BIO – Magnus Uvenfeldt: Panelist
Magnus Uvenfeldt – Rotary Club Halmstad-Norre Port; D2400 – Sweden, Zone 17: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: President: 2019-20; Chair, Ssenyange Education project 2017
District: DGN 2400, 2021-22; TRF Committee 2021-
Personal Information:
Together with my wife I´m living in Halmstad which is a small city in southern part of Sweden. In my spare time I’m an active local politician and enjoys meeting friends, travel to new places and taking care of house and garden. In my professional life I´m a Global Quality Director within Essity which is a leading global producer of Health and Medical products as well as Tissue products.
BIO – Hala Ghoussoub: Panelist
Hala Ghoussoub – Rotaract Club of Sahel Metn; D2452 – Lebanon, Armenia, Bahrain, Cyprus, Jordan, Georgia, UAE, Sudan, Palestine. Zone 21B : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: Rotaract President 2017 - 2018; Director of community Service; Director of Finance;
District: Vice DRR for Lebanon 2018 - 2019; Deputy DRR for District 2452 2019 - 2020; Rotaract Academy President District 2452 2020 - 2021; Rotaract District Conference Chairperson 2021 – 2022
Zone: Assistant Rotary Coordinator Zone 21B 2021 – 2022
Trainer: RAC members & club Leaders in Lebanon 2018 - 2021; Training District 2452 Rotaract Leaders 2020 - 2021; RAC members & Leaders in Cyprus, UAE, Jordan, Armenia, Bahrain, Georgia, 2020 - 2021
Personal information: Architect & an entrepreneur. Founder of Show Me Lebanon, a tourism social enterprise that focuses on showing the real image of her country by providing cultural authentic experiences and supporting the economic development of less known regions. Her biggest passion is Lebanon, its culture and its people.
A committed Rotaract member since 2015 which she describes as a life changing experience. Since she has joined Rotaract she has been working to achieve an impact around her through her involvement in different service projects and initiatives. One of the Rotaractors who organized and managed a disaster relief initiative and an aid drive post Beirut port explosion where more than 200 Rotaractors volunteered on a daily basis & more than 800 families were helped.
BIO – Irena A. Brichta: Institute Chair
Irena A. Brichta – Rotary Club Prague International; D2240 – Czech Republic & Slovak Republic, Zone 21A: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: Founder member; President: 1998-99; 2010-11; Vocational Service Chair 2020-22; Chair, Disaster Aid Europe (a project of RC Prague International) 2018 -
District: DG2013-14; Membership, New Clubs & Alumni Chair 2016-22; DGN Nomination Committee Chair 2017-2020; Vice Governor 2020-22
Zone: Multi Zone Institute Chair, Prague Sept 2021; Chair Zone 21 ‘Women are the Inspiration’ Conference, Prague 2019; ARRFC Zone 19p 2015-17; Chairman RI Director Nomination Committee, Prague 2014
RI President’s Special Representative to Rotary clubs of Siberia & Far East Russia 2016-2018
Trainer: Training Leader - RI International Assembly 2016 & 2017; RI Training Leader GETS: 2016 Madrid; TL GETS, GNTS: 2017 Cluj Rumania; TL GETS 2019 Dubrovnik; TL GETS 2020 Athens
Awards: Thomas Bata D2240 Award 2021; PHF-3 sapphires
Personal information: happily married to Rotarian Stuart Amesbury and together we work & play to make a difference & change lives, especially through our work for Disaster Aid Europe, a project of our club.
Bio-Ayse Mine Ergun: Panelist
Ayse Mine Ergun– Rotary Club of Samsun; D2430 – Turkey, Zone 21B: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: Member since 2015, Vice President 2021-22, President Elect 2022-23; Secretary 2016-17, Youth Exchange Officer 2018-19, Youth Service Chair 2020-21; RYLA Committee Chair 2020-21, Adviser Rotarian to Rotaract Club of Samsun 2020-21, Rotaract Club of Samsun Foundation Committee Chair 2020-21
District: Friendship Exchange Indiana-USA Team Leader 2016-17; Women Rotarians Committee Chair 2018-19; Foreign Clubs Communication Committee Chair 2019-20; Friendship Exchange Committee Member 2021-22, District Assembly and Conference Simultaneous Translator since 2005 (since Rotaractor times)
Zone: Zone 20B Institute Antalya 2015 & Zone 20B Gaziantep 2019 participant and translator
Europe: Synergy Rotary Friendship Alliance Europe Country Representative&Rotaract Coordinator
Awards: PHF, Benefactor
Personal Information: Studied Translation & Interpretation (French-English-Turkish) in Bilkent University Ankara and worked actively as a simultaneous translator for 10 years (worldwide-for international companies and NGOs). Since 2014, owns & runs a kindergarten (Dream College, ages 3-6) & nursery (Dream School, ages below 3) offering English-Turkish pre-school education. Still works as translator providing language coaching services for kids & adults. Member of SAMSIAD- Samsun Industry and Business Association since 2019. Hobbies: cooking, biking, travelling and decoration. Passionate about exploring, volunteering and life itself!
BIO – Peter Eklund: Panelist
Peter Eklund– Rotary Club Uppsala Linné; D2350 – Sweden, Zone 17:
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Club: Member since 2008; President: 2011-12, 2019-20; TRF Chair 2021-22; Member of Club Board 2009-2022; Secretary: 2009-10,
District: DG: 2017-18; ADG: 2013-2016; District International Service Chair 2018-2022; Rotary
Friendship Exchange Chair: 2019-20; District Nomination Committee Chair 2021-2022
Awards: PHF-3 rubies
Others: Major Donor; Chairman of professional vocational mentors: 2018-2022; Chairman of the Mutomo projects: 2019-2023
Personal information: Married to Krystyna, father of Andreas, Marcus and Martin, one cat named Zeusen, one dog named Zigge
BIO – Mingailė Subačiūtė: Speaker
Mingailė Subačiūtė – Rotary E-Club of Laisve; D1462 – Lithuania, Zone 18: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Clubs: Rotary E-Club of Laisve - Charter President (2020-22); Rotary Club Vilnius Lituanica International: Honorary Member (Since 2020), Club Membership Chair (2019-20), Co-founder / Charter Member (2019); Rotaract Club Vilnius International: Club President (2016-17) Charter Member (2015-19)
District: District Rotaract Chair (2019-22); District Rotaract Representative (2017-18)
Zone: Assistant Rotary Coordinator, Zone 18 (2019-22)
Awards: D1462 National Rotary Award 2021
Personal information: A long time active member of Rotary, having spearheaded an initiative to increase membership numbers in the District and in Zone 18. Through her initiative, several Rotaract and Rotary clubs have been created. Her most recent project was the initiation of the first e-club in Lithuania.
