Our Purpose
To enable lasting solutions that positively impact our community locally and across the world.
We are Western Australia's newest Rotary Club. Our members are a diverse range of professionals who are connected locally, nationally and internationally.
We all share the common desire to make a difference by enabling solutions that have a positive and lasting impact.
Our strength is our ability to leverage our members' collective talents and extensive networks.
We have adopted a new contemporary style of Rotary that is flexible and adaptable to professionals who have career and family obligations.
We work in a spirit of camaraderie and share our knowledge and experience.
Click here to view our Inaugural Annual Report 2020.
Our Projects
At City Rotary, we are intent on creating a diverse portfolio of high-value local, national and international projects. And as we further establish ourselves, many new ground-breaking projects are being proposed. Here are some projects that are already underway.
The Emplace Initiative.
Business building homes for people experiencing homelessness.
Inability to access housing keeps many West Australians trapped in homelessness, with over 1000 sleeping rough on our streets and another 9000 homeless people at risk in precarious accommodation. In response, City Rotary, through The Emplace Initiative, is creating a catalyst that encourages business to increase housing supply for people experiencing homelessness, based on the proven ‘Housing First’ model.
Visit The Emplace Initiative >
Supporting the “My Home” Project.
“My Home” Australasia Ltd is building affordable, energy efficient, architecturally designed homes for people experiencing homelessness, based on Housing First principles. City Rotary is supporting the implementation and scalability of the project through our Emplace Initiative and working with other Rotary Clubs to provide furniture and fittings for the homes.
Visit "My Home" Website >
A Medical Respite Centre improving the health of people experiencing homelessness
When people become homeless their health deteriorates rapidly.City Rotary works closely with Homeless Healthcare, WA’s largest provider of GP services dedicated specifically to the needs of people experiencing homelessness. We assisted Homeless Healthcare to achieve WA’s first Medical Respite Centre providing pre and post hospital care for people experiencing homelessness and we continue to provide a range of strategic planning and governance support and expertise.
Visit Homeless Healthcare website > Images courtesy of Tony McDonough, Raw Image.
Caring for the natural environment
City Rotary partners with Friends of Warwick Bushland to provide hands-on work with planting and weeding as well as exploring other opportunities.
The Friends of Warwick Bushland is a community group that cares for the 60 ha of bushland within Warwick Conservation Reserve in the City of Joondalup. They undertake activities such as biological surveys, collecting seeds, planting in degraded areas, weed control, removal of rubbish, guided walks, displays and talks, and facilitate educational activities with schools.
Friends of Warwick Bushland website >
Employment opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers
City Rotary is working with CARAD (Centre for Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Detainees) and MercyCare to increase employment opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers and reduce the time to achieve financial independence, with a focus on micro enterprise, social enterprise and developing relationships with employers. A number of initiatives are underway including research and employment readiness workshops.
In addition, as part of our partnership with CARAD, Rotary is also providing in-depth IT support, including defining IT requirements, assisting with a successful Lotterywest grant and program managing implementation.
Feedback from MercyCare about City Rotary > Image courtesy of CARAD.
Information and resources for carers of young people with eating disorders
City Rotary is working to provide evidence-based resources and educational materials for carers of young people with eating disorders. Resources will be made available to Eating Disorders Families Australia (EDFA) for publishing on their website as fact sheets.
Clothing and toiletries for street homeless people
City Rotary supports Street Friends WA, a not for profit that is run entirely by volunteers.
From its base in East Perth, Street Friends WA distributes sleeping bags, blankets, warm clothing, hygiene products and other warm provisions to people experiencing homelessness. Among other initiatives, Street Friends also supports Homeless Healthcare’s Medical Respite Centre by providing “suitcases of love” (a person-specific suitcase of clothing and other items for everyone when discharged from the facility).
View Street Friends WA Website >
White Ribbon Community Action Group Project
White Ribbon Australia is a part of a global social movement working to eliminate gendered violence. This project involves members of City Rotary partnering with White Ribbon on a number of initiatives including with the Islamic community in Perth to establish a community action group. The community action group engages in education to better understand the social issue of gendered violence, the causes and ways every individual can productively work towards “A nation where every woman is free from all forms of men’s violence and abuse”. (White Ribbon’s vision statement).
