australia's strategic national interests?" Salvatore Babones is 'Australia's globalization expert'. He is an associate professor at the University of Sydney whose research takes a long-term approach to interpreting the structure of the global economy, with a particular focus on China. He is a fortnightly columnist for Foreign Policy and a regular contributor to The National Interest. His new 'Philistine' column for Quadrant magazine debuted this year. Salvatore is an elected member of the National Committee on US-China Relations. The proposed Australian Foreign Relations Bill (AFRB) will establish "a legislative scheme for Commonwealth engagement with arrangements between State or Territory governments and foreign governments" -- and is clearly targeted at Victoria's state-level Belt & Road diplomacy with China. Sub-national diplomacy is a unique feature of China's international relations. While other countries negotiate almost exclusively at the national level, China has no qualms about going down a level or two if it does not get its way at the top. It does this both through centrally-negotiated agreements (like the Victorian Belt & Road compact) and by directing sub-national Chinese entities like provinces, cities, universities, and corporations to pursue national goals in their relationships with peers in other countries. Australia has many institutional mechanisms for addressing these Chinese diplomatic incursions, but they have often acted at cross-purposes, with the 2015 Darwin port fiasco illustrating the shortcomings in Australia's approach. The AFRB would allow the Commonwealth to abrogate Victoria's Belt & Road deal, but it won't fix the bigger flaws in Australia's management of its complex relationship with China.

"Teen Mental Health First Aid - A program to train adolescents to better support their peers." Teen Mental Health First Aid is an age-appropriate training program for teaching secondary school students how to help their friends with mental health problems. Young people prefer to seek help for mental health problems from their peers, and teen MHFA was developed with this in mind, from scientific research on barriers to help-seeking in young people, suicide prevention and effective stigma reduction. The program is now available across Australia and internationally and owes much of its' success to early research funding to Australian Rotary Health. Dr. Laura Hart is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Mental Health within the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health at the University of Melbourne. Dr. Hart has been working in population mental health for over a decade. Her research focuses on developing, evaluating and disseminating training programs for the public to improve prevention, awareness and help-seeking for mental illness. Her research has been recognized with multiple awards, including a 2019 Society for Mental Health Research and Australian Rotary Health Research Impact Award, and a 2017 Australia Endeavour Award to spend 6-months working with Harvard University's Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders in Boston, USA. She is currently working on two programs. Confident Body, Confident Child is a parenting program to promote body satisfaction, balanced eating patterns and physical activity in children aged 2-6 years. The teen Mental Health First Aid program is training course for secondary school students to learn how to assist a peer who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis, such as thinking about suicide. Laura is also a mum to two young boys who are constantly teaching her about child development.

The COVID 19 pandemic poses a fundamental threat to higher education in Australia. It has left a big hole in University finances which could see a significant reduction in the research capacity of the higher education sector for many years to come, and threaten Australia's global competitiveness. However, the crisis also creates an opportunity for Universities to reinvent themselves. Not just in how they do things, but to ensure that they remain relevant and valued institutions who are vital contributors to economic recovery and the development of human capital. Professor Dewar is the Vice-Chancellor and President of La Trobe University, since January 2012. He is a graduate of the University of Oxford, where he was also a Fellow of Hertford College from 1990-1995. He taught at the Universities of Lancaster and Warwick in the UK, and worked for the London law firms Allen & Overy and Farrer & Co. He came to Australia in 1995, and held senior leadership positions at Griffith University and the University of Melbourne, where he was Provost, before taking up the position of Vice-Chancellor of La Trobe. A Deputy Chair of Universities Australia, UA Lead Vice-Chancellor on Health workforce issues and a member of the AHEIA Executive Committee. Other Directorships include; Education Australia Pty Ltd, The Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, AARNet, The Committee for Melbourne, and the Foundation for Australian Studies in China. He is a member of the University of Lincoln's 21st Century Lab Higher Education Reference Group, and a Male Champion of Change. He is an Honorary Fellow of Hertford College, Oxford, an Adjunct Professor in the Melbourne Law School and the La Trobe Law School, and a Visiting Professor at the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice at Sheffield Hallam University. In the 2020 Australia Day Honours List, Professor Dewar was made an Officer of the Order of Australia, in recognition of his distinguished service to education. His previous appointments include; member of the Attorney-General's Family Law Pathways Advisory Group (2000-1), Chair of the Family Law Council (2001-4), Chair of the Queensland College of Teachers (2006-9), member of the Advisory Council of the Australian Institute of Family Studies (2007-11), Chair of the Victorian Vice-Chancellors' Committee (2014-5), Chair of the Innovative Research Universities (2014-6), and Chair of the Victorian Student Planning Advisory Group for the Victorian Department of Health (2016-7). He was a member of the Advisory Board for the Centre for Ethical Leadership at the Melbourne Business School and Ormond College from 2010-2016. In 2014, he chaired the Legislation and Finance Working Group for the Federal Education Minister.

We are pleased to present our guest speaker, Professor Brett Sutton, Victoria's Chief Health Officer. Prof Sutton discusses the challenges of COVID-19, Victoria's response, and how he is coping with this daunting crisis. To celebrate 100 years of Rotary in Australia and New Zealand, we've teamed up with UNICEF to give life-saving vaccines to 100,000 children across the Pacific. Please help by donating at: https://www.givenow.com.au/everychildafuturecom

The Impact of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement on Australian Businesses Phil Turtle is the National President of the Australia Indonesia Business Council and Director of Engenesis Pty Ltd, a boutique consultancy focusing on developing business opportunities in Indonesia. Phil has over 25 years' experience in a broad range of industries, having spent his early career as an Engineer and Project Manager on a large number of resources projects in the region. He has a passion for Asian countries, and has worked in China, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, and has made Indonesia a particular focus. There he has been involved in business development in Mining, Energy, Education, Infrastructure, Tourism, Healthcare, Technology and other fields. He has served as a Board Member of the Australia Indonesia Business Council for the last 7 years, and is in his second term as National President.

