14 July 2009 - Scott Bocskay – Sustainability in a Changing Environment

Scott Bocskay is the Melbourne City Director for the Clinton Foundation’s, Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI). 

One of the pre-eminent environmental thinkers in Australia, Scott has extensive experience in working with business, government and property owners on how to deal with climate change with profitable outcomes.

The Clinton Climate Initiative is making a difference in the fight against climate change in practical, measurable and significant ways, by working with 40 of the world's largest cities to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The CCI is working with the City of Melbourne on accelerating the rate of retrofit activity within the City and focusing on unlocking over $2 billion in investment in its building stock.

28 July 2009 - Thom Woodroofe – Left Right Think-Tank

Thom Woodroofe, 19, is the founder and Executive Director of Left Right Think-Tank, Australia’s first independent and non-partisan think-tank of young minds, and the 2009 Young Victorian of the Year.

Established in early 2008, Left Right’s mission is to involve young people in public policy. Its vision is for a society that seeks and embraces the ideas of young people.

For Thom's bio, please Click here.

25 August 2009 - Gerard O'Neill – International Healthy Parks Healthy People Congress 2010

Gerard is the Deputy Chief Executive at Parks Victoria and is based in Parks Victoria’s central office in Melbourne. In his current role, Gerard is responsible for assisting the CEO in leading and managing the agency and as a member of Parks Victoria’s five person Executive Team, Gerard’s role extends into governance, corporate strategy, business planning and budgeting.

Gerard is responsible for leading the Bays and Maritime Division, which in addition to being responsible for all our water based activities and programs, is also leading the bays and maritime initiative that seeks to achieve better opportunities for Victorians to enjoy our bays and waterways.

Gerard has been active in the Healthy Parks Healthy People (HPHP) program pioneered by Parks Victoria and his role in park management is supported by extensive experience in national park, public land and fire management across Victoria and in the Northern Territory.

1 September 2009 - BALIBO Film Night - introduction by Kevin Bailey – Honorary Consul General for East Timor in Melbourne

The Rotary Club of Southbank invites you to a special screening of BALIBO to celebrate the independence of Timor Leste (East Timor).  East Timor 1975: Five journalists are missing.  One man searches for the truth.  One man fights for justice.

For more information, see: http://www.rotary.to/bulletin/images/2010/balibo.pdf

Please book online at http://www.rotary.to/balibofilmnight

Kevin is the Honorary Timor Leste Consul General for Melbourne, and Executive Chairman of The Money Managers Ltd

In 1999 he was awarded a Williamson Fellowship by Leadership Victoria.

Kevin is an enthusiastic and active member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA), which has 15,000 members nationally. He is a former director who sat on the National Board. He was the Victorian State Chairman in 1995/96, and has held board responsibilities for both initial and continuing education and public awareness. He has also held the position of Chairman of the Victorian State Practitioners Committee, the Secretary of the National Practitioners Advisory Committee and the Practitioners Assessment Committee. Also to his credit, Kevin was a member of the National Committee for the Review of Rules of Professional Conduct and Code of Ethics, and also sat on the Validation Group during the drafting of Competency Standards for Financial Planning. In 2003 he was awarded a Distinguished Service Award by the Financial Planning Association and was subsequently made a Fellow in May 2005.

Kevin has served on the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) Industry Liaison Committee. He is past chairman of the FPA Victorian Professional Development Committee and the FPA Professional Development (P.D.) Editorial Committee. He was also a member of the National Disciplinary Committee entrusted with the maintenance and enforcement of high standards of professional conduct for members of the FPA.

He is a former SAS soldier.

(Source: http://www.xananatrust.org/ProfileBailey)

8 September 2009 - Dr Judith Slocombe – CEO of the Alana and Madeleine Foundation

CEO of The Alannah and Madeline Foundation, Dr Judith Slocombe is renowned for the dedication and vision which has seen her achieve Australia’s most highly regarded award for women in business - the Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year.

Holding an MBA from the Melbourne Business School as well as veterinary qualifications, Judith’s work in small business saw her redefine veterinary pathology before she transitioned into the corporate world as the Group General Manager of Gribbles Group.

Managing a portfolio of Board positions, including the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Open Universities Australia and VicHealth, as well being the Chair of the Animal Welfare League of Victoria, Judith’s success is all the more remarkable for the fact that she has achieved such professional accolades whilst raising nine children with her husband, Professor Ron Slocombe.