Visit White Ribbon Australia website > https://theconversation.com/all-the-signs-were-there-lessons-from-the-collapse-of-white-ribbon-australia-124771
Kimberley Dental Team
Achieving dramatic improvements in Aboriginal dental health.
We are enabling dramatic improvements in Aboriginal dental health in the Kimberley. Our partnership with Kimberley Dental Team assists volunteer dentists to deliver clinical services and oral health education to Aboriginal communities, including remote communities, resulting in significant improvements in dental health. A joint initiative with Rotary Clubs of Heirisson and Perth.
View Video >
Interconnect: Rotary Award for International Students Community Engagement
This new initiative is the result of a collaboration with Edith Cowan University. The 12 month program offers international students the opportunity to join the City Rotary family while undertaking activities to build their professional skill set, engage in community service and participate in cultural exchange. Preference is offered to refugee students and those holding humanitarian visas.
Empowering young women through Cricket
In partnership with Team Connect, we help young women to find a pathway to success through participating in cricket when they may never have had the opportunity. By volunteering we are able to offer support to adolescent girls, enabling them to participate in organized sport, with the aim of developing a sense of belonging and commitment to their community.
Visit Team Connect website > https://www.teamconnectwa.org.au/
A school partnership linking students to Rotary opportunities.
City Rotary has partnered with John Forrest Secondary College to provide students with the opportunities of Rotary youth programs, recognising student achievement and supporting College initiatives. Rotary youth programs include the National Youth Science Forum, Four-Way Speaking Contest, Rotary Youth Exchange and Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment.
A Life-changing Opportunity for Four Young Professionals
We are offering employer-sponsored membership of City Rotary for four young professionals to help them develop their careers through networks, personal development, and community service. Our goal is to enable them to become great citizens and support the community through shared service with City Rotary.
If you are a medium-to-large company and don’t have an existing program for your young professionals to engage deeply in community projects, or you are a young professional ready to lead a community project, then please contact us to find out more.
Providing toiletry kits for children at risk of trachoma
Trachoma is the world’s leading cause of infectious blindness. It is preventable, but if left untreated, can lead to permanent blindness. In Australia, it primarily affects young Aboriginal Australians, and is mainly caused by unhygienic living conditions. City Rotary is supporting EndTrachoma, a Rotary Districts of Australia project, by supplying toiletry kits for Aboriginal children and their families.
Phones for Vulnerable Communities.
City Rotary continues to collect pre-loved smart phones for distribution to vulnerable communities and groups. Parnering with various organisations to identify those whose lives would be a little easier if they owned a phone, we have so far distributed phones to Indigenous youth in Coolgardie and asylum seekers in detention. Additional phones are now required so the project can reach other communities. All donated phones are cleansed of all data.
Click here to donate >
Rotary Youth Exchange – An opportunity of a lifetime.
City Rotary plays a key role in organising Rotary Youth Exchange for Western Australia. In addition, we sponsored our first outbound student who went to Spain in early 2020 and we look forward to being part of Rotary Youth Exchange in 2023/24 by sponsoring and hosting students as the program recommences after pausing due to COVID-19. Rotary Youth Exchange provides a year-long opportunity of a lifetime for young people to discover themselves, experience another culture and be part of Rotary’s aim to foster international goodwill and peace.
Previous Projects
Nutha Way: Building better relationships for young people
Nutha Way is an Indigenous youth leadership program working to build better relationships between young people, their community, the justice system and local police. Working with young people in Coolgardie, the program sets out to capacity build with development of essential life skills, engage the youth in identifying community needs and working towards solutions and giving them a voice.
Visit Nuthaway website >
BINS4Blokes Promotion: Campaigning for hygiene bins for men in public toilets throughout Australia.
We are a key player in a national campaign to achieve sanitary hygiene bins in men’s public toilets for the disposal of continence products. Currently 1 in 3 adults in Australia experience either bladder or bowel incontinence representing 38% or >6 million people. In addition 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer globally and 99% of all men undergoing surgical treatment can expect to experience incontinence for some time. This is an important unmet social issue and men deserve equal opportunities in the community for basic health needs.