Victoria's Post COVID Economic Resurgence through a Digital Economy Former Minister of Innovation & Digital Economy (Victoria)

Kerry Cue, Humourist, Mathematician, Journalist and Author. She is the author of 20 humorous and eductional books. Her satirical novel about US Gun Culture, TARGET 91, Penmore Press Tucson, Arizona) was published in 2019. Kerry is also the maths blogger, her blog is called Mathspig, https://mathspig.wordpress.com She has written columns for every major newspaper in Australia. Following the popularity of her humorous maths blog – over 1,300,000 hits – she spoke at the International Congress of Mathematical Education in Hamburg in 2016. Kerry Cue studied Science/Engineering at Melbourne University and taught maths and science for 10 demanding years before becoming a best selling author of 20 humorous and education books including Life On a G-String, Australia Unbuttoned, I Left My Heart in Chinkapook and my knickers in New York.

Martin Forrest is the Health Promotion Programs Manager at Hepatitis Victoria. Martin is committed to the elimination of viral hepatitis and has seen the toll that the disease has on the community. Martin has worked supporting primary health in Victoria as well as many years in the Northern Territory, particularly with Aboriginal and remote communities. For elimination to be successful, the whole community needs to be engaged. Martin is privileged to be able to contribute to this outcome and save lives in the process.

As the world faces the largest global pandemic since the Spanish flu, amidst other humanitarian crises, conflicts and disasters, the work of humanitarians has never been more valuable. Kirsten Sayers, CEO of RedR Australia will discuss at the Rotary Club Melbourne meeting on the 22nd July, how RedR Australia is helping during COVID-19. She will discuss how local community engagement is crucial in providing an effective humanitarian response, and how businesses can play their part to help build future resilience. Former lawyer and diplomat, Kirsten Sayers, is CEO of international humanitarian response agency, RedR Australia. RedR Australia is the only United Nations Standby Partner in the Southern Hemisphere and Asia Pacific and is the sole delivery partner of the Australia Government's civilian humanitarian deployment program, Australia Assists. Kirsten has previously held senior diplomatic and commercial appointments in Paris, Bangkok and Taipei. She was Australia's Chief Negotiator and Delegation Leader to the Asia Pacific Economic Corporation (APEC) Women Leaders' Network meeting and APEC Gender Focal Point Network in 2009, and managed Australia's delegation to the APEC CEO Summit the same year. Kirsten has successfully established RedR Australia as the preferred deployment partner and mechanism before, during, and after crises and conflict. Kirsten leverages international business leadership and humanitarian diplomacy to put Australia's people and skills at the forefront of international response to build national and community resilience.

Sarah Meredith is Global Citizen's Australian Country Director, overseeing the movement's efforts in Australia. She is a passionate advocate for gender equality, investment in universal health care, access to clean water and basic sanitation, breaking the taboo on menstrual hygiene, Australia's role in the world and the delivery of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Sarah comes to the role with more than 13 years experience advising a number of Australia's federal and state government Cabinet Ministers on environment, water, climate change, youth affairs, education and training, alcohol and drugs, and mental health policy. Sarah has been an active member of the community and was named as the City of Casey's Young Citizen of the Year in 2002 as part of the Australia Day honours. Sarah has represented Australia at a number of local and national forums, including as one of 50 young Australians selected to be a member of the Australian Government's National Youth Roundtable and one of Australia's representatives to the 'Young People Can Change the World' World Youth Forum in Wales in 2001. Sarah currently sits on a number of advisory committees including Melbourne's bid for the 2022 Women Deliver Conference and Netball Australia's World Cup bid. Sarah has completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne and a Master of International and Community Development at Deakin University.

An eyewitness to six decades of News. A journey behind the headlines that shaped the News and the life of a Newsman. Author, Broadcaster and veteran Newsman - Mal Walden Mal Walden's career spanned six decades in broadcasting and television. On his retirement in 2013 he was reported to be the longest ‘continually' serving face on Melbourne television. He began his media career in 1961 at Warrnambool radio station 3YB. From Warrnambool he moved across Bass Strait to Tasmania where he joined 7EX and later TNT Channel 9, also in Launceston. Between 1966 and 1969 Mal was a general announcer and news reporter for Melbourne's 3DB. In 1969 he based himself in the Middle East spending six months on a kibbutz in Israel from where he filed news reports to Melbourne's radio 3DB talk back host Gerald Lions. Mal returned to Melbourne in 1970 and joined HSV-7 where he hosted a number of shows, including the popular program Jeopardy. In 1970 he also read his first news bulletin on Melbourne television before beginning a journalism cadetship with Seven. One of the highlights of Mal's early career was a world scoop as the first reporter to file from the scene of Cyclone Tracey in Darwin in 1974. In 1978 Mal became the first working journalist to be appointed a senior television news presenter, a trend that has since been adopted by most other Networks. In April 1987 Mal not only read the news, he made the news. His controversial sacking from HSV7 by the Fairfax Sydney Television Group led to public protests, staff walkouts and a plunge in news ratings to an unprecedented zero. His immediate move to the TEN Network brought a record news rating of 40% market share - the equivalent of one million viewers a night. At Network TEN Mal presented the news bulletin with David Johnston along with a new innovative segment called "Mal's Melbourne" which covered a wide variety of human- interest stories. This segment would become the genesis of his second successful book ‘Good News' published 30 years later. In December 1995 Mal was appointed senior co-presenter of Network Ten's 5pm Melbourne News a position he held until his retirement at the end of 2013. Such was the respect in the eyes of Victorians the Premier Denis Napthine hosted a State Reception at Parliament House. Several weeks later he was awarded the Quill Life Time Achievement Award by the Victorian Press Council. He was 17 years of age when he applied for his first job and retired at the age of 70 (on the day of his choosing) something very rare in the television industry. Over six decades there was not a news headline or major news event that Mal had not read or reported. Since his retirement Mal has written three children's books and published his memoir 'The Newsman' and ‘Good News' a selection of stories that helped shape Melbourne. His third book published by Brolga - ‘Don't piss in my pocket and tell me it's raining'- a selection of unforgettable and inspirational quotes, was released in December 2018.