BIO – Christina Covotsou-Patroclou: Moderator
Christina Covotsou-Patroclou – Rotary Club Limassol Berengaria Cosmopolitan; D2452 – Armenia, Bahrain, Cyprus, Georgia, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Sudan, UAE, Zone 21B: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: President 2002-2003, 2005 -2006
District: DG 2017-18, DG Executive Committee 1998-99, GSE District Chair 1998-99, AG 2009-2012, DC Organizing Committee Chair 2013, Deputy DG for Cyprus 2013-14, District Fundraising Committee Chair 2015-2016, DRFC 2019-2020
Host DG of WASH Presidential Peace Conference Feb 2018,
Previously: 1977 Founder Interact Cyprus, 1986 Founder Rotaract Cyprus, 1988-89 DRR
Zone: ARC 2013-2016, EPNZC 2019-2020, RRFC 2020-2023; Chairman OC Institute 2022
Trainer: RI International Assembly 2020 & 2021; GNTS Training Leader: Athens 2020, GETS Zone Training Leader Prague 2021, Lead Facilitator: RGLI 2022
Awards: Major Donor Level 1
Personal information: happily married to Rotarian Patroclos Patroclou and parents to Jenny, a Lawyer, and Nelly an Economist.
BIO – Dirk Lustig: Panelist
Dirk Lustig – Rotary Club Kyiv Multinational; D2232 – Belarus/Ukraine, Zone 21A: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: President: 2010-2011; 2020-2021; Membership Chair 2021-2022
District: Chair Peacebuilding Committee 2019-2022
Awards: PHF 2013
Personal Information: Born in Geneva/Switzerland. Graduated University of Geneva. Former Associate Board Member World Economic Forum. 25 years entrepreneur in Ukraine.
Peace Initiatives: Drafted the Rotary Peacebuilding Initiative for Ukraine, an ongoing process, not limited in time, which serves as a platform to Rotary Clubs and local & international stakeholders to help to ease the burden and consequences of the war in Donbas and annexation of Crimea, as well as to support peacebuilding through dialogue, conflict resolution and reconciliation.
Since 2014, have made more than 40 trips to the conflict zone in the Donbas/Ukraine, to GCA (Government Controlled Area) and NGCA (Non-Government Controlled Area).
May 2019 – Organisor and Chair First Ukrainian Rotary Peacebuilding Roundtable in Kyiv, attended by the President of Rotary International Mark Maloney, high officials from the Ukrainian Government as well as representatives of most major international organisations such as ICRC and UNHCR.
June 2019 - Plenary speaker at the international Rotary Peace Symposium in Hamburg.
June 2020 - Facilitator at the 1st online Global Cyber Peace Conference, incl. Opening Session with RI President Holger Knaack.
Nov 2020 - Presenting project "Explosive Hazard Clearance in Eastern Ukraine" at the first RPPI - Rotarian Peace Projects Incubator online.
Nov 2020 - Speaker at the Geneva Peace Week online. "A holistic approach to internal and external peace-building in post conflict communities".
June 2021 – 2nd online Global Peace Conference, presenting project “Let’s Talk again!”, building bridges across conflict-divided communities by engaging young people in dialogue.
2019 mediation training - "Introduction in Peacebuilding: techniques for negotiating understanding" by Dignity Space, Ukrainian Centre for Nonviolent Communication & Reconciliation.
2020 "Peace Conversation Facilitation" (PCF) professional development training by Mediators Beyond Border International.
Bio – Jan Lucas Ket_Speaker
Rotary Club of Purmerend, The Netherlands
Rotary International Director 2019-2021
Jan Lucas Ket retired in 2011 from Waterland Hospital, where he had been a pediatrician for 30 years -- treating 20,000 children and one baby gorilla -- and served as chair of the hospital’s medical staff. Ket participated in national and regional teams and networks for pediatrics and child health. He is vice president of the Waterland School for Music.
During his tenure in the Board of RI he was especially involved in the implementation of ‘Environment’ as area of focus of Rotary and its Foundation and in the taskforce on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. As chair of the Programs Committee, he focused on enhancing Rotary’s impact, promoting the strength and governance of Rotary Action Groups.
A Rotarian since 1988, Ket has been a member of The Rotary Foundation’s Cadre of Technical Advisers, a lecturer on Rotary’s role in preventive health care for mothers and children at various international conferences. In his club president’s year (1993-1994) he was one of the godfathers of the Rotary Club of Jihlava, Czech Republic. He served his district as governor in 2013-2014 and as trainer and secretary.
Ket and his wife, Milou, have hosted Rotary Youth Exchange students and Group Study Exchange members. They are both Paul Harris Fellows and invested in the future as Major Donors, Benefactors and Bequest Society Members of The Rotary Foundation.
