Events

Dan Adler is a past President of the Rotary Club of Brisbane (2020–21) and a passionate advocate for making Rotary more engaging and accessible. A marketing and digital strategy expert, he runs Next Thursday, a creative agency helping brands connect with their audiences.

Dan first joined Rotary to give back, but he stayed because of the community, purpose, and great conversations. He’s been a driving force in modernising the Club’s outreach and bringing in new faces.

At our 1st Monday Social Evening, Dan will share his Rotary journey—how he got involved, why he’s still here, and how Rotary can thrive in today’s world. Come along for an insightful and casual chat!

Justin Maher is the Program Coordinator for the Salvation Army’s Drive for Life initiative, a program dedicated to helping young adults gain the skills and confidence needed to achieve their driver’s licence and greater independence. With a strong background in mentoring and community support, Justin works closely with participants, volunteers, and supporters to ensure the program provides valuable guidance and practical experience. His role involves coordinating training, fostering partnerships, and advocating for safer, more accessible pathways to mobility for young people. Through his work, Justin is committed to helping participants drive towards a better future by equipping them with essential life skills and opportunities.

The Rotary Club of Brisbane welcomes Emily Skilbeck, Founder of REACH Siem Reap, as our guest speaker on Monday, 17 March 2025. She will be joined by Paul Roger, Past District Governor and Ian Haylor, Past President of the Dalby Rotary Club and a REACH board member.

Originally from Melbourne, Emily first visited Cambodia as a volunteer at 18, a life-changing experience that led her to return and establish REACH, a grassroots organisation dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty through education and family support. REACH provides free schooling, vocational training, and essential services for entire families, empowering communities and creating lasting change.

With strong support from Australian Rotary Clubs, including Greater Springfield and Dalby, REACH continues to grow, helping vulnerable families build a better future.

Join us on 17 March to hear Emily’s inspiring story and learn how Rotary can support meaningful change.

​Celia Grenning is a distinguished agronomist with over three decades of experience in international development. A University of Queensland alumna, she began her career in 1983 and has since made significant contributions to agricultural and community development across the Asia-Pacific and Africa. 

In 2003, Celia co-founded the Kyeema Foundation, a Brisbane-based not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving the health and prosperity of marginalised communities and their environments. She served as CEO until her retirement in 2022.

Celia Grenning’s presentation will explore the challenges faced by LGBT individuals in countries where Rotary operates, particularly in regions where same-sex relationships are criminalised. Drawing on her extensive experience working in Papua New Guinea, Celia will highlight the impact of discriminatory laws, hate crimes, and social stigma on LGBT communities. Her talk will provide valuable insights into the intersection of human rights, cultural norms, and international development, fostering a discussion on how Rotary can contribute to inclusivity and support marginalised groups worldwide.

Currently, Celia volunteers as the Finance Manager at Kyeema, where she continues to influence projects that integrate agriculture, environmental conservation, and community well-being. Her work in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is particularly noteworthy; she has been instrumental in projects that combine village chicken farming with coral reef restoration to enhance food security and promote sustainable livelihoods in coastal communities.

Celia's enduring commitment to sustainable development and community empowerment exemplifies the values of service and leadership that Rotary upholds.​

Mário César Martins de Camargo - via video

Rotary International President-elect 2024-25
Rotary Club de Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil

Mário César Martins de Camargo is a business consultant in the printing industry and a dedicated Rotarian since 1980. Over the years, he has served as an RI Director, Trustee, and on key committees focused on membership growth, The Rotary Foundation, and global health initiatives.

As President-elect, de Camargo champions the three pillars of Innovation, Continuity, and Partnership, ensuring that Rotary evolves while staying true to its mission. He believes that Rotary’s unique global network gives us the power to drive meaningful change, both locally and internationally.

A strong advocate for service and sustainability, he emphasises the importance of strengthening clubs, embracing new ideas, and collaborating with strategic partners to expand Rotary’s reach and impact.

In this video, he shares his vision and how we, as Rotarians, can contribute to shaping a better future.

Jeanette Johnstone, a retired Business Analyst and Project Manager from the Queensland Department of Education, has dedicated her post-retirement years to revolutionizing education in underserved regions. As a committed member of the Rotary Club of Paddington, Queensland, she founded the 'Teacher in a Box' (TIB) initiative, a testament to her unwavering commitment to global education.

The inception of TIB traces back to 2012 during a Rotary visit to Arusha, Tanzania. Jeanette observed firsthand the acute shortage of teaching resources in local schools and the challenges posed by unreliable and costly internet access.Determined to bridge this educational divide, she envisioned an offline solution to deliver quality educational content to these communities.​

Collaborating with Patrick Hackett, an IT student and volunteer at Computers 4 Learning—a Rotary project—Jeanette transformed this vision into reality. Together, they repurposed donated laptops, equipping them with a vast array of educational materials, including videos, lessons, and books. These laptops, when connected to a small router, can share content with up to 100 devices, facilitating both classroom instruction and self-paced learning. This innovative approach ensures that students in remote areas, devoid of reliable internet connectivity, have access to invaluable educational resources.​

Under Jeanette's leadership, TIB has expanded its reach, making a significant impact in countries such as Liberia, Tanzania, Kenya, Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines. Her dedication has not only provided essential tools for education but has also ignited a passion for learning among countless students. Jeanette's work exemplifies the profound impact of combining technological innovation with a heartfelt commitment to service.

The Rotary Club of Brisbane is proud to be supporting this initiative. With recent funding secured for nine new Teacher in a Box units, a team including Dickson, Ken, and others will soon travel to Papua New Guinea and other locations to install the systems and train local users. It’s a powerful example of Rotary collaboration, technology, and practical action coming together to open new doors for education.

Amanda Clayton founded Hospital PJs in Brisbane after her four-year-old daughter, Sophie, suffered a stroke in 2010.Frustrated by the stark hospital gowns, Amanda began sewing colourful, adaptive pyjamas that accommodated medical equipment while restoring dignity and joy to young patients. These garments transformed Sophie’s recovery, inspiring Amanda to offer them to other children facing hospital stays.

In 2014, with support from Rotary Inner West, Amanda raised $10,000 to provide a set of these pyjamas for every bed at Brisbane’s new children’s hospital on its opening day. 

At the 2026 Rotary District 9620 Conference, President Angela Murphy met Amanda and recognised the potential of Hospital PJs to engage EarlyAct students. She proposed that children create cards to accompany the pyjamas, allowing them to contribute meaningfully to the initiative.

Today, Hospital PJs continues to brighten hospital experiences for children worldwide, offering comfort and a sense of normalcy during challenging times.

more info to follow

Shingai Gwatidzo, who recently transferred from the Rotary Club of Zimbabwe, and who holds the classification of Pharmacy.

Shingai is big on Administration and how Rotary Club meetings and events should be traditionally run consistently around the world and brings a wealth of knowledge to The Rotary Club of Brisbane. Shingai will be doing a presentation on how they successfully run their Club over in Zimbabwe and will share some insights that no doubt will help shape our Brisbane Club going forward.

Shingai recently accepted the role as Administration Chair and we look forward to Shingai’s contribution, helping make a difference locally and connecting our two clubs together globally so both clubs can benefit from his membership here in Brisbane.