Read: Campaigning for hygiene bins for men in public toilets throughout Australia
View Bins4Blokes Website >
Rotary Global Citizen Award – Creating a unique Western Australian experience for international students.
City Rotary led a Rotary partnership with StudyPerth to enhance the experience of international students in WA through the Rotary Global Citizen Award, providing opportunities for personal and career development, community service and cultural exchange. We now focus on the next stage of engagement with international students. City Rotary’s four participants (left to right):
Justin Nguyen, Vietnam (Bachelor of Commerce, ECU), Charles Menya, Kenya (Masters in Management Information Systems, ECU), Vishwa Patel, India (Bachelor of Nursing, Curtin University), Vishwa Vimukthi, Sri Lanka (Bachelor of Engineering Mechatronics, ECU
Cleaning up the Swan River embankments.
City Rotary’s Swan River Embankment Clean-Up project partners with the Keep Australia Beautiful Council’s Adopt-a-Spot program. Regular embankment clean-up events run from one to two hours with City Rotary members, students, families and friends collecting rubbish from designated areas of the Swan River, with a particular focus on our East Perth area. Following each event, rubbish is photographed, catalogued and a summary of findings provided to the Department of Water & Environmental Regulation. These findings are then shared with relevant Councils and regulatory agencies for benchmarking and action.
The House that Jack Built.
In February 2020 representatives of City Rotary participated in our first involvement in the Cambodian project, The House that Jack Built. As part of a team of 12 they completed 17 houses as well as funding 17 water supplies and 10 pregnant cows. The House That Jack Built is Rotary WA’s contribution to the Cambodian based Tabitha Foundation. Managed by the Rotary Club of Perth through RAWCS (Rotary Australia World Community Service), the program provides physical and financial assistance to build starter houses and clean water supplies for poor Cambodian villagers. City Rotary made a financial contribution as part of this initial trip and looks forward to further involvement.
A series of projects in Vanuatu to provide fresh water.
City Rotary members working within the Rotary Club of Heirisson, have delivered a series of projects to supply fresh water to villages and schools in Vanuatu. Project partners included Rotary in Vanuatu, Engineers Without Borders (NZ) and the Rotary Foundation. The initial projects involved on-the-ground work and expertise of former Rotary Youth Exchange student, engineer Sam Cleary. Our aim is to pursue further water projects in this region when feasible.
Our Members
Some City Rotary members are arguably Western Australia’s most practised Rotarians. They are proud to have countless years of involvement with other Rotary Clubs. Their experience brings an exceptional level of expertise in delivering outstanding projects to our communities locally and globally. City Rotary is also proud to be part of Rotary International, a global network of volunteer leaders who tackle the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members from more than 200 countries and geographical areas and delivers lasting solutions at both local and international levels.
Our Corporate Connect Members
Find out more about our corporate members and how your organisation can join.
Our Individual Members
Peter James - PresidentLeadership and Career Coach
Peter owns and operates a successful business providing career transition, performance and professional development services. His specialties are strategic and ‘hands-on’ Leadership Coaching, Change Management, Group Facilitation and Organisational Development. Peter has an MBA and Grad Dip in Adult Education. His passion for coaching extends outside of work, and he runs a Martial Arts club as the Head Instructor. Peter was inducted into the Australian Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2014.
Angela Alloway Hospitality
Angela is Executive Secretary for Hyatt Regency Perth. She holds a Diploma in Foreign Languages for Business and a National Certificate in OHS (UK). Prior to emigrating, Angela worked for Thomas Cook HQ as HR Officer and Health & Safety Officer UK. She believes everyone should have equal access to the basic necessities of life. Previously with Rotaract, she is looking forward to being part of the Rotary community.
Atefeh Rashnavadi Nutritionist
Atefeh is a nutritionist who collaborates with multidisciplinary teams in various projects related to paediatric neurodisabilities, vulnerable children, and ethnically and linguistically diverse communities. She has extensive experience in the swimming and water safety education and training industry, having worked with governmental and non-profit organizations after moving to Australia in 2012. She values cross-cultural bridging to celebrate differences and shared traits as an art of living stemming from her Persian heritage, and her commitment is giving quality service to people.