BIO – Dr. Harriette F. Verwey: Speaker
Dr. Harriette F. Verwey – Rotary Club Leiden AM; D1600 – Netherland, Zone 20B
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: Became member of Rotary in 2002; President: 2004-05; Youth Service Chair 2005- 2008;
District: DG2017-18; Chair, District Youth Service 2009-16; Chair District Rotary Leadership Institute, 2018- present; DMC 2018-2020
Zone: RRFC, Region 22: 2019-22
Trainer: Trainer at Rotary Leadership Institute; R I Training Leader GETS: 2019 Catania; GETS, GNTS Zone 20B 2020
Awards: PHF-3 sapphires, Major Donor level 1 and Bequest Society Level 2
Personal information: Cardiologist, retired; PhD in Science. Associated Professor at University of Leiden, Netherlands and Leiden University Medical Centre, retired. I am a happy, single and proud Rotarian
Bio-Mark Krawczynski_Speaker
Mark Krawczynski: Past President Rotary Club Warszawa City. District 2231 Poland. Zone 18
Acting Chair of Host Organizing Committee for Warsaw’s bid for RI Convention (2016-19)
Founding Director of Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group - ESRAG, (2015-17).
Assistant Public Image Coordinator 2018-21 and multiple presenter/trainer
Member of the Board of BASRAN (Baltic Sea Regional Action Network)
Chair of District Promotions Committee for RI Conventions in Seoul, Atlanta, Toronto and Houston.
TRF Major Donor
Environmental Architect, Construction Manager, Motivational Speaker, Company Director, Film Producer and Composer (“We Care for Our World”).
Born in Poland, then lived 47 years in Australia.
Visited over 50 countries and lectured in most of them about mutual respect, peace building and creating positive mindsets. Lives in Poland since 2004.
Presenter at Breakout Session at RI Conventions in Seoul and Hamburg as well as Rotary Peace Conference in Coventry.
Supervising Architect on the rebuilding of the famous Sydney Opera House including 3 new floors underwater. .
BIO – Matti Honkala: Partners’ Trainer
Matti Honkala – Pietari Brahe Rotary Club; D 1385 – Finland, Zone 17: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: Member since 1987; President: 1995-96
District: DG 2001-02; District Rotary Foundation Chair 2006-11, District Trainer 2013-19,
CoL Delegate D 1400 2010, 2013, GSE team leader to D 7570 Virginia/Tennessee, USA in 2005, D1400 Representative in RI Director Nominating Committee for Z 15&16 2010
National: Chair of EndPolioNow Committee of Finland’s Rotary 2010-15, in charge of the EPN project in Afghanistan with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland 2010-15
Zone: Rotary Coordinator Z 15 2010-12, Endowment/Major Gifts Adviser Z 15 2014-17 and as a member of E/MGA Leadership Team 2017-18.
International: National Polio Advocacy Adviser of Finland 2011 -, RI President’s Representative 2008, 2017 and 2018
Trainer: Rotary Leadership Institute Faculty Trainer since 2013, Chair of Training Committee of Finland’s Rotary 2017-19, RI International Assembly DGE Partners’ Trainer 2016 & 2017; Training Leader GETS/GNTS 2020 Oulu
Awards: The Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service 2010, Regional Service Award for a Polio-Free World 2013, Rotary international Service Above Self Award 2016. Honorary title by the President of Finland 2019.
Personal information: Married to RID Virpi Honkala, and two daughters and one granddaughter. Passionate about polio eradication and supporting The Rotary Foundation. Members of WASRAG and International Golfing Fellowship of Rotarians. Virpi and Matti have participated in 16 RI Conventions (and additional 2 virtual ones) and over 20 RI Institutes.
Virpi and Matti are both Major Donors, members of Paul Harris Society and Bequest Society.
BIO- Lungiswa Gwaai (The story of Lungie)
Lungiswa Gwaai –Rotary Club of Newlands, District 9350 – South Africa: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: Interact President (2007-2008) RYLA senior facilitator (2008), Long term youth exchange in Brazil (2009-2010), Rotaract (2019-2021), Rotarian (since 2018)
District no. 9350 – member: D5370 as exchange student.
Trainer: Partnership Manager at LEAP Science and Maths School and Community officer for Langa Community ECD Excellence.
Awards: Rotary Youth Awards, Paul Harris, One World Award (The story of Lungie), Silver screen Award (The story of Lungie) Best Champion Teen Entrepreneurs Trainer.
Personal information: I’m a mother of one child (daughter), I’m passionate about people, making a difference in the world is what I enjoy doing. Giving back to the community bringing people together and working hard to live goodwill. There’s nothing more rewarding than giving back and making a difference in the lives of people.
BIO - Tarmo Kokkola: Speaker
Tarmo Kokkola – Rotary Club of Pietari Brahe; D1385 - Finland, ZONE 17:
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Club: President: 2016-2017
District: Assistant Governor 2019 - , Chairman of the Future Committee
Trainer: AG Training Seminar 2020 (Northern Lights Institute Oulu 2020)
Awards: Major Donor
Professional information: Division Manager Co-op Osuuskauppa Arina (retail),
Personal information: Married to Outi, interested in books, movies, sports and doing good in the world. Moto Guzzi rider.
BIO – Stuart Amesbury: Speaker
Stuart Amesbury - Rotary Club Prague International; D 2240 – Czech Republic & Slovak Republic, Zone 21A: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: RC Bacup, England; since 2010 RC Prague International; Club Trainer: 2019 -
Trustee, Disaster Aid Europe, a project of RC Prague International
Trainer: Partners Training Leader - RI International Assembly 2016 & 2017; RI Partners Training Leader GETS: 2016 Madrid; TL Partners: 2017 Rumania, 2019 Dubrovnik, 2020 Athens, 2021 Prague
Personal Information: happily married to Rotarian PDG Irena Brichta and together we work & play to make a difference & change lives, especially through our work for Disaster Aid Europe, which serves to help local Rotarians to provide help and support to those victims of disasters who are rebuilding their communities.
BIO – Daniel Tanase: Speaker/Panelist
Daniel Tanase – Rotary Club Suceava Bucovina; D2241 – Romania and Republic of Moldova, Zone 21A: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: Founder member in 2002; President: 2006-2007
District: DG 2015-2016; Assistant Governor, Rotary Volunteers Chair, Rotary Community Corps Chair, Membership Development Chair and District Trainer 2016-19
Zone: RC 2020-23 Zone 21A-Region 24, ARC Zone 19(P) 2017-2020
Trainer: Training leader, Rotary International Assembly San Diego USA 2018; GNTS TL, GETS Cluj Romania 2017, Trainer GETS Madrid Spain 2016, General Trainer, GETS Dead Sea Jordan 2018; GNTS TL Dubrovnik Croatia 2019, GT GETS Athens Greece 2020.