‘Working in isolation – what's been occupying Australia's Chief Scientist in 2020?' Dr Finkel will present an overview of his work so far in 2020 – supporting the government's response to COVID-19 including convening the Rapid Research Information Forum to provide rapid responses to questions arising from the pandemic; chairing the Expert Advisory Panel for the CSIRO Report on Climate and Disaster Resilience; and chairing the Technology Investment Roadmap Ministerial Reference Group. Chair of the Day, our Honorary Member, Nobel Peace Laureate Dr Tilman Ruff AO, public health and infectious diseases physician will introduce Australia's Chief Scientist.

Neville Power Chairman, National COVID-19 Coordination Commission (NCCC) Nev is the Chairman of Perth Airport, the Foundation for the WA Museum and the Royal Flying Doctors Federation Board and is the Deputy Chairman of Strike Energy Ltd. Nev held the position of Managing Director and CEO of Fortescue Metals Group Ltd for seven years, having joined the group in 2011. During his tenure Fortescue more than quadrupled production and achieved engagement with Aboriginal communities. He was previously Chief Executive of the Australian operations at Theiss and prior to that spent more than ten years in senior executive positions at Smorgon Steel Group. In 2016 Nev was named WA Business Leader of the Year. He also has a long history in agribusiness and aviation holding both fixed wing and rotary pilot licenses. Nev is a passionate advocate for health and development of regional and aboriginal communities. He owns and operates a cattle station in Queensland where he was born and raised. Nev will provide an overview on the role and work so far of the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission, its focus on rebuilding the economy and people's livelihoods as quickly and safely as possible and the Commission's work in the not-for-profit sector in that context.

Dr Robert Webster, President RSL Victorian Branch Robert Stanley Webster was born in Melbourne in 1948. He is the eldest of five children, Rob's parents both served overseas during World War II. A student at Deepdene State School and then Swinburne Technical College, the family shifted to South Australia in 1968. Rob was called up for National Service from Adelaide in 1969. He served in Vietnam with 26 Transport Company, Royal Australian Army Service Corps from Feb 1970 until Feb 1971. His younger brother, Ian, is also a Vietnam veteran having served in Vietnam from Sept 1970 to Sept 1971 with 110 Signals Squadron, RAA Sigs. Rob has been a member of the RSL for over 40 years, with his original Sub-Branch being Henley & Grange (South Australia), now with Kew. Rob was President of the Kew Sub-branch from 1988 – 1994 and was co-opted to the RSL State Executive during 1989. He was a member of the State Executive for three years before being appointed Deputy State Treasurer in 1992 and then State Honorary Treasurer in 1994. After 8 years as Honorary State Treasurer he was elected Vice President in 2003 and then Senior Vice President in 2006. Rob became State President on the 1st February 2017. Rob was awarded Life Membership of the League in 2001, Life Membership with Gold Badge in June 2002, the League's highest award, the Meritorious Service Medal in 2016, and a Medal in the Order of Australia in January 2017. Rob was a Board member of Austin Health for 15 years and currently is the Chairman of the Victorian Veterans' Children's Education Board (DVA), having been on the board for 20 years and its chair for the last nine years. He is also the RSL representative on the Defence Reserves Support Council, in which capacity he was invited to visit the Australian troops in the Solomon Islands in November 2010. He has been involved in veteran related aged care since 1995 and has been a Director of Vasey RSL Care since 2004. With his interest in education Rob was the Victorian Corresponding Member for the Australian Veterans Childrens' Assistance Trust. Rob was appointed to the AVCAT Board in 2017. AVCAT administers various scholarship schemes, predominantly the DVA Long Tan bursary, for children of eligible Veterans. Rob was appointed a Board Member of the Royal Humane Society of Australasia in 2018. Rob retired from RMIT in 2009 after 31 years and has since taught part time at both Deakin University and for RMIT in both Melbourne and Singapore. Rob's academic interests are in property investment, property finance, valuation of real estate and location decision-making behaviour in the transport and logistics industry. Prior to his RMIT career Rob worked as both an accountant and property valuer. Rob a Fellow of both CPA Australia and the Australian Property Institute. He is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Doctor of Business Administration degree. In his spare time Rob is his family's historian, enjoys reading and volunteers with CPA Australia. Rob has five children and five grandchildren and is married to Jenni.

Prof John Wilson AM, BSc (Hons), MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FCCP, MAICD. John Wilson graduated with a MBBS from the University of Melbourne in 1980. Following his physician training at The Royal Melbourne Hospital, with a special interest in intensive care and respiratory medicine John completed a PhD in the role of inflammation in asthma before moving to the UK to join a major asthma research group in 1988. John's work is in the treatment of patients with lung disorders, including cystic fibrosis, asthma and pneumonia. His research interests include the use of new pharmacological treatments, video-conferencing in delivering care programs in CF lung disease, the application of electronic health records to improve clinical care. John is Chair, Senior Medical Staff Associations at Alfred Health and Victoria. President-elect, RACP, and Chair of the College's Education Committee. John is a consultant to government and industry bodies in Australia and overseas. Dr Louise Segan Dr Louise Segan is a final year Cardiology trainee in Victoria. She will commence a PhD in cardiac electrophysiology in 2021. Louise is passionate about promoting gender diversity in medicine, with a particular focus on cardiology and its subspecialties. This stemmed from her own experiences as one of only two female cardiology trainees in her year of training.

2020 ANGUS MITCHELL ORATION Topic: "How to fix a leaky pipe, providing equity in eye health” Professor Hugh R. Taylor AC, MD, LLD(Hon), FAAHMS, FRANZCO Our Honorary Member Hugh Taylor is the Melbourne Laureate Professor and the Harold Mitchell Chair of Indigenous Eye Health at the University of Melbourne.

