Speakers

Speaker	Date	Topic
Chris Dickons - Health Serve Global	Jun 18, 2026 7:50 AM	Transforming Global Healthcare As Executive Officer for HealthServe Global, Chris Dickons leads an international health development agency committed to equipping and enabling healthcare specialists and community development workers to deliver transformational health outcomes in resource‑poor settings worldwide. He is deeply convinced that lasting change in communities is only possible through genuine collaboration — partnerships that empower local leadership, unite diverse expertise, and mobilise communities to work together for the common good. Chris brings over two decades of senior leadership experience across ministry, education, and the not‑for‑profit sector in Australia and internationally, and has served on several school and community‑based boards. His work is shaped by a passion for strengthening leaders, building healthy organisations, and fostering collaborative ecosystems that multiply Kingdom impact. Originally from Middlesbrough in the UK, Chris now lives on the Sunshine Coast with his wife and two young children.
Fellowship Meeting & Special General Meeting	Jun 25, 2026	Club Assembly & Special General Meeting
Dr Scarlett Raine	Jul 02, 2026 7:50 AM	Robotics and AI - the Ocean's New Allies Dr Scarlett Raine - Lecturer (Underwater Perception, Computer Vision and Marine Robotics): Chief Investigator, QUT Centre for Robotics. School of Electrical Engineering and Robotics, Queensland University of Technology Summary: Coral reefs are amongst the planet's most biodiverse ecosystems, with 25% of marine species calling them home. However, reefs are increasingly at risk due to climate change, with estimates predicting up to 70-90% loss of coral reefs by the year 2050. Monitoring marine ecosystems provides critical data for reef managers and policymakers, while reef restoration improves the resilience of coral reefs to heat stress events. In this talk, I will discuss how QUT's robotic and AI-enabled technologies are transforming the field of marine conservation, by increasing the scale and impact of both monitoring and restoration efforts by orders of magnitude. Bio: Dr Scarlett Raine is a Lecturer at the Queensland University of Technology's School of Electrical Engineering and Robotics, and a Chief Investigator in the QUT Centre for Robotics. She pioneers the use of computer vision, AI and robotics to automatically analyse underwater imagery and monitor marine ecosystems more efficiently, earning the Executive Dean’s Commendation for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis in 2024. She brings her expertise to the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program as a Chief Investigator on the $3.5m Transition to Deployment sub-program, where she is developing an AI-driven Reef Guidance System for automated re-seeding of temperature-resilient coral babies to degraded reefs. Scarlett's innovative research and commitment to diversity were recognised with the Pearcey CICTA Rising Star award in 2025 and Highly Commended at the Women in Technology Awards, where she was a finalist in the Emerging Tech and Emerging Science Star categories.
Norm Hunter	Jul 09, 2026 7:50 AM	Experiences of a "Chalkie" (teacher) in PNG 1975
Siva Prasad Pillai (Administrator - ITHF)	Jul 16, 2026 7:50 AM	Rotary International Travelling & Hosting Fellowship Summary of Rotary Activities, Career and life of Rotn.Sivaprasad S Pillai Roles in Rotary Administrator of Rotary’s International Travel and Hosting Fellowship (ITHF) since July 2023. This is a Fellowship with 900 members from 80 countries. ITHF Member for the last 4 years. Addressed clubs in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and the Netherland Rotarian for the last 9 years. Served as one of the Directors on the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of Trivandrum South in 2018, 2019 and 2020 Member of ‘Uday Kiran’ a major construction project launched during the Golden Jubilee year of our club. Guest Speaker at Various clubs in Australia, New Zealand and Europe MPHF Addressing Papanui Club, Christchurch, New Zealand. Professional Sivaprasad S Pillai, a native of Trivandrum, the capital city of the South Indian state of Kerala. Graduated in Electronics and Communication Engineering Retired software consultant with 30 years of experience in the Middle East, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. Extensive experience in the design, development, and implementation of software systems for banks, hospitals, airports, and other businesses. Currently active in Rotary, in addition to engaging in farming activities in our farm. Personal Married to Prasanna for the last 40 years. Elder daughter, Preeti, and her husband work as software consultants in the Netherlands. Younger daughter, Prasidhi, works for the University of Queensland in Brisbane, and her husband works for Ecolab. Two grandchildren.
