The Rotary GB&I Board is the governing body for Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland.
The board sets the long-term strategy for the organisation, in line with Rotary International’s strategic objectives, and the Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland Action Plan.
There is a Chair of the Board, alongside the Chair Elect and Chair Nominee and 5 General Board Members. In order to ensure alignment with Rotary International, the Director and Director Elect attend the Board in the non-voting capacity. Representatives from all four cohorts of District Governors also sit on the board.
Meet the Rotary GB&I Board
Chair of the Board
Under the leadership of the Chair, the Board members are collectively responsible for setting the overall direction and strategy of the Rotary GB&I Board, defining clear goals and ensuring that the Association is accountable to members.
Heather Stuart
Direct Member
Serving a 1 year term from 1st July 2025.
Contact: heather.stuart@rotarygbi.org
Bio:
Heather has been a Rotarian since 2014, originally a member of Kirkcaldy Raith Club, where she was also Club President.
Heather has held a number of club roles in Rotary in relation to public image, and fundraising, and was also Assistant Governor for Area 8, South Fife and Kinross, for 3 years prior to being elected as District Governor for District 1010 during 2021/22.
Heather previously served on the Board as the Immediate Past District Governor representative between July and December 2022.
Heather works full time as a charity Chief Executive, running OnFife, which delivers cultural services and operates 42 cultural venues across Fife including libraries, museums, theatres, and archives.
Heather’s professional background relates to community development and regeneration, as well as culture and leisure, and she has led a range of change projects, and worked in local government, the Scottish Government, and the private sector. She also runs her own small health and wellbeing business.
She is passionate about supporting communities to reach their full potential and about tackling inequalities, and loves the experience that Rotary offers to give something back, and to make a real positive impact in communities through service projects, as well as bringing you together with like-minded people looking to do the same, with opportunities for lots of fun and friendship along the way.
Bob Maskall
Rotary Club of Norwich Blackfriars
Serving a 1 year term from 1st July 2026.
Contact: bob.maskall@rotarygbi.org
Bio:
Bob is a retired RAF officer and fast-jet pilot. For the majority of his 30 years in the RAF he was a flying instructor and spent my working life teaching adults and passing on skills and information.
Bob still works part-time as a military Flight Simulator Instructor. During his career he was also a member of the RAF Presentation Team giving Public Relations presentations to large audiences of members of the general public.
He has 20 years of experience in Rotary and has taken part in the organisation of Club and District events and has been involved with District Membership team for most of that time. He was the District Visioning Facilitator 2013-2019 and spent 2 years as an Assistant Governor. He also served as District Governor for North Wales and North West England during the year 2019 – 2020.
Bob has recently completed 2 years as Lead of the Rotary Great Britain and Ireland Leadership Team and spent much of the last two years training future District Governors.
In 2022 Bob was a Training Leader for the online International Assembly and in 2023 was chosen once again as a Training Leader but this time it was face to face in Orlando, Florida.
Bob is married to Kate, also a Rotarian, and they have 3 grown up children between us.
Joy Palmer Cooper
Rotary Club of Alnwick
Serving a 1 year term as Chair from 1st July 2027
Contact: joy.palmer-cooper@rotarygbi.org
Bio:
Joy has enjoyed a career in education, holding various teaching, advisory and administrative positions including that of Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Durham University responsible for research and human resources management. She has served as advisor to various international Governments on the development of policies and strategies for implementing Education for Sustainable Development and has published widely in the fields of Environmental Education and Environmental Cognition. She is a Vice-President and past Chair of the National Association for Environmental Education.
Joy’s association with Rotary International began in 1980 when she was fortunate enough to be awarded a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship to study at Stanford University, hosted by District 5170. This was an incredible life-changing experience and from then on, she maintained association with many Rotary Clubs in California and elsewhere until time allowed to become a full-time Rotarian in Alnwick, District 1030, in 2006. She was a Rotary Champion of Change in 2016, awarded for her international humanitarian work in Sri Lanka. She has held various District roles including Assistant Governor, Mediator and RotaKids and Interact lead, and will be District Governor in 2024-25.