Personal information: Married to Marlena Tanase and proud of our two lovely children Diana and Albert
Bio: PRID Gideon M. Peiper: Speaker
Personal: Gidi was born in Tel Aviv. Studied Architecture in Amsterdam, graduated 1968, worked in Holland as an architect til 1973, when he returned to Israel, joined an Architect’s office as full partner. Today he owns the office: - Lavie Peiper Architects-which specializes in design of public buildings as: retirement homes, emergency medical care stations, bank branches, office buildings and more.
Gidi is married to Chen; they have two married daughters and five grandsons.
Public voluntary works: Chairman of ELAH - Center for psycho-social support of former Dutch residents and their relatives in Israel, President of ELAH FOR EVERY ONE; Former Deputy Chairman of Platform-Israel; Founder and Chairman of IDAA, Israel Dutch Alumni Association; Executive Board - secretary Dutch-Jewish Humanitarian Fund
Public International Awards: Granted the honorary title of Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau (By the Queen of the Netherlands) for his services to the Dutch community in Israel and abroad.
Rotary: A Rotarian since 1978, member of RC of Ramat-Hasharon. DG 2490 1994-1995; DS 1991-1992, Group Study Exchange Team Leader 1990 – 1991.
Rotary International: Director Rotary International 2012 - 2014
Member of the President's conference on Middle Eastern Development Committee and moderator at The Cairo Conference, Egypt 1997. Member of the RI Negotiation Team, 1997/1998. RI Training leader 1998/1999, 1999/2000 Anaheim, USA, Zone Coordinator of Zone 14 for the Task force Membership Development 2000/2001. Zone coordinator of Zone 14 Hunger Task force 2001/2002. Member permanent fund committee for Europe and RIBI, 2002/2004, Rotary Foundation Alumni Coordinator, Zone 14 (East), 2005/2006/2007, Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator Zone 13c & part of 19. Vice Chair of ROTA- Reach out to Africa; Moderator at numerous world Rotary institutes, and Mediterranean Peace Initiative 2020.
Proud to be involved in the Global Grant “Tipa project” since 2012 including visits to Turkana – Kenya, developing futures Agriculture plans and new possibilities to enlarge the success of the project by adding more land plots, and contacting with other partners as: The Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle, The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, 35 Rotary Clubs, 15 Districts around the world and The Rotary Foundation.
Also: Paul Harris Peace Forest Committee, Chairman ICC Israel – Germany; Member Taipei Convention Committee 2021. Vice Chair Joint Committee on Partnerships; National coordinator ICCs - Inter Country Committees Rotary District 2490
Rotary Awards: Citation for Meritorious Service of TRF; Gidi and wife Chen are Major Donors
BIO – Christine Büring: Panelist
Christine Büring – Rotary Club of Altenburg, D1950 – Germany, Zone 15/16: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: Founding member 1995, President 2009/2010, Youth Exchange Chair, Chair of Club’s own Foundation
District: DG 2016-2017, Youth Exchange Chair, Assistant Governor, Youth Exchange/NGSE host from 2004-2016, RFE and Peace Chair
Zone: RI representative to various District conferences in Germany, Denmark and India (Zoom)
Trainer: Training Leader International Assemblies 2020 & 2021, GETS/GNTS Training Leader 2020, GETS/GNTS Trainer 2021
Awards: Paul Harris Society member
Personal Information: Married to a Rotarian, 2 sons:20 and 24 who have been host brothers, exchange students, NGSE and are ROTEX today. Small business owner promoting regional tourism and tourism development near Leipzig, Germany. Regional Chamber of Commerce IHK Board Member, President of National Tourism Committee of German Chambers of Commerce. I love people and to learn from and be with them
BIO – Ann-Britt Åsebol: Speaker
Ann-Britt Åsebol – Rotary Club Falun Kopparvågen; D2330– Sweden, Zone 17: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: President: 1999-2000; Secretary 2015-21, Rotary Foundation Chair 2010 -
District: DG 2002-03; District Rotaract Chair 2003-08, District RYLA Chair 2004-05, District Membership Attraction & Engagement Chair 2006-09, District New Club Development Chair 2006-09, District Family of Rotary Resource Group Coordinator 2007-08, Council on Legislation Representative 2007-11
Zone: Regional Rotary International Membership Coordinator 2004-07, Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator 2008-10
International: RI Director 2012-14, Vice Chair Audit Committee 2010-11, Executive Committee Chair 2013-14, Nominating Committee for RI President 2015, 2017, 2021, Chair of The Joint Young Leaders & Alumni Engagement Committee 2017-18, Member/Vice Chair/Chair Rotary Peace Centers Committee 2018- , Vice Chair/Chair of the Constitution & Bylaws Committee 2019 -
Chair for Organizing Committee Peace Symposium Hamburg 2018-19, Vice Chair of International Convention Committee Taipei/Virtual 2021
RI President´s representative to numerous conferences around the world.
Trainer: Training Leader RI International Assembly Anaheim/San Diego 2005-07, Trainer and Moderator GETS 2004-11, Seminar Trainer RI International Assembly San Diego 2009-10, Vice Moderator/Moderator Rotary Training Leader Institute Evanston 2017-19
Awards: Multiple Paul Harris Fellow, Benefactor, Paul Harris Society, Major Donor and Recipient of the Citation for Meritorious Service.
Personal Information: Enjoy playing with my five grandchildren – in the winter skiing together and in the summer swimming, playing different kind of ballgames and hiking in the mountains.