No Meeting Today due to Art Show	Jul 23, 2026
Catherine Baxter - BCC Transport (Group Executive)	Jul 30, 2026 7:50 AM
Dr Peter Ellerton	Aug 27, 2026 7:50 AM	Critical Thinking and Agency Against the Erosion of Professional Judgment and Public Disengagement. Talk AI increasingly impacts professional and public practice, eroding trust, agency and meaning making. This talk explores the necessity of cultivating both critical thinking and agency against the erosion of professional judgment and public disengagement. Agency is the capacity to act reflectively, responsibly and effectively, guided by knowledgeable and principled reasoning. The challenge of AI is not only that machines can perform tasks once reserved for experts, but that professionals and institutions themselves risk outsourcing epistemic responsibility for their judgements; hence losing the agency and accountability at the core of public trust. By focusing on the intellectual and ethical dimensions of professional judgment, we can better understand what it means to think well in context: to explain, analyse, evaluate and justify with regard for the truth. Against the scalability and replicability of AI, professionalism and agency become a form of principled rebellion, a refusal to surrender human reasoning to the siren call of technological convenience. Bio Peter Ellerton is Curriculum Director of the University of Queensland Critical Thinking Project, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy in the School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry. Peter’s areas of focus include Public Reasoning, Science Communication, Argumentation and Critical Thinking in education. His passion is working with educators to enable a critical thinking teaching focus across all levels and subject areas. He has consulted and produced papers for a variety of organisations including the European Commission Joint Research Centre, the International Baccalaureate Organisation, The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, and the New South Wales and Queensland Departments of Education. He has designed and delivered professional learning in Teaching for Thinking throughout Australia and internationally. He also works in developing critical thinking leadership, including with the Queensland Police Force, the Australian Defence Force, the Australian Institute of Police Management and a range of government and business groups. https://critical-thinking.project.uq.edu.au
Valerie Simons	Sep 03, 2026 7:50 AM	ShelterBox
Dr Grace Maano	Sep 10, 2026 7:50 AM	Rural Generalist Obstetrician \| Global Maternal Health Advocate \| Training Emergency Obstetric Care Across Africa & Asia \| Rotary Leader
Judy Smith	Oct 29, 2026 7:50 AM	War Widows Qld (State President) Judith Smith Australian War Widows Qld State President & War Widow Director Judy Smith began her professional career as a registered nurse and midwife, holding postgraduate qualifications in maternal and child health. Her nursing career spanned New South Wales, Tasmania, and Papua New Guinea. After relocating to Katherine in the Northern Territory, Judy served as Director of a community-based child care service and later as a Senior Officer with the Department of Health. In 1986, she was appointed Children’s Services Development Officer with the Katherine Town Council, undertaking a comprehensive assessment of childcare needs in preparation for the reopening of RAAF Base Tindal. A lifelong community volunteer, Judy has held numerous leadership roles since the 1970s, including President, Treasurer, and Board Member of a wide range of sporting, civic, and health organisations in Katherine and on the Sunshine Coast. Judy joined Australian War Widows Queensland (AWWQ) in 2013 following the passing of her husband, a World War II veteran. Since then, she has served as President of the Maroochydore Sub-Branch (2015–2020), Director on the AWWQ Board (2019–2022), and was elected State President in 2022. AS state president, Judy is a member of the National Council of Australian War Widows Inc. She advocates on behalf of AWWQ at Commonwealth and State forums and represents war widows at ceremonial occasions, ensuring the service and sacrifice of veterans and their families are honoured and remembered. A shorter version. Judy Smith began her professional career as a registered nurse and midwife, holding postgraduate qualifications in maternal and child health. A lifelong community volunteer, Judy has held numerous leadership roles since the 1970s, in a wide range of sporting, civic, and health organisations in Katherine, N.T. and on the Sunshine Coast She joined Australian War Widows Qld (AWWQ) in 2013 following the passing of her husband, a World War II veteran. Since then, she has served as President of the Maroochydore Sub-Branch (2015–2020), Director on the AWWQ Board (2019–2022), and was elected State President in 2022. Judy is a member of the National Council of Australian War Widows Inc. She advocates on behalf of AWWQ at Commonwealth and State forums and represents war widows at ceremonial occasions, ensuring the service and sacrifice of veterans and their families are honoured and remembered.