Bruce Reynolds – Co-President Business Owner
Bruce is a successful community minded business owner. He feels fortunate to have been a part of the City of Perth community for over 30 years. He always believed in giving back to the community – it’s part of his DNA. Bruce has been lucky enough to assist not-for-profits and charities as a board member, chair and as a volunteer. Bruce currently own three businesses in diverse fields: Property, Sales, Marketing, Branding, Design and Hospitality.
Carolyn Earle Sexology
Carolyn is a sexologist with experience in clinical services management, caseloads, research and publication. She has delivered many research presentations at conferences nationally and internationally. Carolyn has been a Rotarian since 1990, a Past President and Charter Member of City Rotary. She was the first female Rotary President and youngest President in our Rotary District. A recent change of career sees Carolyn working as an event planner.
Chris Bishop Residential Building
Chris is the Managing Director of The Highbury Group, a diverse and innovative building company. Chris is a qualified quantity surveyor, originally from the UK, and has worked on a wide range of residential, commercial and industrial projects. His passion for cycling in all its forms has enabled Chris to support a number of groups, especially to provide opportunities for young riders. Chris is a Charter Member of City Rotary.
Chris Matthews Sport – Cricket
Chris is Chief Executive Officer of the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) and a former Australian Cricketer. She is the country’s most capped female Test cricketer and holds the record for the most dismissals by an Australian wicketkeeper. Chris is one of three women worldwide to hold the CEO role for a first-class cricket association and has 27 years’ experience in various management positions for cricket, including GM Commercial Operations at Cricket NSW.
Colin Thorniley Office Products Corporate
Colin has led numerous successful business ventures including as proprietor of significant sales and distribution enterprises. He is also a Past President of YMCA of Perth. Colin has been a Rotarian since 1977, Past Club President and Past District Governor of Rotary International. Other key Rotary roles have included Director of Australian Rotary Health, Director of Rotary Down Under and Club Treasurer. Colin is a Charter Member of City Rotary.
Craig Hook Business Transformation
Craig is a highly accomplished executive, director and advisory board chair with leadership and strategic experience across a portfolio of board positions. Prior to his advisory career, Craig held senior operational and technical roles internationally with Rio Tinto. Currently Craig is helping mining services companies develop and deliver products and services to ensure mining is sustainable for everyone on the planet. Other industry sector experience in utilities, primary health care, and cooperatives.
David Cleary Physiotherapy
David is a musculoskeletal physiotherapist with over 36 years’ in private practice and experience as a consulting physiotherapist for sporting clubs and performing arts. He is Principal and Director of Mt Lawley Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic. David has been a Rotarian since 2002. His roles have included Past President, International Director, Club Services Director, District Rotary Youth Exchange Placement Coordinator for Europe. David is a Charter Member of City Rotary.
Debbie Childs Community Sector Leadership
Debbie is CEO of HelpingMinds. After more than 30 years in commercial, not-for-profit and small business ventures, Debbie’s passion has turned to searching out sustainable means for everyone in our community to be able to live their best life possible. Debbie is a Charter Member of City Rotary.
Emilie Churchill – Membership Director Sales and Marketing
Emilie is the Director of Sales at the QT Hotel in Perth. She has an extensive background in the Hospitality Industry both here in Australia and internationally with considerable experience in accommodation sales, food and beverage services and event management. Emilie values collaboration with others in a spirit of respect and inclusion with the intent of making a difference within the local community as part of City Rotary.
Emma Hoyle – Secretary Residential Building
Emma is a Senior Accounts professional with the Highbury Homes Group. She has always been interested in humanitarian pursuits and helping those in need. Apart from the work Rotary does, she enjoys the learning, interaction with other members and networking for a cause. She is particularly interested in helping address homelessness and getting people off the street. She believes everyone has the right to be housed and be safe.
Fiona Van Medical Communication
Fiona works as a medical writer and editor. She has over 20 years of experience in medical communications for the pharmaceutical industry, five years in clinical research and a PhD in Psychopharmacology. Her work in the medical communications field arises from a passion for people, health and education. She is looking forward to working with people in need around Perth.