BIO – Pentti Aspila: Speaker
Pentti Aspila – Forssa Rotary Club; D1410 – Finland, Zone 17: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: Member since 1994; President: 2006-07; Leader of Rotary Project to introduce computers in the Kenyan Schools 2006-14
District: DG 2016-17; District Rotary Foundation Chair D 1410 2013-16, 2017-2020.
National: Chair of The Rotary Foundation Committee of Finland’s Rotary Service 2018-2021, Secretary General of Finland’s Rotary Service 2021 -
Zone: Chair of Baltic Sea Action Network (Zones 15, 17 and 18)
Chair of “Save the Baltic Sea” symposium at Z 17 & 18 Rotary Institute 2020, Oulu, Finland
Awards: Service above Self Award 2011
Personal information: Ph.D in Animal Science, Helsinki University, Finland and career in agricultural research. Until recent retirement worked as Senior Advisor in The Natural Resources Institute Finland. Married to Rotarian Marika Aspila. Member of PHS and they both are Major Donors.
BIO –Ingrid Grandum Berget: Moderator
Ingrid Grandum Berget - Rotary Club Brevik from 2018, Rotary Club Langesund 1998-2018; D2290 – Norway, Zone 18 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: President 2004-2005, CRFC 2020-2022, CYEO 2019-2022.
District: DG 2011-12, CoL Representative 2017-2023, ADG 2005-2008, District Trainer 2008-2010 and 2015-2016, District Rotary Peace Fellowships Subcommittee Chair 2017-2022, District Paul Harris Society Coordinator 2018-2022
Multi district (Norfo): Chair, 1 year, and member of the Norwegian multidistrict organization Norfo’s board 2009-2014, Archivist Norfo 2017-2022.
Zone: RRFC 2014-2017, Endowment/Major Gifts Adviser 2017- 2021, Member of the 2022 International Convention promotion team 2021.
Trainer/facilitator: Evanston EMGTI 2017, Evanston virtual RLGI 2021, Partner trainer GETS Gdansk 2019
2021-2024 Member of The Rotary Foundation Peace Major Gifts Initiative
Awards: PHF+8 sapphires; Benefactor, Major Donor, Bequest Society, Paul Harris Society
Personal Information: Leader in municipality administration and volunteer organizations; worked mainly with art & culture; latterly involved with business and property development. Married to Per Magne with 2 children & 3 grandchildren. Passionate about peace & peace building and engaged in Rotary’s role in this aspect. In 2016 established Norsk Rotary Forum Endowed Fund for the Rotary Peace Centers.
Bio – Jamil Mouawad : Speaker/Panelist
Jamil Mouawad – Rotary Club Zgharta Zawie; D2452 – Lebanon, Zone 21B
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. [Joined Rotary in 1979 in Dominican Republic]
Club: President RC Zgharta Zawie
District: DG 2013-14; District TRF Chair 2016 – 2019; Chair "WASH" Presidential Peacebuilding Conference, Lebanon: 2018-2019; District 2452 Chair – Area of Focus: Water & Sanitation 2013-2016
Successful Global Grants: Clean water to Schools in Lebanon, and ongoing Global Grants: Rehabilitation of the ICU of the Rosary Sisters’ Hospital, Beirut
Zone: Rotary Coordinator Zone 21B 2019 – 2022, ARC 2016-2019
Awards: PHF
Personal information: Happily married to Patricia Mekary with three sons: Emil, Salim and Ignacio. Owner & General Manager of Ehden Country Club. Managed many resorts around Lebanon: Country Lodge Country Club in Bsalim, Lebanon and Saifi Suites in Saifi Area, Beirut. I’m always keen to participate in seminars, conferences and training internationally to strengthen Rotarian friendship and fellowship.
BIO – Soffía Gísladóttir: Panelist
Soffía Gísladóttir – Rotary Club of Akureyri; D1360 – Iceland, Zone 18; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: A member since February 2012, President 2017-2018, Secretary 2013-2014,
District: DG 2020-202, Paul Harris Society Coordinator 2021-2022
Zone: Multi Zone Institute Chair, Reykjavik, Iceland, Sept 2022
Awards : PHF+1
Personal Information : Regional Director for the Icelandic Directorate of Labour in the North and the East of Iceland. My professional passion is to help people find their dream jobs. Married to Guðmundur Baldvin Guðmundsson, also a Rotarian, Chair of Akureyri Town Council. Together we have 7 children, the youngest one living at home and we have 6 grandchildren. Hobbies are mostly connected to outdoor activities in our beautiful nature.
BIO – George J. PODZIMEK: MC/Director of oOperations
George J. Podzimek – Rotary Club Praha – Staré Město (Prague – Old Town); D2240 – Czech Republic & Slovak Republic, Zone 21A: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: member since 1999; Executive Director: 2008 – present, President: 2007-2008, Secretary: 2004-2007
District: DGE 2022-2023, District Speaker: 2008 – present, Chairman of Editorial Board of Rotary Good News Magazine (member of Rotary World Press Magazines): 2008 – present, District PR Chair & Vice Chair: 2007 – present, Member of Website Editorial Board: 2007 – present, ICC Chair (CZ-SK-USA): 2007 – 2016, Literacy Coordinator: 2007-2008, Member of Centennial Celebration Organizing Team: 2005-2006
Rotary Foundation – D2240: Chairman of Group Study Exchange subcommittee: 2008 – 2016, Member of Group Study Exchange subcommittee: 2006/2007 & 2007/2008
Zone: Multi Zone Institute Operations Director, Prague Sept 2021; Rotary Public Image Coordinator: 2016 – 2018, Assistant Rotary Public Image Coordinator (D2240): 2014 - 2016
Trainer: GETS/GNTS: 2017 Cluj Romania.
