Regional Council Candidates

Grow Rotary Better.

My aim is to work with Clubs, Rotarians and Rotaractors through the Regional Council to continue the wonderful things that work well, and to find new ways to make things even better in our Rotary future. I want Rotary in Zone 8 to achieve great outcomes for local, regional and international communities, across our Zone and beyond.

I am currently President of Turramurra Rotary Club in the northern suburbs of Sydney. I am also District Insurance Officer for District 9685, and have assisted the Zone 8 Regionalisation process.

I trained as a lawyer and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. I have been responsible for establishing and operating new organisations in the public and private sectors, involving a variety of insurance and other stakeholders. I am deeply conscious of the diversity in our communities across the Zone.

I am committed to working closely with Rotary & Rotaract Clubs to help them enhance the work they do. There will not be a “one size fits all” approach – there are likely to be many approaches, all operating within the Rotary ethos and principles.

Let’s work together to Grow Rotary by making Rotary even more successful in the future.

With a combined 25 years of Rotary & Rotaract membership in Western Australia, I have had the privilege to serve on a variety of RI Committees, Task Forces and Rotary Fellowship Boards, with a particular highlight being both the 2014 Sydney Convention Organizing and Promotions Committees.

Effective communication and collaboration have long been a passion. Pre-Facebook, I founded RotaractNET, the largest international communication network for Rotaract. As social media increased in popularity, I founded and was the Charter Chair of the Rotarians on Social Networks Fellowship. I have actively worked with Rotarians worldwide to provide resources and training for the safe and effective use of social media via webinars and workshops at conferences and Conventions and articles in the Rotary Down Under magazine. My Rotary and Rotaract websites and articles have won numerous awards, including a Meritorious Service Award from RDU.

As the Regional Council Chair-Elect, I look forward to applying my lengthy experience, administrative and leadership skills, including state-wide and National council leadership roles in other non-profit organisations, to build a strong foundation for Rotary in Zone 8. I am passionate about assisting Rotary to thrive and welcome this opportunity to help effectively create tomorrow’s Rotary.

Our diverse communities of Australia, New Zealand, and the 14 Pacific Countries that constitute our Zone, change is unfolding rapidly, reflecting the evolving global landscape.

As Rotarians, collectively, I know we can achieve more. I am passionate about retaining our core membership and fostering a culture where all Rotarians become enthusiastic brand champions. Our Rotary family must expand urgently by embracing agility and welcoming new communities.

Delivering a keynote speech at the Hobart 2018 Conference, I emphasized the need to accelerate our growth plans in our region. I stressed that engaging younger Rotarians requires more than platitudes; it demands action now.

An experienced past District Membership Chair, currently an Assistant Regional Membership Coordinator supporting three Districts, I’ve gained valuable insights into membership & club attraction. I’ve also successfully introduced new members to my local club.

My professional journey is deeply embedded in Business Development, Sales, and Marketing, honed during my 15-years at Air New Zealand. I understand the importance of customer experience and the power of meticulous planning and strategic thinking to achieve remarkable results in challenging times.

Rotary’s urgent growth, along with transformation should be our paramount concern. I offer my leadership skills to make our Regional Pilot work.

Jessica Zerlinda Gnata has been an active Rotarian since her induction in 2014 with over 30 years of experience in volunteering in the capacity of president, treasurer, and secretary. The current District Chair of Science and Engineering Challenge and President Rotary Club of Kembla, as well as a member of the RET L&D Team. Founded and President of the Gravity Racing Association of Australia which has a multinational portfolio.

Jessica's voluntary positions as well as her ten years of corporate experience working in roles from customer service to the Retail National Sales Manager in BigPond, Telstra, has enabled Jessica to gain the necessary knowledge and skills to be a valuable asset to the Regional Council-Elect role. Jessica is a strong believer of the idea that now having the necessary experience, knowledge and skills, the natural progression is for her to support projects which make a difference in our communities.

Education:

• Bachelor of Commerce major in Marketing

• Diploma in Accounting

Corporate Recognition:

• Recognised as an outstanding Account Executive:

o Meeting Telstra’s Board of Directors – 2001

o 5 Days at the 2000 Olympic Games - 2000

• Nominated for the Frank Blount Fellowship Program – 1999

• Telstra CEO Leadership Program - 1998

Rotary has a problem and I ask for your support to enable me to help fix it.

Our membership across the region has declined by 25% over the past 10 years. What’s more 47% of our clubs are small with 20 members or less and, even worse, 14% of clubs have less than 10 members. These clubs are in a danger zone and desperately need help. If these clubs decide to hand back their charters we will lose almost all of their members because, in practice, few make the effort to join other clubs.

I not only have the experience of chartering new clubs, both Rotary and Rotaract, I also have demonstrated skills and cultural understanding that have helped revitalized clubs across 10 districts in Australia and New Zealand. I am seeking a role on the Council that reflects my skillset and experience developing and mentoring others to be leaders, change makers and strategic planners.

Rotary has to abandon its current compliance training regime and focus on developing leaders to effect the change needed for it to grow again.

I pledge to:

• Reverse your club’s decline in membership

• Revitalize your club

• Reduce all member dues

Being inducted into a Rotary Club around 25 years ago, and being exposed to the Programmes of the Rotary Foundation (TRF) has been a life changing experience.

We have been heavily involved with TRF, through the process of applying for two successful Matching Grants, the challenges of thirty successful Global Grants, five Disaster Grants, and several District Grants.

We are honoured to be Major Donors of TRF, and I would encourage all to acknowledge TRF as the charity of choice, telling our Stories of what has been achieved with TRF funding support, and the need to clarify the many options for donors.