She serves as Vice-Chair of Council and Chair of Grants Committee of a substantial national charity which makes grants to other charities for developing educational opportunities in the UK and internationally; also as Chair of the charity Project Sri Lanka. As a Justice of the Peace, she serves in Adult and Family Proceedings Courts and was Deputy Chair of the Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Committee (Northumbria) for the recruitment and appointment of Magistrates.
When not at work or ‘doing’ Rotary, Joy enjoys being a keen runner, a passionate gardener, and loves travel and walking in the northwest Highlands of Scotland with Rotarian husband David.
Honorary Treasurer
Richard Campbell
Rotary Club of Bristol Breakfast
Rotary GB&I Honorary Treasurer 2024-27
Contact: richard.campbell@rotarygbi.org
Bio:
Richard Campbell graduated in law from the University of Glasgow and subsequently trained as a Chartered Accountant in London. After they were appointed a partner in Grant Thornton, he worked in audit, strategic planning, marketing, corporate finance, and insolvency. Switching to financial services he was managing director of a UK subsidiary of March McLennan, the leading Fortune 500 risk and strategy consulting firm. Most recently he started an investment advisory firm where, as managing director, he led growth to 100 employees and assets under management of almost £1bn before it was sold. He is an investment specialist with a focus on fund selection, cost management, and portfolio risk control.
After chasing the sun to Portugal, where he then lived for several years, he was secretary of an international Rotary Club. On moving back to the UK in 2022 he transferred to Bristol Breakfast Rotary Club where he has been Foundation Lead and District End Polio ~Now Lead as well as providing financial input to District and Global Grant applications.
Fitness training consumes an unduly large amount of his time as do Bristol City and Partick Thistle Football Clubs. He also spends as much time as is feasible with family in Australia.
General Board Members
General Board Members all serve a three year term. To ensure continuity, a maximum of two General Board Members are replaced each year.
Parvez Bhatty
Rotary Club of Oadby
Serving a 3 year term from 1st July 2025.
Contact: parvez.bhatty@rotarygbi.org
Bio:
Parvez Bhatty brings a wealth of experience in corporate leadership and governance, having successfully navigated diverse organisations through periods of significant change and growth. His expertise in building strong governance frameworks, promoting sustainability, and nurturing stakeholder relationships has been key to his professional journey. Throughout his career, Parvez has focused on driving long-term value and aligning strategic objectives with practical outcomes.
In addition to his corporate background, Parvez has contributed his expertise to the charitable sector, serving as a trustee for several organisations. His approach, combining strategic insight with a focus on sustainable development, has helped strengthen the impact of the charities with which he’s been involved.
As a dedicated Rotarian, Parvez is deeply committed to supporting Rotary’s mission of service. While recognising the unique character of each Rotary club, he believes in empowering them to remain adaptable and effective in meeting the evolving needs of their communities. By drawing on his governance and hands-on experience, Parvez aims to offer a broad perspective that complements the Rotary GB&I board’s collective vision. His focus remains on fostering positive development and supporting clubs in their ongoing efforts to contribute meaningfully to society.
Kevin Grogan
Rotary Club of York
Serving a 3 year term from 1st July 2023.
Contact: kevin.grogan@rotarygbi.org
Bio:
Kevin started his career in electronic engineering, working in the confectionary, military, aerospace and digital communications industries in the UK, Europe and the Middle East. Following a career change, in 2003 Kevin moved into financial services and is currently consultant Risk & Compliance Director to two wealth management firms and a fintech start-up. Kevin has a Masters degree in Management from the University of York and is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.
Kevin joined York Rotary in 2004, taking over as membership lead. Since that time the club has maintained its membership at around 80. In 2020 Kevin became the 100th President of York Rotary, a landmark year when every meeting was held by Zoom. With much encouragement, the club held a virtual Dragon Boat Challenge, got involved in some hands-on, socially distanced, community service and raised £70k for local charities.
Kevin was a member of District 1040’s membership team from 2010 - 2020, taking the lead role 2015 – 2020.
Since 2013, Kevin has been a Board Trustee of a charity in York which provides services to the local community with responsibilities in the areas of strategic planning and setting policy.