Awards: Thomas Bata D2240 Award 2009; PHF-3 sapphires
Personal information: Dual citizenship US/Czech, Widower, 3 children: Christina J. (*1997), Sofie C. (*2000) and William M. (*2000), Hobbies: Rotary, classical music & opera, golf, skiing, outdoor activities, gardening
BIO – Rameen Moshref Javid: Panelist
Rameen Javid – Rotary Club of Kabul City, Afghanistan, Zone 21: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: Founder of Rotary Club of Kabul City and Charter President 2013-2014
President of Rotary Club of Kabul City (Afghanistan) 2021 – 2022
Rotaract: Rotaract Club at the United Nations, New York, Director 1996-1997
Awards: Paul Harris Fellow 2018
Panelist at the Rotary Multizone Institute Prague Sept 2021
Rameen Moshref Javid is an activist, a social entrepreneur and expert on Afghanistan. He acquired his Masters Degree from New York University and Princeton University. He was an active member of the Afghan community in North America 1991 - 2007, as he has devoted his career to Afghanistan. In 1997, he founded Afghan Communicator, one of the most active Afghan organizations in North America from 2002 - 2007. In 2002, Rameen was honored with the prestigious Union Square Award as the Emerging Immigrant Leader by Funds for the City of New York (a $50,000 award). Accomplishing a great deal in the Afghan community in the US, Rameen felt the need to bring that passion and experience to Afghanistan. Thus in 2007 he returned to Afghanistan to assist in the reconstruction and re-healing process. He has worked as an advisor to an Afghan Ministry and to the President of Afghanistan. Rameen Javid has worked with as senior manager in a number of international organizations. As a social entrepreneur he has contributed in supporting Afghan arts & craft, founded a number of social institutions such as The Afghanistan Yellow Pages, The Rotary Club of Kabul City and the Museum of Science & Technology. He also was invited to NASA in 2019. He has taught diplomacy and international relations at Afghanistan’s leading university and is now working to advance science and technology in Afghanistan through the Museum of Science & Technology.
Bio – Claudia Hendry / Speaker
Claudia Hendry – Rotary Club Ufenau; D2000 – Switzerland, Zone 16: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: Founder Member 2002, President: 2007-2008
District: DG 2013-2014, ADG 2010-2012, Membership Chair: 2015-2019, Co-Speaker & Co-Moderator RYLA: 2014-2021, Deputy CoL Delegate: 2014-2017
Zone: ARC 2019-2020 (Zone 14), President’s Representative: 2015-2020
International: Vice Chair 2023 Melbourne Convention: 2021-2023
Trainer: Training Leader – RI International Assembly: 2019, 2020, Training Leader Support: 2021, RI Training Leader GETS: 2019 Catania, 2020 virtual, 2021 Prague
Awards: PHF+4
Personal Information: Married to Daniel. Claudia is an independent Life & Leadership Coach. Hobbies: sport (running, hiking, biking, skiing, swimming), yoga, cooking, wine/champagne, cigars, travelling, reading
Bio: Sérgio Almeida: Speaker
Sérgio Almeida – Rotary Club de Arouca; D1970 - Portugal, Zone 20C: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: President: 20012-13 & 2013-14; Honorary member of Rotary Club de Luanda (Angola)
District: DG 2020-21; Leadership and Fellowship Commission Chair 2015-16;
Zone: Rotary Public Image Coordinator Zone 20C 2021-24; Coordinator of the Rotary Institute Madrid 2016 (District 1960&1970);
Trainer: Training Leader - RI International Assembly 2022; Speaker at the General Session RI International Assembly 2022;
Professional information: Founder of the Brain Research Institute, Neuroscience and Behaviour Reasercher, Author, Executive Mentor and Coach, Leadership and Strategy Specialist;
Personal information: Married with Olga, father of Antonio, running lover, writer and passionate about people.
Bio – Hajnalka Nemes / Speaker
Hajnalka Nemes – Rotaract Club Budapest-Margitsziget & Rotary Club Szekszárd; D1911 – Hungary, Zone 21A: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: Founder member of Rotaract Club Szekszárd: 2017, President: 2018-2019
Rotary Club Public Image Chair 2021-2022
District: Rotaract District Secretary 2018-2019, Rotaract Country Representative 2019-2020, District Rotaract Representative 2020-2021
International: Rotaract Europe MDIO – Country Representative of Hungary 2019-2020, Rotaract Europe MDIO – Marketing Officer Assistant 2021-2022
Personal information: basketball team coach, basketball referee; hobbies: exploring cultures, playing music
Sanela Music – RI Representative at UN Geneva since 1st of July 2021.
Member of Rotary Club Geneve International, District 1990 since 2016
Founder & President of SANCHILD NGO, Switzerland
Founder & Director of SANZEN Consulting Sàrl, Switzerland
Personal information: Sanela is a former refugee from Bosnia and Herzegovina currently living in Switzerland and recently nominated as one of the Rotary International representatives at UN Geneva.
She invests a lot of her time and resources in multiple volunteering activities since a very young age, she has been part of the organizing committee for Rotary Day at UN in Geneva in 2018.
She has been contributing to Geneva Peace Week platform as a speaker and moderator for 5 consecutive years now by sharing practical field experiences and peace building activities with a human centered approach.
She is a dedicated and visionary social entrepreneur and founder of an consulting company in Switzerland and even more proud founder of the NGO SANCHILD with a mission to inspire and contribute in the positive development of a culture of sustainable peace, through our programs that are built with a human-centric approach and our 4 focus pillars: well-being, education, personal and socio-economic development, as well as environmental protection.
Sanela will present the global grant “HARMONY Project, Inspire Positive Change” that has been implemented within still very sensitive post-war multicultural communities from Bosnia Herzegovina this year, with support of, Rotary International, Rotary Club Geneva International, Rotary Club Sarajevo and multiple other clubs and several districts that made this quite extraordinary project possible.
Bio - Veronicah Waithira Kinyanjui: Speaker/Panelist
Veronicah Waithira Kinyanjui – Rotary Club International Prague; D2240 – Czech Republic & Slovak Republic, Zone 21A: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: New member of RC Prague International
Personal information: I come from Kenya and have been living in Kladno near Prague for 3 years with my husband and 3 children, one of which is severely autistic. I am passionate about promoting conditions on neuro-diversity and providing help & support to parents of children living with disabilities in Kenya, and so I established the Peter James Association for these activities. My great achievement in Kenya was to persuade P&G to produce bigger diapers for older children as this is sometimes a problem for older neuro-diverse children. Together with a Nairobi PDG and his rescue team, we are planning to distribute diapers, sanitary towels, masks and sanitizers to needy ‘special needs’ families across Kenya.