Greg Thurston – Board Member Commercial Leasing
Greg is a Property Valuer with experience in government and private practice before he moved into Commercial Leasing and became a Director of real estate company Knight Frank. Greg has been a Rotarian since 2000 and is a Past President. His other roles have included Club Secretary and Treasurer and, at District level, Rotary Youth Exchange, National Youth Science Forum, Assistant Governor and Chair of the Rotary Foundation District Grants Committee. Greg is a Charter Member of City Rotary.
Hannah Boylan Sales & Marketing
Hannah is Director of Sales & Marketing for Hyatt Regency Perth with extensive experience of hotel operations having worked in food and beverage before moving into Sales firstly as a Wedding Specialist and has held various Sales roles before progressing to her current position. She holds a double degree in Asian Languages (Japanese) and Commerce (Tourism Management) and looks forward to contributing to the local community and collaborating on the project works Rotary is undertaking.
Jan Owen Homoeopathy
Jan is a homoeopath and Principal of Owen Homoeopathics. Jan is also a founder and Director of Kimberley Dental Team (together with John Owen), leading teams of volunteer dentists to provide dental care to Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley and disadvantaged people in the Perth metropolitan area, with Jan specialising in oral health programs. She is a Charter Member of City Rotary. Jan was awarded an Order of Australia in 2021 for her outstanding work with Kimberley Dental Team.
Jo Milios Men’s Health Physiotherapy
Jo Milios is a physiotherapist specialising in men’s health. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science (Physiotherapy) in 1993, she decided to specialise in men’s health services. Jo established ‘PROST! Exercise 4 Prostate Cancer Inc’ in 2012, a not-for-profit exercise program and peer support organisation for men with prostate cancer. Jo has published her research and presented at local and international conferences. She teaches Men’s Health Physiotherapy workshops in Australia and internationally.
John Berger Social Change
John is a senior professional CEO with over 30 year’s experience in Not for Profit and Government Sectors. Passionate about supporting the community and the vulnerable, he is a strong advocate for ensuring the voice of lived experience is central to the design and reform of social services. A demonstrable and acknowledged leadership style and ecosystem thinking that has led to innovative approaches and significant change in the field of social services including homelessness and child protection in WA.
Kate Hesford Family Law
Kate was admitted as a lawyer in 2012 and is an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner. She has been practising family law for many years, after working as a criminal duty lawyer at Legal Aid and as the Legal Associate to the Chief Judge of the Family Court of Western Australia. Kate is motivated to help people achieve positive outcomes in difficult situations as efficiently and amicably as possible. At City Rotary, she is eager to develop her network and apply her skills to contribute to the community.
Lee Partridge – Board Member Community & Education
Lee is an academic with 20 years’ experience, focussing on higher education and more recently on social impact and community-based initiatives. She works across several Perth universities, consulting and teaching. Lee also consults in the social impact space, has her own not-for-profit organisation and is on the organising committees of Impact100 Fremantle and SIMNA-WA (Social Impact Measurement Network Australia). Lee is a Charter Member of City Rotary.
Liz Pattison – Board Member Strategic Planning
Liz is a strategic planner and facilitator with many years’ experience, now specialising in working with not-for-profit organisations and school systems. Liz has been a Rotarian since 1992. She is a Past President and was awarded the Order of Australia for leading major Rotary projects including the Headquarters Youth Facility in Leederville and Place of Reflection in Kings Park. Liz is a Charter Member of City Rotary.
Louise Rabbone Corporate Psychology
Louise has significant experience as a corporate psychologist working across Australia, Asia and New Zealand. Her business The People Catalyst supports leaders and employees in creating healthy workplaces. Louise is a highly respected mediator, having mediated complex team conflicts. She is a strong advocate for mental health awareness, destigmatising mental illness and improving individual wellbeing. Louise has designed and facilitated numerous mental fitness, peer support, trauma management and suicide prevention programs.
Mark Davidson Business Development
Mark is a successful international business development and management professional. He works with SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. Mark has extensive business experience in Australia and internationally. He is enthusiastic about challenging tasks, opportunities to learn, sharing achievements and making a significant contribution to the business.
