Conference Speakers

Mia Wilson is a 19-year-old Global Humanitarian Studies student at University College London (UCL).  Mia first became involved with Rotary at 16 years old through Caterham Rotary Club. With their support, she founded Bags of Hope, distributing 250 pre-loved school bags from school children across Surrey to children in rural Nairobi through her partnership with the Amara Charitable Trust. At UCL, Mia went on to establish the UCL Rotaract Club as Charter President, which  boasts over 30 members and has supported a range of local and international initiatives, including Crisis UK and Girls on Bikes Pakistan. She will serve as Vice President of the club in the coming year. Alongside her humanitarian work, Mia is a keen sailor on the UCL Sailing team and spends her summers working.

MICHAEL O’SULLIVAN is a retired film industry executive with over 45 years’experience in the film, TV, video/DVD/streaming and cinema exhibition industries. He worked at Paramount Pictures for nearly 40 years, retiring as the Executive Vice President & CFO for Paramount Pictures International. Specific areas of expertise include; film & TV production, strategic and financial planning; financial reporting; movie and TV scheduling, budgeting and accounting.

He was also on the board of the entertainment joint venture companies, UIP, CIC and UCI and as such has an intimate knowledge of all forms of film finance, distribution and exhibition.

During his career, Michael was involved as a production executive on over 70 movies and numerous TV programmes and series. These include films such as The Great Gatsby, The Duellists, Shogun, The Indiana Jones trilogy, Reds, The Winds of War, Shirley Valentine, The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, The Talented Mr Ripley, the Mission Impossible series, Lara Croft Tomb Raider and many others. 

Currently, he is the Hon. President of the Production Guild of Great Britain. Past industry related roles include Chair British Cine Guilds and member of the British Film Institute supported, Skillset Film skills training committee. Member of BAFTA in good standing.

Locally he has served as Vice Chairman of the local Sports Council, (Sport Godalming) for 15 years; past President of the Rotary club of Godalming Woolsack and Treasurer for 8years, 

He is the Press & Publicity officer for Godalming Film Society. Also, he is the Life President, Farncombe Youth FC, and a Life Member of Guildford RFC. 

Philip Wilbourne, Uniquely Amongst His Cohort, Has Never Been A President Of A Rotary Club. To Become A District Governor, Philip Was Given A Special Dispensation By The Board Of Rotary International Due To Philip’s Extensive Work In The Environment As A Professional Property Consultant.

This Year He Has Been Instrumental In Developing An Environmental Social Governance Policy For Rotary In Great Britain And Ireland. This Policy Was Adopted By The Board In September 2024.

Outside Of Rotary Philip Has Walked The Inca Trail, Peru, With A Group From RICS, Raising £9,500 For Weston Park Cancer Charity. The Group Of 15 Raised £76,000 For Good Causes. On 17th July 2021, He Undertook A MacMillan Mighty Hike In Memory Of Those Who Have Succumbed To Cancer, Raising £3500. In Addition To His Hill Walking Activities, He Is A Former Private Pilot, Rugby Union Referee And Supports Championship Rugby Union Side Doncaster Knights. He Was Made A Paul Harris Fellow In 2023.

Alongside His Career Advising Global Business On How Climate Change In All Its Guises Poses An Existential Threat To Asset Values, From 2022 Onwards, Philip Has Spoken Internationally Andbeen Invited To Deliver Seminars And Mentoring For The Students Studying In The Built Environment, Environmental Management, And Geography At Sheffield Hallam University.

Jacqueline Hill’s profession is in Leadership Coaching & Change Mentoring for those working to make the world a better place.  She recently ran a workshop on Leading Change for Masters’ students at the Centre for Alternative Technology and her coaching clients include entrepreneurs in the green energy technology sector.  In 2023, Jacqueline decided to combine her professional skills and personal passion for nature by setting up Friends of the River Eden Ecosystem (FREE) to engage her local community in restoring the river that runs through Hurst Green.  

 18 months on, FREE has attracted 100 members, many of whom are active volunteers supporting water quality testing, invasive non-native species control, litter picking and fish access programmes.  Key partners include the Medway Catchment Partnership, Southeast Rivers Trust, Surrey Wildlife Trust, local water companies, the Environment Agency and Surrey County Council’s Greener Futures Team.  FREE has raised funds from local businesses, councils and community groups such as Titsey and District Rotary Club.  Whilst FREE’s focus is on a short stretch of the River Eden around Oxted and Hurst Green, partnerships up and downstream have expanded its impact over many of the River Eden’s tributaries in Surrey, and into Kent.

 Jacqueline believes it is vital that local residents and businesses become aware of their impact upon their local river ecosystem and what they can do to help, so raising awareness and education are key elements to FREE’s work.  These include guided “Get to know your River” walks, talks to members of the general public and to local groups such Titsey and District Rotary Club, parish church eco teams, and the Women’s Institute.  This year, FREE is also organising talks from water companies and tours of treatment sites.  Future ambitions include engaging local schools and angling clubs.