I also write for Nautis- the Czech Autistic Organization’s website where I share with Czech readers the experience of raising an autistic child in Africa.
BIO – Monika Kočiová: Panelist / Speaker
Monika Kočiová – Rotary & Rotaract Club Košice; D2240 – Czech Republic & Slovak Republic, Zone 21A: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Rotaract Club: Founder President 2015-16
Rotary Club: Club Membership Chair 2020-2021, 2021-2022
District: District Rotaract Representative 2019-2020; Chair of Rotary Mentoring Program D2240
Zone: Assistant Rotary Coordinator Zone 21A 2021-2022
Personal information: A graduate of International Relations & Diplomacy at the National Political University in Taipei, Taiwan. Currently Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry Director in Košice, Slovakia – with a main focus on managing relationships with the V4 and public bodies, Academia, R&D and entrepreneurs. Also a Member of Board of civic initiative KAPA12 which advocates positive change in society.
BIO – Christiane Leitner: Speaker/Panelist
Christiane Leitner – Rotaract Club Linz; D1920 – Austria, Zone 21A This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: Secretary 2018-2020; President 2016-2017; Club Service Officer 2015-2016
District: Country Representative of Austria 2019-2020
Europe: President of Rotaract Europe 2021-2022; Vice President of Rotaract Europe2020-2021
MDIO European Rotaract Information Centre (ERIC or Rotaract Europe): The main goal of ERIC for this year is to reconnect Europe after the Pandemic. My Board and I want to achieve this goal with three main pillars: We want to try to give the local club and district project a stage within Europe. On a European level, we want to focus on the environment and sustainability. Therefore, our Social Project will be “Bee Europe”. And as a third pillar, we want to focus on peace and organise the first peace conference in Sarajevo, Bosnia.
Awards: PHF
Personal information: 1.5 years ago, I moved to Vienna, due to my new job (Finance Department of an equipment group). Besides Rotaract, I love to explore new cultures, either through travelling or reading books.
BIO – Aristotelis Vlasiadis: Speaker/Panelist
Aristotelis Vlasiadis- Rotaract Club of Kifissia-Kastri; D2470 – Greece, Zone 21B
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Club: Charter Member and President 2013-2014; Rotaract Club of Chania, D2470
Charter Member 2019-now; Rotaract Club of Kifissia-Kastri, D2470
District: DRR D2470 2020-2021; Member of TRF Committee 2470 Rotary District 2021-2022 Sergeant-at-Arms D2470 2016-2017
Awards: PHF - June 2021
Personal Information: living in Athens, Greece; graduated Engineer Mineral Resources, Chania Univ Crete; now MBA post-grad studies at Athens University of Economics & Business – completing 6/2022
BIO – Mykola Stebljanko: Trainer/Panelist
Mykola Stebljanko – Rotary E-Club of Ukraine; D2232 – Ukraine & Belarus, Zone 21A: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: ReC Ukraine Charter President 2014-201; RC Simferopol President 2013-2014,
District: DG 2019-2020, Public Image Committee Chair 2010-2013
Zone: Zone 21A Rotary Public Image Coordinator 2021-2024, Zone 19p ARPIC 2016-2019, Zone 16 ARPIC 2013-2016,
Previously: 1996 Rotaract CLub Simferopol Charter Member
Awards: Zone 16 Rotary Global Alumni Service Award 2016; PHF-2 sapphires
Personal information: happily married to Rotarian Olga Steblianko, D2232 Rotary Youth Exchange Committee Chair
Philip Staehlin CEO DOT Glasses
Philip is an innovator and a leader who blends contagious optimism with pragmatic realism. Finding solutions to hard challenges has been a lifelong passion, which served him well in his corporate and consulting careers (including roles as CEO of a $500m payments company and Managing Partner of a global management consulting firm), as well as in his startup efforts which include co-owning Central Europe’s oldest startup accelerator, founding a few startups himself, advising startups, serving as a mentor in startup accelerators across Europe, and angel investing in some of the rising stars that he sees.
Philip is driven to make a positive impact in everything he does, which includes helping to build a better civil society. He’s a Board member of Transparency International CZ, he’s helping to drive change via municipal politics, and he occasionally advises the government on topics related to innovation.
When Philip was struck with the inspiration for DOT Glasses, he felt almost obligated to turn his energies towards helping to solve one of the world’s largest and often overlooked health issues. The more he researched and analyzed the market, the more he realized that DOT Glasses could indeed be the solution that can change the world.
Philip has an MBA from INSEAD (Fontainebleau, France) and a bachelor’s degree in Economics and International Affairs from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He lives in Prague, Czech Republic.
BIO – Sergio Aragón: Panelist
Sergio Aragón – Rotary Club Barcelona Diagonal; D2202- Spain & Portugal, Zone 20 C, Region 23
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: Founding member; President: 1996-97; Secretary: 1995-96; Chair Youth Activities 1993-95
District: DG 2015-16; TRF Chair 2011-15; DGN Nomination Committee Chair 2017-2018; District Trainer 2017-18 & 2019-20; Youth Exchange Chair 1991-1995; District Secretary 1995-96
Zone: RRFC 2020-2023; R 2018-2020; Chair TRF Seminar, Rotary Institute Madrid Oct 2016; Group Moderator at Rotary Institute Amsterdam;
Trainer: Training Leader - RI International Assembly 2019 & 2020 (and 2021 as Training Leader Support); Trainer at GETS/GNTS Nuremberg 2018; Team Training Leader at GETS/GNTS Catania 2019, Amsterdam 2020 and Prague 2021
Awards: The Rotary Foundation Service Recognition; PHF-9
Personal information: happily married to Rotarian Maria Mercedes Martorell (Regional Ambassador for the Presidential Initiative Empowering Girls, and Partner trainer at IA San Diego and GETS/GNTS).