Survive, revive, thrive - The road ahead for the Australian Olympic swimming team! Tokyo 2021 John Bertrand AO, International Sportsman, Businessman and Philanthropist He is the Australian who skippered the winged keel Australia 2 to victory over Dennis Connor's Liberty to win the 1983 America's Cup, breaking 132 years of American domination and in the process, breaking the longest-running record in the history of modern sport. The Confederation of Australian Sport voted the Australia 2 victory as the “greatest team performance in 200 years of Australian sport”. A World Champion and Olympic bronze medalist, John represented Australia in five America's Cups and two Olympic Games. Within the world of the America's Cup, he was involved in all areas of activity from skipper of Australia 2 to chairman of oneAustralia. Over his business career, he established successful business's in the marine, property and digital media industries. He is chairman of the Prime Ministers Alannah and Madeline children's Foundation. The foundation is a world leader in anti-bullying and cybersafety programs within Australian schools. John is also chairman of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, whose members include Sir Don Bradman, Herb Elliot, Dawn Fraser, Rod Laver. In 2008 John was named Melbournian of the Year and in 2011 he received Monash University's Distinguished Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award. Both awards were received for his philanthropic and community leadership. He holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from Monash University and a Master of Science from MIT in Boston. He is a Vice Chancellor Professorial Fellow of Monash University. This year he launch's a new high level Leadership Series for Monash University benchmarking Australia's most successful leaders from within politics, commerce, technology, military and sport. John continues to compete at the highest levels including winning the 2010 World Etchells class sailing championships.

Meeting of Wednesday, 8 April was Chaired by PE Marion Macleod, member D9800 Bushfire Response Committee. Additional panelists: Jim Orchard (D9800), Bob Glindemann (DIK) and DGE D9820 Mark Humphries will lead the exploration and latest updates on Bushfire Recover and Rotary.

Laureate Professor Peter Doherty AC speaks on the Impact of the Covid-19 Virus, why flattening the curve matters and how we can best protect ourselves and the community. Professor Doherty made a breakthrough in discovering the role of T cells in the immune system, for which he received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1996, and was named Australian of the Year in 1997. He is an Honorary Member of Rotary Melbourne and currently splits his time between researching at St Jude Children's Research Hospital in Tennessee and the University of Melbourne.

Helen Leake is one of Australia's most accomplished creative producers. Her feature credits include HEAVEN'S BURNING with Russell Crowe, BLACK AND WHITE starring Robert Carlyle, SWERVE with Jason Clarke, and WOLF CREEK 2. Her films have been selected for over 30 international Film Festivals, including Venice, Toronto (twice), London (twice), Karlovy Vary and Pusan. Helen develops intellectual property into world-class screen stories for the big screen, streaming services or networks depending on the content and style. Helen is working again with writer Louis Nowra after a successful collaboration on BLACK AND WHITE, a period drama which opened the Sydney Film Festival. Justice Michael Kirby said “every person in the country should watch this film”, critic Andrew Urban “(it is) the sort of film Australia should be making” and The Times London said “… a challenging film that dares to trust our intelligence”. Louis agreed to take on the commission of MONASH and the script has attracted one of Australia's most talented and accomplished directors, Bruce Beresford. This film will be an important contribution to Australia's culture, and tells the story of one of Australia's greatest heroes. www.duoart.com.au www.dancingroad.com Producers Helen Leake and Gena Ashwell and director Bruce Beresford aim to start shooting Monash, a biopic of Sir John Monash, hailed by many as the foremost Allied military commander in World War 1, in Europe in the northern spring. The screenplay is by Louis Nowra, who started collaborating with Leake in 2012. Beresford joined the project in the middle of last year. Leake and her Dancing Road Productions partner Ashwell have secured investment from the UK and France and are confident of raising the rest of the budget in Australia, including the Producer Offset. They plan to start shooting in France and England next May/June with a high-profile ensemble cast of Aussies and Brits. Screen Australia has provided story development funding. Explaining the rationale for the film, Leake tells IF: “Monash was a winner, a hero, unlike the Gallipoli story which was about loss. As Bruce said, ‘We have to make this film because there is a whole generation who know nothing about him or WW1 generally.'”

"Multi-culturalism in Melbourne. How the city is changing and what lies ahead." Viv Nguyen is a passionate advocate for diversity and multiculturalism. A business executive and community leader, she has more than 25 years' experience in the corporate, public and community sectors. In her previous role as President of the Vietnamese Community in Australia – Victorian Chapter, Viv played a key role in advocating for Australia's first Vietnamese cultural museum. At the Department of Health and Human Services and Melbourne City Mission, she supported the disability sector's transition to the NDIS. Prior to her work in the public and community sectors, she held roles at the AustChoice Financial Services, AMP Asset Management and ANZ Banking Group where she led the global organisation's diversity strategy. Viv was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal in 2003 and was recorded on the Victorian Honour Roll (2002) for her services to community advocating for women in leadership and Vietnamese young people.

Recognising that mental health will be the major ongoing concern from the recent bushfires in Victoria, the Rotarian Action Group for Family Safety, with the support of the Rotary Club of Melbourne, invited members of the District to meet with Dr Derek Farrell to learn about international programs designed to build the capacity for communities to heal after major disasters. The Rotarian Action Group also organised for Dr Farrell to train 70 psychologists and social workers from around Australia in early intervention treatments which can prevent the onset of long-term mental health issues. The participants in the training also spent time considering how to help communities develop the ongoing resources they need for optimum mental health. Dr Derek Farrell is a Principal Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Worcester (UK), an EMDR Therapy Europe Accredited Trainer and Consultant, a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society, and an Accredited Psychotherapist with the British Association of Cognitive & Behavioural Psychotherapies (BABCP). He is currently President of the EMDR UK & Ireland Board, President of Trauma Aid Europe, Co-Vice President of EMDR Europe Board and Chair of the EMDR Europe Practice Committee. He is involved in a number of Humanitarian Trauma Capacity Building programmes in Pakistan, Turkey, India, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Lebanon, Poland, Palestine and Iraq. In 2013, Derek was the recipient of the ‘David Servan Schreiber Award' for Outstanding Contribution to EMDR Therapy. In addition, Derek was also shortlisted for the prestigious Times Higher Education Supplement (TES) Awards (2017) for ‘International Impact' due to his Humanitarian Trauma Capacity Building work in Iraq with the Free Yezidi Foundation and the Jiyan Foundation for Torture and Human Rights.