Kevin has three adult daughters and four grandchildren; has partner Jackie adds three more children and two grandchildren to the wider family circle. Kevin and Jackie met in 2016 through a shared passion for running and have competed in many fell races and off-road ultra marathon events together since then, living by the motto ‘use it or lose it’.
Geoff Mackey
Rotary Club of Audley
Serving a 3 year term from 1st July 2025.
Contact: geoff.mackey@rotarygbi.org or LinkedIn
Bio:
Words to describe Geoff's life include ‘full’ and ‘varied'. Brought up on a family farm in the bandit country of South Armagh, N. Ireland, his doctorate concerned the strategic business value of social networks, he read biology in Liverpool and followed it with a range of post graduate qualifications in Health & Safety and management including a sleepless MBA.
Today he advises and consults to a wide range of strategic and tactical groups covering private, public and third sectors in arenas including communications, sustainability, science, environment and further education.
Geoff holds a number of trustee and directorships and is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors, the Royal Society of Chemistry and IEMA (the Institute of Environmental Management & Accounting). He once won an award for his writing, was named 2018 Male Agent of Change by Forward Ladies, and raises substantial charitable donations standing on his hind legs in public and talking…
Well known at the Rotary podium, Geoff has served three Districts, Rotary GB&I and RI in posts including twice president of his current Club; GSE scholar; VSE team leader and Past Rotaract Chairman GB&I; he was honoured to receive an RI Service Above Self Award and has recently been a contributor to Rotary Magazine.
Jo Pawley
Rotary Club of Eyemouth & District
Serving a 3 year term from 1st July 2023.
Contact: jo.pawley@rotarybi.org
Bio:
Jo grew up in Coventry but now lives in Eyemouth in Scotland with her husband Mick and their two dogs.
Jo is a qualified solicitor in England, Wales and Scotland although not now practising. She has a Master degree in Mental Law Policy and Practise and worked in private practice for over 25 years specialising in Elderly Client, Probate and Conveyancing Law as well as doing a little Criminal Law too.
She joined Rotary in 2007 and has held a number of club roles and district roles. She is currently (23-34) President of Eyemouth Rotary and depute International Team Lead for D1320 as well as Rotary Friendship Exchange Team Lead. She was District Governor in 2019-2020 and has been an Assistant Governor for three years. She is in the process of becoming a Shelter Box Co-ordinator for D1320.
Jo has previous experience of being on a Board of a Housing Association and Historic House. She is currently on the Board of the local Development Trust who have projects ranging from community food larders, Community Café, developing good citizenship projects and also capital building projects.
Jo has also been an unpaid carer.
When not doing Rotary, she can normally be found in a field in Scotland camping with Mick and the two dogs.
George Spiteri
Rotary Club of Scunthorpe Pentagon
Serving a 3 year term from 1st July 2024.
Contact: george.spiteri@rotarygbi.org
Bio:
George is a former executive manager with a background in both private and public sector organisations with over 25 years of experience within strategic business management. He has a broad range of skills and knowledge.
George retired from Lincolnshire County Council, in 2020, where he was a senior manager involved in strategic projects including the negotiation of the devolution deal with Government for Greater Lincolnshire in 2016.
Prior to joining the Council, George worked in the private sector with a variety of companies from large multi-national organisations to SMEs in the manufacturing sector. He has experience in several disciplines including engineering, IT systems, finance and project management. George has been a magistrate since 2015, and in 2021 was appointed as the Humber and South Yorkshire region Diversity and Community Engagement Magistrate.
He is also a volunteer and a trustee of Scunthorpe Gateway, a social club for adults with learning disabilities.
A former president of the Rotary Club of Scunthorpe Pentagon, in 2021 George took up the role of Environment Lead for Rotary District 1040.
In autumn 2023 George was instrumental in ESRAG becoming a Nominating partner of Earthshot (The Royal Foundation) leading the drive to secure this opportunity.
George's core strengths are in strategic leadership, culture, change management, governance and he continues to use those skills in his voluntary roles.