My experience as two time President, District Governor, 18 years on D9910 TRF Committee, and almost twenty years as International Service Director has given me the knowledge, experience and confidence to achieve successful outcomes for the Communities, Rotarians, Corporate and Business involvement for TRF Projects and Programmes.

As a former TRF Cadre, I also continue to offer support, advice and suggestions to Rotarians, Clubs and Districts regards applications, and I commit to continue securing funding support from Governments, Corporations and Businesses to ensure successful applications, and the elevation of the Rotary Brand and exposure of TRF Programs

Experienced Rotarian who has served in many capacities including Club President, District Chair Australian Rotary Health, and, at a global Rotary level, I initiated Council of Legislation approval for Corporate Membership which has since been adopted worldwide.

My Presidential year was acknowledged by way of a Rotary Presidential Citation, and a Membership Development Award from World President for introducing the largest number of new members in my District.

I have experience in attracting major donors and corporate philanthropic fundraising. I was part of the Bid Team which achieved the 2023 RI Convention for Zone 8 including the Mobility Plan for movement of delegates between venues.

My work experience includes Australia, UK, New Zealand, New Caledonia (working in French), India, Pakistan, Bangladesh including as a company director.

I currently lead my Club’s End Trachoma project helping to eliminate this eye disease from remote indigenous communities, and my Club Rotary Melbourne is one of the four clubs in the project to immunise 100,000 children in nine countries in the Pacific.

I can lead the Major Fundraising and Grants portfolio (including the Rotary Foundation) and help build a stronger unified Rotary across the exciting Pacific Region.

• Visionary leader steered District 9640 as Governor 2020-21, to a 15% net 169 member growth to be 25th largest growth district in the world and 55th highest with women. Highest under 40’s in Zone 8. Still top growth district in Zone

• Started 9 Rotary 3 Satellite 3 Rotaract clubs from 2018-2023.

• Rotarian 25 years. Inspiring speaker. Introduced 22 members to my club in 8 years.

• 20 years corporate leader empowering teams in global companies. Working in 7 countries in Marketing, Media, Advertising, PR taught me acceptance of diverse cultures.

• As 2021-2024 Zone Assistant Regional Coordinator conducted 22 workshops in 12 districts 9510, 9675, 9780, 9790, 9660, 9620, 9560, 9910, 9920, 9930, 9940, 9999 and 2022 Zone Conference on how to start new style clubs resulted in forming 4 new Rotary 1 Rotaract club outside my district.

• Rotary International highest award Service Above Self recipient. Director RDU Board 2023 elected by Governors 9560, 9620 9640.

• Experience in understanding challenges most clubs, and districts have and my proven expertise in identifying new opportunities, strategies, and demographics to start clubs and helping existing clubs attract members, motivates me to lead this Membership Portfolio to expedite growth.

I have served as District Governor and as a district trainer for 8 years.

I have a proven track record of leadership within Rotary and other community organization as well as business, serving on company boards and business association boards. I would like to achieve membership growth within the region and ensure inclusiveness in all areas and in all clubs.

As a recently retired CEO of 25 years, I bring a significant range of skills to the Director portfolio of Public Image and Partnerships.

In my most recent CEO role, where I led an Australasian membership organisation for 10 years, I instigated a range of strategic measures that saw membership numbers triple and the organisation thrive.

I believe that the Regionalisation project provides significant opportunity for Rotary to evolve and for it to have a positive impact on Rotary’s presence, reputation and involvement in the community.

Key opportunities/goals include:

•Ensuring Rotary operates under best practice business principles.

•Having an effective marketing program which promotes Rotary and its work to the community.

•Review and refine current websites and structures ensuring resources are user friendly – meeting the needs of our members.

•Providing and promoting a public face to Rotary that maximises opportunities and ensures regular and effective communication.

Rotary experience:

•Past President of the Rotary Club of Wahroonga.

•Member of District 9685 Foundation Committee for the past 3 years.

•Current Chair of Endowment Bequests Sub Committee.

•Developed a promotional video in support of the Foundation’s Bequest program:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmR3cSnAYIQ

•Written an article and presented on the importance of Good Governance in Rotary.

I have done Global grant project review for more than 100 projects over many years as my expertise and my area of interest is Literacy. I have helped starting a Rotaract club in District 9800 with my strong Rotaract base. Grant projects involving Literacy as the main focus. Been Club President in 2019-2020 and club had been awarded as one of the Best clubs in the District. Major fund raising activities helped in working towards Literacy project in India in West Bengal state. I had been Panellist and Moderator in several Pre Rotaract and Rotary International Conventions. I had been I-RYLA Counsellors more than 6 times

I possess excellent networking skills, communication skills, I can plan, develop, implement project and work towards achieving success with my strategy in place. I am a go-getter, I can take risk if for any reason a project is not going according to plan. I can involve all for the project and delegate responsibilities. I can develop new projects and work towards successful completion with a very good team in place. I am very prompt in responding to all queries and am very proactive. I always have a positive attitude in me.

My Rotary Vision

To best articulate my vision for Rotary, I would like to include some paragraphs from my annual report to my club in late June this year.

Every time that I read a Rotary magazine, I am amazed by the scope and breadth of the activities undertaken by Rotary Clubs and their members. This almost endless list of community service activities makes me feel proud to be a Rotarian and proud to be a part of such a community focused organisation.

Yet, we are slowly failing.

I really feel that we need an Australia wide “Polio Project” to give us focus and direction and open up our organisation to new members from the next generation.

I am absolutely convinced that unless Rotary can quickly re-focus and forge links to the younger generation, then we are pre-conditioned to fail. Also, I am convinced that this link will have to have a very strong focus and activities around environmental projects and education.

I am prepared to work towards a goal established around this criteria.