Conference Programme: 10am - 2pm

10am 

Introduction and welcome from Conference Chairman, Tony Bacon who will introduce our District Governor, Marius Hopley.

10.15 Session 1: Diversity and Inclusion

Brian Rusch will be joining us live from California to talk about the importance of diversity and inclusion in our organisation and beyond.  He has worked with many leading figures, such as Pope Francis, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dali Lama.  He will also have a 20 minute question session.

11.00

Following will be one of our scholars, Victoria Saenz, who is currently studying a postgrad degree in sociology.  Her talk will be a fitting way of ending this session.

11.15 Session 2: The Environment

Gloria Barnett, oceanographer, film-maker and author will focus on her area of expertise – the oceans.  You will see and hear how important and in some cases fragile, these huge masses of water are and, more importantly, how essential they are to all life on earth.

11.45

Jared Russell, another of our scholars, will talk to us about the emerging issue of those displaced from their homes by rising sea levels.  

12.15

Hear briefly from Brian Jonson, our very own End Plastic Soup Now Champion.  Over the last year, District 1090 has supported this initiative and Brian is now not only our Champion but also an Ambassador for this excellent and important Rotary driven programme.

12:20 25 minute break.

12.45 Session 3: District Matters

Find out about some things that have been going on in the District, including the excellent work that Maidenhead Bridge have been doing with volunteering in the town.  Meet DG Gajendra Narang from District 3040, who wishes to personally thank Rotarians in D1090 for supporting his district and its people during the Covid pandemic in India.

13.00 Session 4:  Our keynote speaker – Al Sylvester

Al Sylvester is a speaker who addresses global audiences on his experiences leading a team of explorers to the South Pole.  It did not go as planned as Al will explain, but this is an inspirational talk, so be prepared to feel lifted and ready to go out into our communities with renewed vigour and purpose.  Al will also take questions.

14.00 Close of Conference 2021

As we close the conference, you will get to hear all about next year’s – and it won’t be on Zoom!  We will finish off our time together with a short reflection on the year that was for all of us, very challenging and yet one in which we have achieved so much.