BIO – Dr Bane Randjelovic: Moderator
Dr Bane Randjelovic; Rotary Club of Nis – “Constantine the Great” (74403); D2483 – Serbia & Montenegro, Zone 21B; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: Founder member 2006; President: 2007-08; RF chair 2011-14; Techn. Secretary 2014-22
District: DG 2017-18; District Secretary 2009-10, 2012-13; District Interact Chair 2011-12; ADG 2014-15; VG (IPDG) 2018-19, DRFC 2019-20; COL delegate-alternate 2020-22
District training events: Trainer/lecturer on PETS 2008-12;2014-20; DTA 2009-12; 2014-19; DTTS 2009, 2012-20; DRF seminar 2009, 2011-19
Zone: RID Nomination Committee member, Istanbul 2018; ARC Region 24, Zone 21B 2019-20; ARC Region 25, Zone 21B 2020-22; RC Region 25, Zone 21B 2022-25.
Institute speaker: 2016 Thessaloniki Greece, 2017 Cluj Romania, 2018 Dead See Jordan; 2019 Dubrovnik Croatia, 2020 Athens, Greece.
Trainer: GETS/GNTS 2020 Athens Greece; Zone Team Training 2020 (online) Ukraine;
Awards: Major Donor (1), PHF+8, PH-Society member; District Service Award 2009-10
Personal Information: PhD in Technical Science and Applied Mathematics; University lecturer (Mathematics & Teaching of mathematics), expert in educational projects; manager and politician; Married with Valentina, father of Petar, Kosta & Anja.
BIO – Christine Davatz: Panelist
DGE Christine Davatz – Rotary Club Solothurn-Land, D1980 – Switzerland Zone 15: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: joined 2003; Program Coordinator 2006-2007; President: 2014-2015; Youth Exchange Service Officer 2008-2013
District: since 2016 member District Vocational Service D1980, since 2018 Co-Chair
Awards: PHF- 3 sapphires, RI Special Award for Vocational Service 2014 (WorldSkills)
Personal information: since 1990 happily married to Georges Davatz, daughter Selina (29), son Lukas (23); Vice-Director of Swiss Federation For SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises) responsible for all questions about education and vocational training policy in Switzerland
Aidan O’Leary, Director, WHO’s Polio Eradication Initiative
Mr Aidan O’Leary has been officially appointed as the new Director for Polio Eradication at the World Health Organization, with effect from 1 January 2021.
O’Leary brings with him a wealth of emergencies and public health experience. Originally from Ireland, he is currently Head of Office in Yemen for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in addition to having extensive experience in emergency settings such as Iraq and Syria, where he also served as Head of Office for OCHA. He is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
O’Leary also has strong experience of working on polio eradication in the remaining wild poliovirus endemic countries. He was Chief of Polio Eradication in Pakistan for UNICEF from 2015-2017 and Head of Office for OCHA in Afghanistan from 2011-2014.
Bio - Daniel Ziv: Panelist
Daniel Ziv - Interact Club Amitim Nahariya; D2490 Israel, Zone 21A: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: Founder member; President: 2019 - 2020; Secretary: 2018 - 2019; International Relationship Chair 2020-2021, 2021-2022.
Zone: Panelist at 2020 online Athens’s Institute “Peace is possible”
Youth: Board member in the youth network hosted by D6840, Rotary Interactive Quarantine (RIQ) - (As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for connection during isolation, a group of Rotary Youth program participants created Rotary Interactive Quarantine (RIQ) - an online platform hosted by District 6840 in the United States that allowed students globally to share ideas, cultures, and experiences while working on projects throughout the quarantine. RIQ held semimonthly online meetings in different formats, engaging the youth community and building relationships with Rotaract and Rotary associations
Personal information: I’m in my last year in high school, I love to travel and learn new things; apart from Interact in my free time, I’m an instructor in the youth movement “Krembo Wings” a youth movement that Integrates kids with special needs and the society.
BIO – Wibecke Natås: Moderator
Wibecke Natås – Rotary Club of Bryne; D2250 – Norway, Zone 18, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: President: 2012-13; 2013-14
District: DGN 2021-22; DRFC 2019-22
Zone: Assistant Zone Ambassador for Empowering Girls and Women, Zone 17-18
Awards: PHF+3, Paul Harris Society, Bequest Society (Level 4), Benefactor
Personal Information: My partner is PDG PHSC DT Johannes Hausken and we share a passion for Rotary and are both Charter Members of the Rotary Whiskey DRAM Fellowship. I have a Masters Degree as an Architect and currently hold a position in the Public Planning Office. I’m also involved in local politics with focus on women’s issues.
BIO – Barbara Wolf-Wicha: Panelist
Barbara Wolf-Wicha – Rotary Club Salzburg-Land, D 1920 – Austria, Zone 21A: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Club: Founding member (2007); President: 2010-11; Honorary Member of RC Kabulasoke-Gomba, Uganda, D9211 (since May 2020)
District: DG D1920: 2018-19, ADG Salzburg Nord D1920: 2011 – 2015; Chair of first Multi-District-Conference of D1910 + D1920 in 2019; Founder of ICC Austria-Tanzania-Uganda 2018; ICC chair (Austria) since 2021
Trainer: invited trainer in Rotaract and Rotary Clubs in D9211
Awards: Decoration of Honor for Services to the Republic of Austria in Gold, 1992; Badge of Merit of the State of Salzburg, 2012; PHF since 2011: PHF + 3
Personal information: Political Scientist at University of Salzburg (retired 2008); freelance journalist and editor; diplomatic career: Consul at (former) Austrian General Consulate in Berlin: 1991-1997; regular work in Uganda, training in two primary schools in Mityana “Maria Assumpta” and “Kakiri” 2019; special training in Rotary Clubs in D9211 /from 2021/2 also in D9213 and D9214/on topic amongst others, Empowerment of Girls & Women;