"Melbourne Cricket Club - A Private Club with a very public purpose - Managing the MCG" Michael is the President of the Melbourne Cricket Club- one of the oldest and largest sporting Clubs in Australia, with over 130,000 members. The Club also has the responsibility of managing and developing the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the biggest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere with a capacity of over 100,000. Michael is also Chairman of Supra Capital Ltd as well as a Director of two emerging IT companies, MyProsperity Pty Ltd and Financial Crimes Solutions Pty Ltd. Michael was a partner with PwC for 24 years, retiring in 2016. He was Chairman of the Australian Firm's Board for the last four of those years. He was also a Director on the PwC Global Board for four years. Other roles that Michael held with PwC included National Energy, Mining and Utilities Industry Leader, National Tax and Legal Markets Leader and Global Transfer Pricing Leader. His former Directorships include BCNA, Scotch College, Lauriston Girl's School and the Royal Melbourne Tennis Club.

Professor Len Harrison is a clinician-scientist and NHMRC Senior Investigator in the Population Health and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (‘WEHI'). From 1987-2010 he headed the Autoimmunity and Transplantation Division at WEHI and was Director of the Burnet Clinical Research Unit and Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. He has written several books and authored or co-authored over 560 research papers on immune mechanisms of disease. His research is now focused on how the environment and genes interact to cause childhood diseases such as type 1 diabetes, coeliac disease and allergies. His awards for research include the C.J. Martin Fellowship, Wellcome Australia Medal, Susman Prize, Kellion Medal and the international Rumbough Award for scientific excellence.

The founder and CEO of Thirst, Mina Guli is a global leader, entrepreneur and adventurer committed to making a difference in the world. Following a 15-year career in climate change, Mina established Thirst – a non-profit changing the way we think about water. Since its launch in 2012, Thirst has educated more than 2 million students in China, has had more than 600,000 participants in its water innovation competitions and now works with more than 1000 qualified volunteers and the support of the Chinese Government. To bring attention to the global water crisis, in 2016 Mina ran across 7 deserts on 7 continents in just 7 weeks. A self-confessed "non-runner", en route Mina interviewed water experts, telling the stories of people affected by the crisis and those working to solve it. In 2017 Mina ran in support of the UN's SDG 6, completing 40 marathons in 40 days down 6 of the world's great rivers on 6 continents. With media coverage around the world, including CNN, BBC, ITV, ABC and CCTV, Mina's messages about water reached more than 4 billion people, inspiring a generation of water heroes. Concerned about the pace of change, in 2018, Mina started #RunningDry – a campaign involving her running 100 marathons in 100 days for 1 reason – to make saving water so famous it's not just the right thing to do, but the only thing to do. After breaking her leg at marathon 62, thousands of people in over 50 countries and territories rallied in support, together running farther than from the north to the south poles, and building #RunningDry into a movement for change. Mina has been widely recognised for her leadership: named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, one of Australia's most influential women, and by Fortune Magazine as one of the 50 greatest leaders in the world. Mina sits on the board of the Antarctic Science Foundation, the Global Water Partnership and the Academy of the $1 million Global Teachers Prize. She is a frequent media commentator.

Robert Klupacs has been CEO of Bionics Institute since 2017. A highly experienced professional, with over 30 years corporate experience, uniquely experienced in translating and commercialising early stage intellectual property into commercial product or investable corporate vehicles. He is an Australian registered patent attorney who has had a wide and successful career in Australia and Asia within both private and publically traded companies as well as the academic arena. He is especially regarded for his ability to bridge cultural divides and knowledge gaps between academics, corporations and the general investment community and internationally recognised for his ability to lead start-up organisations to mature well focused companies. He is also heavily involved in raising funds for autism research through his role as pro-bono Non-executive Chairman of the registered charity Bioautism Limited.

Jeff Floyd is an Adjunct Professor in the College of Business at Victoria University. He runs a successful consulting business in the areas of strategy, governance, risk management and issue management. Jeff has had an extensive career as a CEO in areas including planning, park and environmental management, tourism, and automotive services. His previous roles include CEO of Tourism Victoria and CEO of Parks Victoria. He has also held roles on a large number of boards, including a Director of the Co-Operative Research Centre in Sustainable Tourism, Chair of Phillip Island Nature Parks, Director and Victorian President CEDA, Director Melbourne Convention Bureau, and Director William Angliss College. He is currently Chair of Parks Victoria.

District Governor Address Grant joined Woodend Rotary in 2004 and has been President in 2007- 2008 and again in 2015-16, as well as Vice President, Community Service Chair, Foundation Chair and Bulletin Editor for many years. Grant has served at District level as Community Service Director (2011-2013) and as Assistant Governor Goldfields Cluster (2013-2015), Executive AG for the same period and AG mentor (2017-18). Grant has also been active for many years as a Foundation and Grants cluster advisor, Club Vision facilitator and supporting the D9800 Learning and Development team with RLI and New Member seminars. Melissa has been supporting Rotary since Grant joined and in 2017 was recognised with a PHF from the Woodend Rotary for her community fundraising efforts. Melissa was also awarded the Rotary International Spouse award in 2015 for commitment to Rotary and fundraising efforts. Melissa and Grant have supported international projects in Cambodia and Vanuatu. Melissa is now also a member of RC Woodend joining in 2017. Grant is a Clinical Manager (MICA Paramedic) with Ambulance Victoria where he has worked for 33 years in most operational areas of the organisation. He has an interest in clinical quality and was awarded the Ambulance Service Medal (ASM) in the 2014 Australia Day recognitions for development of Clinical Quality Improvement processes. With an interest in Stroke management, Grant was a member of the Victorian Stroke Clinical Network (Dept. of Health) for 6 years (2012-2017). He was also a member of the Health Services Review Council for 3 years (2010-2013). Grant has co-authored multiple research papers, changed internal AV procedures and guidelines and directed state-wide improvements in the outcomes of patients with Stroke. Grant was awarded the National Stroke Foundation (NSF) Presidents Award in 2018. Grant and Melissa have 3 adult children working and living in the Macedon Ranges and enjoy walking whenever and wherever they can.