Michelle Blakeley Architect
Michelle is a highly regarded Architect who owns and operates her own business. Her profile can be summed up as: Project Architect, Design Architect, Urban Designer, Director, Teacher, Writer. She has worked on projects for single residential, multi-residential, public buildings, heritage, education, urban design, interior, and master planning. Michelle has won a number of prestigious awards and prizes for her works. She is passionate about providing houses for homeless and very low income people through the “My Home” project and Rotary
Nadine Rabu Engineering
Nadine has experience in a wide variety of industries, from the energy sector as an engineer, project manager and client manager for over 15 years to running her own coaching business. Born in New Caledonia, with an Australian and French background, she has lived in multiple countries, travelled to over 50 countries and speaks several languages. Having returned to Australia in 2019 from the Middle East, she focuses her knowledge and experience on supporting meaningful projects and helping develop a sustainable future.
Natalia Alexandrova – Treasurer Finance
Natalia is the Practice Manager in Shelley Hub Family Practice. After working in the hospitality industry for over 14 years, this is a new role in the medical industry. She holds two degrees, a Master of Engineering and a Bachelor of Accounting. She enjoys a keen interest in human behaviour and statistics. Natalia’s personal focus is on healthy lifestyle, work/life balance and the environment.
Richard Ladny – Projects Director Manufacturing
Richard’s passion is making things happen, through developing his own knowledge, working with people. He has a high standard in governance, cultural understanding with a strong belief in coaching people to take ownership of their respective roles. In his 34 years as CEO and Managing Director, Richard’s focus has been building strong teams, sustainable growth, governance and risk management. His experience in the business sector extends to his desire to contribute to the community and support those less fortunate through City Rotary.
Rod Van Business Consulting
Rod has undertaken senior executive positions in Australia and the UK, working across a diverse range of sectors including property investment and development, equity and hedge fund investing, technology development and commercialisation, and professional and business-to-business service industries. He is a Board member of Communicare Inc, Rockingham Renaissance Technopole and Tennis West. Rod runs his own consultancy helping clients achieve their potential. Rod is a Charter Member of City Rotary.
Ros Marshall Museum Education
Ros is an educator. Her career has included roles as a secondary school humanities teacher, museum educator at the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library (Curtin University) and development of education programs at the Wanneroo Regional Museum. Ros is a Charter Member of City Rotary.
Ross Robertson – Board Member - Inaugural PresidentFoundation Investment
Ross is an Executive Director at Perron Group, a major group with many interests including property investments, Toyota motor vehicle distribution and mining. Ross is a Chartered Accountant and a Director of the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation. He has been a Rotarian since 2003 and has supported all avenues of Rotary service, with key roles as Board member, fundraiser and network connector. Ross is a Charter Member of City Rotary.
Roz Baker Business Broking
Roz is an entrepreneur with over 30 years experience running her own businesses and property development projects in Zimbabwe and Australia, including hotel management, sales and marketing. For the last 18+ years Roz has worked in the real estate industry as a business consultant and business broker in Perth, with a particular focus on assisting business migrants. Roz has carried out numerous voluntary and fundraising roles and has 14 years’ experience as a Rotarian. Roz is a Charter Member of City Rotary.
Sepo Young Mental Health
Street Friends WA volunteer CEO/Director Sepo Young was nominated as a City of Perth community hero. She has first-hand experience of being homeless, which inspired her to join City Rotary. She volunteers her time while being fully employed working as a mental health clinician with experience in the areas of forensics, drug and alcohol. She is passionate about helping the homeless and advocating for a better service, striving to break the circle of chronic homelessness.
Our Young Associate Members
City Rotary is providing opportunities for a group of young professionals to be Associates. The aim is to foster City Rotary’s purpose and principles and for our young professionals to help them develop their careers through networks, personal development and community service. Our goal is to enable them to become great citizens and support the community through shared service with City Rotary.
Our Principles
We partner with community, government, academia and business.
We enjoy a spirit of collaboration and camaraderie.
We work professionally and are transparent.
We are proactive and support innovation.
We respect career and family obligations.
Join us
If City Rotary feels like a good fit for you, then we’d love to hear from you. You can either call Greg Thurston on 0417 177 837 or simply register your interest in the form below.
We’ll be back to you promptly (along with a range of opportunities to make a difference locally and internationally). A special rate is available for NFP members. Membership is not automatically granted into Rotary Clubs. Your application will be submitted to the board of directors for approval.