6 October 2009 - Anne Mitchell, manager, STEPS Outreach Service & Dean Troth, Development Manager, Concern Australia

Anne Mitchell is the manager of Steps Outreach Service, a program run by Concern Australia.  Anne has been working for Steps and meeting young homeless people at Flinders St Station at night time for 12 years.  Anne was a primary school teacher and welfare coordinator at a primary school for 14 years, then changed careers to work for Concern Australia.  She has postgraduate qualifications in Student Welfare and in Drugs and Alcohol.  Anne has 3 sons who are all in their 20’s and lives in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges.  Dean Troth will also be speaking about STEPS.

Dean Troth is the Development Manager of Concern Australia.  a program run by Concern Australia.  Dean has worked for then Leader of the Democrats, Natasha Stott Despoja and in other corporate positions.  Dean had an accident whilst holidaying overseas, resulting in injuries so serious he was not expected to survive.  Not only did Dean survive but against all odds, made a fully recover.  This life-changing experience gave Dean a new direction in life and he is now intent on moving Concern Australia from a small, community based charity that prides itself on dealing with the person as a whole, rather than the issue…. to A LARGE community-based charity that has exactly the same focus.

1 December 2009 - Morris Miselowski - Your Eye on the Future

Morris Miselowski's extensive career reveals a life immersed in high-level business, welfare organizations and in the community.

Principal and founder of ‘Success through Focus’, Morris is in constant demand as a business futurist and consultant to some of Australia’s leading companies, state and federal government institutions and provides his expertise to start-up and growing businesses.  Morris also works with thousands of CEOs and key decision makers around the world, as a guide and business mentor.

Educated at Melbourne University, Morris has numerous business qualifications and accreditations and has won many awards.  His business acumen is displayed in the profitable sales of several companies which he developed, grew and sold. In the corporate world, he's been involved in the daily operation of seven publicly listed companies, welfare and human resource organizations, and has also developed multi-million dollar projects in local, national and international arenas.

Morris has lectured in Marketing and Management through to post graduate level at universities and TAFE Colleges around Australia. He still writes curriculum documents and training manuals, and provides lecturers to TAFE to teach his material.

His speaking specialty and business-orientation is future-vision.

Morris foresees an unlimited future for those companies which take the time to prepare and strategize for the future NOW.

(Source: http://www.morrisyoureyeonthefuture.com/)

2 February 2010 - Geoff Kelly - Kelly Strategic Influence

Geoff Kelly set up consulting and coaching practice Kelly Strategic Influence Pty Ltd in 2001.

He is a widely respected expert in leadership influence. He works with clients who know their success depends on commitment - the extent to which they can get key staff, suppliers, customers and others to commit fully to their ideas and strategies.

Geoff also is an in-demand speaker, writer and executive coach on leadership influence, persuasion, and applying leadership communication to achieving business results. He runs a course on strategic communication for graduate students at RMIT University , is a frequent speaker at the Australian Institute of Management, other professional associations and the national conferences of various organisations. He is also an excellent executive writer, and regularly publishes articles in professional magazines and journals.

He became a Fellow of the Public Relations Institute of Australia in 2000, and is a member of the Australian Institute of Management, the Public Relations Society of America, and the US based Society for the Advancement of Consulting.

(source: http://www.kellystrategicinfluence.com.au/)

2 March 2010 - Darren Williams - The Substation - Hobsons Bay Community Arts Centre

In 1996, local residents initiated a project to restore and redevelop the derelict Newport Railway Substation to create the Hobsons Bay Community Arts Centre (HBCAC).  This major restoration project delivered many employment and training opportunities for the unemployed of the western region.  The substantial community endeavour resulted in the opening of The Substation in 2008.  The Substation is fast becoming a focal point for the visual and performing arts for Hobsons Bay and the wider western region of Melbourne.   The HBCAC is a non-government organisation,  with strong partnerships with community, industry and all levels of government.   Funding has recently been made available to complete the redevelopment of The Substation.  The work will both enhance the industrial heritage of the building and further develop a world-class centre which will provide a catalyst for the artistic development of individuals and communities.  Recognising that its strength is built from the local community, the Hobsons Bay Community Arts Centre aims to ensure that The Substation will be able to integrate, nurture and celebrate a diverse expression of the arts based on the interplay between professional and grass roots; the international, national and local; the mainstream, the disadvantaged and the marginalised. 

Darren Williams is the founder and President of the project.  A Newport resident and self-employed glazier, Darren has lead the group of committed volunteers to create a wonderful asset for the western region.