Rotary Melbourne: Vocational Service Award recipient, 2016/17 Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health, School of Psychology, Deakin University ​ Dr. Catherine Crock is a medical pioneer, producer of music and theatrics, humanitarian, mother and advocate for change. ​ A Physician at The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Catherine has successfully implemented a raft of positive changes to healthcare in the areas of organisational culture, services and patient/family support. ​ She is the Chair and Founder of The Hush Foundation, a registered charity organisation working to transform healthcare by improving partnerships, culture and the environment to support health and wellbeing. Hush, in collaboration with some of Australia's finest musical talent, has commissioned 15 albums of music specifically for application within healthcare. Working in collaboration with renowned playwright Alan Hopgood, Cath has also produced three theatrical healthcare plays, "Hear Me", "Do You Know Me?" and "What Matters". These productions have been performed in hospitals and Aged Care settings across Australia more than 140 times, to raise awareness of patient centered care, communication and patient safety issues and to encourage a shift in the culture of healthcare. ​ An influencer in the areas of medical innovation and the Arts, Catherine is also an acclaimed presenter and speaker on patient-centred care. Adressing Rotary Melbourne on the Hush Foundation's Gathering of Kindness program which brings professionals together to build and instil a culture of kindness in a variety of age and healthcare organisations through celebration, reflection and engagement and opportunities for collaboration with Rotary to extend the reach of this innovative initiative.

Speaking on: ‘Land and Water Degradation – Turning a Threat into an Opportunity' Major General Jeffery was born in Wiluna, Western Australia in 1937 and educated at Kent Street High School and the Royal Military College, Duntroon. He graduated into Infantry and served operationally in Malaya, Borneo, Papua New Guinea and Vietnam, where he was awarded the Military Cross and the South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. After command of all combat elements of the Army from platoon to division – including the Special Air Service Regiment – he retired in 1993 to assume the appointment of Governor of Western Australia, which he held for almost seven years. His major interests during his tenure were in youth affairs, education, environment and the family. For his services to the State he was appointed a Companion in the Order of Australia, a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order and a Citizen of Western Australia. On his retirement as Governor in 2000 he established in Perth, a not for profit strategic research institute – Future Directions International (FDI) – whose objective is to examine longer term issues facing Australia. On 20 December 2000 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Technology by Curtin University. On 11 August 2003 he was sworn in as the twenty-fourth Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, serving in that capacity until 5 September 2008. Upon his retirement as Governor-General, he accepted Chairmanship of FDI and Soils for Life, along with patronages of a number of other not-for-profit organisations. He was appointed the National Advocate for Soil Health in 2003 by Prime Minister Gillard, where his objective is to ensure a food secure nation, by encouraging farmers to adopt regenerative agricultural landscape management practices. Major General Jeffery is a Companion of the Order of Logohu (PNG), a Knight of St John, a Citizen of Western Australia, a Paul Harris Fellow and an honorary life member of the Returned and Services League. He and his wife Marlena have four children and ten grandchildren. General Jeffery enjoys golf, cricket, fishing, reading and music.

"The Elimination of Viral Hepatitis as a Public Health Threat – Think Global, Start Local." Professor Margaret Hellard AM is a Deputy Director at the Burnet Institute, Head of Hepatitis Services in the Infectious Diseases Unit at The Alfred Hospital and an Adjunct Professor of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology at Monash University and the University of Melbourne in Melbourne, Australia. Professor Hellard was recently awarded an Order of Australia. Margaret's principal research interests are in preventing the transmission and improving the management of blood borne viruses and sexually transmitted infections, with the ultimate aim to end the AIDS epidemic and eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat. She has considerable experience in undertaking multidisciplinary community based research involving people who inject drugs (PWID), gay and bisexual men (GBM) and other vulnerable populations. Margaret is a member of numerous advisory committees and working groups on viral hepatitis and HIV within Australia and globally, including Co-Chairing the WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on HIV and Viral Hepatitis and Chairing the World Innovation Health Summit Viral Hepatitis Forum (20198).. She has over 400 peer reviewed publications and received over $80 million in competitive grants and tenders. Frank Carlus - President Hepatitis Victoria Frank is a former state public servant with over 32 years' experience in the Department of Human Services/Department of Health. In that time he worked in direct care, policy and senior management positions across a range of services. He has served on the Board of Hepatitis Victoria since 2013 in various roles including Treasurer and President. He also sits on, and is current Chair of, the Board of Westgate Community Initiatives Group (a disability services employment provider). Previously he served on the Colac District Hospital for 10 years, including as President for 2 years.

Shani commenced in as the CEO in February 2019 after a tenure at the Centre of Multicultural Youth (CMY) as a Refugee and Asylum Seeker Youth Worker and Case Manager. She has also worked for the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, World Vision and has worked on secondment in development in a number of countries including Argentina, Kenya, Malawi, India and Indonesia. Shani has also a Masters degree in Humanitarian Assistance from Deakin University coupled with degrees in Commerce and International Studies. She is passionate about female and youth empowerment, sustainability, and equality. In her own words, she is "someone who loves life and believes in the ability to change the world and actively seeks opportunities to do so". She current lives in Ballarat (with her partner and 2 border collies) and is passionate about engaging young people in regional and rural Australia. In her spare time she teaches yoga and hikes wherever possible including Mount Everest Basecamp and to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Jason Marriner has twenty-six year's experience in theatre management and leads Australia's largest privately owned and operated theatre company, Marriner Group based in Melbourne. Responsibilities include programming, producer relations, stakeholder management, show investments and theatre operations. Marriner Group venues comprise the heritage Princess Theatre (1886), Regent Theatre and Plaza Ballroom (1929), Comedy Theatre (1929) and Forum Theatre (1929). Jason's lifetime in the theatre business and strong relations with Australian and international producers has been instrumental in the Marriner Group securing most major musical theatre premieres in recent decades, including the most recent Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

Gary D Bouma AM is the UNESCO Chair in Intercultural and Interreligious Relations – Asia Pacific, Emeritus Professor of Sociology and Associate Priest at St John's Anglican Church, East Malvern. He was Director of the Global Terrorism Research Centre at Monash University, the Australian Node of the Religion and Diversity Project, University of Ottawa. He serves on the Multifaith Advisory Group to the Premier of Victoria, The Multifaith Council and the Multicultural Reference Group to Victoria Police and the Social Cohesion Institute of the State of Victoria, Australia. He served as Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Development at Monash University, President of the Australian Association for the Study of Religions, and Chair of the Board of the Parliament of the World's Religions 2009 (Melbourne). He was Chair of the Academic Board at Harvest Bible College for ten years. His research in the sociology of religion examines the management of religious diversity in plural multicultural societies, education about religions and worldviews, postmodernity as a context for doing theology, religion and terror, religion and public policy. Author or Co-Author of over 25 books and 370 articles, he has been invested as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for services to Sociology, to Interreligious Relations and to the Anglican Church of Australia.

Speaking on “Unlocking Potential – BSL Advantage Thinking and Community Investment Committees”. Conny Lenneberg is the Executive Director of The Brotherhood of St Laurence, a role she took up in January 2018. Conny has 25 years' experience in the development and social justice sector, in Australia and internationally, from service delivery in the field to leading large teams and senior executive and board roles. In Australia, her achievements include enabling partnerships with indigenous communities, government and business to build program strengths in Central Australia and the Pilbara. Internationally, for more than six years she led World Vision International's organisation and programs in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. More recently, she was the interim CEO of World Vision New Zealand. Conny has a Master of Arts (Research) from La Trobe University, a background that reinforces her commitment to seeking out the best evidence to frame solutions for complex social challenges in the community.

Speaking on "Senior Naval Officer Victoria – Supporting Navy's Strategic Objectives". Commodore Yorke first joined the Royal Australian Navy from Sydney in January 1974 and is a Principal Warfare Officer, specialising as a Gunnery Officer. His sea postings include HMA Ships Perth (II), Ibis (II), Townsville (II), Parramatta (III), Brisbane (II), Gladstone (II) and Arunta (II) and HMS Liverpool. Career highlights include Principal Warfare Officer training with the Royal Navy in 1984/85 followed by an exchange posting with the Royal Navy serving as a Principal Warfare Officer in HMS Liverpool from 1985 to 1987. Commodore Yorke had two most successful Commands, HMAS Gladstone in 1990 to 1992 and was the commissioning Commanding Officer of HMAS Arunta and in command from 1998 until 2000. On promotion to Captain he served as the ANZAC Capability Element Manager and then as the Chief Staff Officer (Operations), Maritime Headquarters. He was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross for his leadership role as CSO (Ops) MHQ during Operational Falconer in 2003. He subsequently attended the College of Defence Strategic Studies in 2005. Commodore Yorke transferred to the Active Reserve in 2006 and commenced a second career as a Management Consultant where he has undertaken many and varying roles, including workforce renewal, preparedness reform, project, program and change management and organisational restructure. During this time he remained engaged with the RAN as the Project Manager, Project Demeter and a brief role as the Director Joint Amphibious Capability Implementation Team. He was promoted to Commodore in June 2016 and assumed a full time position within the Navy Strategic Command as Director General and Project Director Plan Acrux, a Navy Workforce Continuous Improvement Project. He was appointed by the Chief of Navy as the Senior Naval Officer Victoria to date 1 January 2018. Commodore Yorke is also a member of the Board of the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum (ANVAM), a unique organisation that provides arts-based programs and experiences for current and former members of Australia's military services and families. ANVAM invites participants to choose from a range of expressive possibilities that can enhance mental, physical and social wellbeing, and provide relief from the impact of service.

Speaking on "Human Rights in the Australian Context'' Hugh was a board member of the Human Rights Law Centre when it was established in 2006 and joined the staff team in 2013 as the Executive Director. Under his leadership, the Centre has more than tripled in staffing and resources and continues to extend its positive impact on human rights in Australia. Hugh started his legal career at the law firm Mallesons and then began working to protect and promote human rights as the Manager of the Brimbank Melton Community Legal Centre and the Executive Officer of the Victorian Federation of Community Legal Centres. Hugh currently serves as a Director of the Victorian Sentencing Advisory Council and a member of the Advisory Board of the University of Melbourne Law School. He has previously served as Commissioner of the Victorian Law Reform Commission, a board member of the National Association of Community Legal Centres and a governance committee member for know more – the national service that provided legal help for people navigating the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Professor Susan Davis MBBS FRACP PhD FAHMS Speaking on “Inequitable Equity” Professor Susan Davis MBBS FRACP PhD FAHMS is an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Senior Principal Research Fellow and Director of the Women's Health Research Program in the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University Melbourne. She is a consultant Endocrinologist at Cabrini Medical Centre and Head of the Women's Specialist Clinic, the Alfred Hospital Melbourne. She is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and presently President of the International Menopause Society. Prof Davis graduated in medicine from Monash University, Melbourne in 1980 and completed her specialist physician training in endocrinology and her PhD 1988. Since that time her research has addressed the roles of oestrogens and androgens in non-reproductive health including: breast cancer, cardiovascular function, obesity, cognitive function, mood, sexual function and musculoskeletal health. She has over 380 peer-reviewed publications and has been the recipient of several awards including the International Research Laureate Award of the US Endocrine Society (2015), the North American Menopause Society / Menopause Journal Best Paper Award (2016), the International Menopause Society's Henry Burger Prize (2011), the Australasian Menopause Society Award 2009, and the Monash University Distinguished Alumni Award (2009).

Speaking on "Freemasonry in the 21st Century" When Keith Murray moved from Scotland to Australia he had few acquaintances, but as a member of Freemasonry he knew he had little to worry about. Being a member of the organisation gave him the ability to understand all sorts of different aspects of Australian life and it also gave him Brethren he could trust, and provided him with a great deal of confidence and support to build a new career here.” A chartered surveyor and licensed estate agent since 1986, specialising in commercial property, Keith worked in Glasgow and Edinburgh before moving to Melbourne around twenty-three years ago primarily dealing with shopping centres and retail development. He insists that he gained many valuable skills from his association with the craft: “certainly dispute resolution and public speaking but also understanding the different backgrounds of people, their culture, pressure points and positives to use in negotiations. Essentially Keith's work is about building relationships with clients and people, and Freemasonry allowed me to relate to people better, and thus gain their trust.” Formerly of the Lodge of Paisley St James in Scotland, Keith is currently the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Victoria and is a member of both Seavic , Earl of Dunmore and Amalthea Lodges. Keith appreciates the ability to extend the benefits of Freemasonry to his wife of 27 years. They have travelled across Victoria but also internationally and have formed many friendships which they both would call life-time friendships through freemasonry. At his installation as Grand Master, over 1200 people attended with many Jurisdictions represented including Scotland, China, India, Canada, The Bahamas, France, to name but a few.

Angus Mitchell Oration: "The Humanitarian Imperative to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons" Tilman Ruff is a public health and infectious diseases physician; Co-President of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War since 2012 (Nobel Peace Prize 1985); and co-founder and founding international and Australian Chair of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), awarded the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize “for its work to draw attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons and for its ground-breaking efforts to achieve a treaty-based prohibition of such weapons". Dr Ruff is Associate Professor in University of Melbourne's Nossal Institute for Global Health, which he helped establish. Tilman was the first civil society representative on Australian nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty delegations, civil society advisor to the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament, and a delegate to the landmark Conferences on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons in Norway, Mexico and Austria (2013-4). In 2017, he led the IPPNW delegation in New York throughout the UN General Assembly negotiation and adoption of the historic Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. In support of the treaty, he helped build a continuing collaboration between IPPNW and the largest international health federations - the World Medical Association, the World Federation of Public Health Associations and the International Council of Nurses. An IPPNW member since 1982, Dr Ruff has served as International Councillor for Australia, Boston-based consultant on policy and programs, and SE Asia-Pacific Vice-President. He is a past national president of IPPNW's Australian affiliate, the Medical Association for Prevention of War. Dr Ruff has clinical interests in immunisation and travel medicine, with over 22 years as Australian Red Cross international medical advisor. He was first to document links between outbreaks of ciguatera fish poisoning and nuclear testing in the Pacific. The inaugural head of travel medicine at Fairfield Hospital and then Royal Melbourne Hospital; Dr Ruff worked on hepatitis B control and maternal and child health in Indonesia and Pacific island countries with Burnet Institute, UNICEF and WHO; spent 5 years as regional medical director for an international vaccine manufacturer, and is a foundation member and serving his third term on the WHO Western Pacific Region Hepatitis B Immunisation Expert Resource Panel. Dr Ruff was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2012 “for service to the promotion of peace as an advocate for the abolition of nuclear weapons, and to public health through the promotion of immunisation programs in the South-East Asia – Pacific region”.

Speaking on “Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA): protecting and enhancing Australia's reputation for quality higher education”. Before joining TEQSA as CEO in October 2015, Anthony McClaran was the Chief Executive of the UK's Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) for six years (2009-2015) and prior to that the Chief Executive of the UK's national agencies for higher education admissions, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) and the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR) between 2003 and 2009. Anthony has held several leadership positions in the higher education sector, including roles in the University of Warwick and the University of Hull. He was previously a member of the Board of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA). Anthony is a member of the Board of the International Network of Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE) and the Advisory Council of the US Council for HE Accreditation (CHEA) International Quality Group. He is currently on the steering groups for the National Student Partnership Project and the National Peer Assessment Project, and is a member of the Audit Committee of the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) and the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (AUASB). Anthony has held a number of school governance appointments and was Deputy Chair of Governors at the John Lyon School and Chair of Governors at All Saints' Academy, both in the UK, before moving to Australia in 2015 to take up his current position.

Rob joined the Board of YHA Victoria in 1989 when the CEO was John Mitchell a long-standing member of the club who passed away in 2016. Rob became the Chair of YHA Victoria in 1992 and a member of the National AYHA Board. He served as Vice Chair of AYHA, and in 1998 was the first Australian to be elected to the International Board. In 2004 and again in 2010 he was elected as a Vice President. During his time on the international board, he served as Chair or a member of many Committees including, Finance, IT, Marketing and the Asian Regional Committee. In 2014 he was elected as Chair in Australia during the time that the mergers of the State based organizations were taking place. He was the first Chair of the single National organization, YHA Australia when the mergers were completed in 2017. In October 2018 Rob ran for and was elected to the position of President of Hostelling International at the conference in Iceland. He is the first Australian to be elected to this position. He continues to serve as a Director of YHA Australia.

Benetas is one of the leading not-for-profit providers to older Australians of residential care, in-home care, respite care, allied health and retirement living in Victoria. Sandra Hills joined Benetas in 2009 with career experience in local and state government and the not for profit sector and has qualifications spanning: nursing, psychology, research and business management. Under Sandra's leadership, Benetas has diversified its services to meet new and future demand with a specific focus on innovation, research, workforce development and sustainable fiscal growth. Sandra was acknowledged for her service to aged care and promoting women in the workplace in Victoria with a Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the General Division, in the 2017 Queens Birthday Honour List. Sandra was also nominated as a finalist for the 2016 AHRI CEO Diversity Champion Award and is a Workplace Gender Equality Agency and Pay Equity Ambassador. Benetas has developed a recognised contribution in the research and advocacy space and the future focus will be on translating research into practice. As a voice and advocate for older people, Sandra's published works span topics including social isolation, consumer engagement, promotion of a good ageing and end of life experience, quality and best practice, and a future reform agenda. Benetas has committed to expanding its role in aged and community care and continues to influence debate and discussion on key topics. Sandra continues to work in leadership roles within the community including as a long-serving ex-Director and Vice President of Leading Aged Services Victoria (LASA), and its predecessors, Director of Anglicare Australia, a member of the National Aged Care Alliance and Director, Community Chefs.