District Governor Representatives
Joy Palmer Cooper
Rotary Club of Alnwick
Immediate Past District Governor Representative
Contact: joy.palmer-cooper@rotarygbi.org
Bio:
Joy has enjoyed a career in education, holding various teaching, advisory and administrative positions including that of Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Durham University responsible for research and human resources management. She has served as advisor to various international Governments on the development of policies and strategies for implementing Education for Sustainable Development and has published widely in the fields of Environmental Education and Environmental Cognition. She is a Vice-President and past Chair of the National Association for Environmental Education.
Joy’s association with Rotary International began in 1980 when she was fortunate enough to be awarded a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship to study at Stanford University, hosted by District 5170. This was an incredible life-changing experience and from then on, she maintained association with many Rotary Clubs in California and elsewhere until time allowed to become a full-time Rotarian in Alnwick, District 1030, in 2006. She was a Rotary Champion of Change in 2016, awarded for her international humanitarian work in Sri Lanka. She has held various District roles including Assistant Governor, Mediator and RotaKids and Interact lead, and will be District Governor in 2024-25.
She serves as Vice-Chair of Council and Chair of Grants Committee of a substantial national charity which makes grants to other charities for developing educational opportunities in the UK and internationally; also as Chair of the charity Project Sri Lanka. As a Justice of the Peace, she serves in Adult and Family Proceedings Courts and was Deputy Chair of the Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Committee (Northumbria) for the recruitment and appointment of Magistrates.
When not at work or ‘doing’ Rotary, Joy enjoys being a keen runner, a passionate gardener, and loves travel and walking in the northwest Highlands of Scotland with Rotarian husband David.
Anne Sutcliffe
Rotary Adventurers
District Governor Representative
Contact: anne.sutcliffe@rotarygbi.org
Bio:
Having graduated in Chemistry, rather than progressing through the research route, Anne changed careers to become a lawyer. For 17 years, Anne acted for businesses, insurance companies and local authorities, defending personal injury claims of up to £250,000 as well as advising on risk and defence management.
An opportunity to work for the Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman in Spring 2023 and Anne pivoted to utilise her investigative and evidence gathering skills to become a Caseworker for the Ombudsman.
Anne is a Trustee of Calder Valley Community Land Trust, a Trustee of Foundry Street Community Centre and a Non Executive Director of HOTS Enterprise Limited. Anne is also heavily involved in volunteering for Leeds Community Clothes Exchange, volunteering each month at a clothes swap. Anne had the opportunity to host a 10 year anniversary panel discussion for the Exchange at The Carriage Works in Leeds, with panellists including Baroness Anne Jenkin. Being involved in Rotary has led to Anne being involved in a community project called Sowerby Bridge Together and is Treasurer of this community organisation.
Anne has been a Rotarian since 2013, with many club and district roles including President of 2 different clubs, District Membership Lead and now District Governor 2025-2026. Anne also holds a national role as Specialist Advisor Team member for Humanitarian Service. Anne enjoys the local, national and international nature of Rotary, having been able to participate in working with the homeless though to attending Rotary International Conventions and Action Summits across the world.
When not participating in Rotary, Anne enjoys cooking and tinkering in the garden, and has started creating social media content (including the odd TikTok) of her passions.
Steve Parsons
Rotary Club of Swanage & Purbeck
District Governor Elect Representative
Bio:
Steve has working experience in both the private and public sectors. Since 1986 he has worked in procurement, mostly for large corporations such as George Wimpey Construction (now Taylor Wimpey), which took him to places as diverse as Benin in Africa, Dubai and Oman in the Middle East and the Falkland Islands. He also worked for Eurotunnel on the Channel Tunnel construction and operation and for the UK Research Councils in supporting cutting edge scientific research. In his current role at Hampshire County Council he heads up a team responsible for all of the Council’s property and facilities procurement portfolio but is taking early retirement in 2025 to focus fully on Rotary.
Steve joined Rotary in 2010 and has served in many roles in two clubs in two different districts (1100 and 1110), including President for both clubs. In both districts he has served as Assistant Governor and will be District 1110 Governor in 2026/27.
He is passionate about Rotary and the good that it does and continues to do in local communities as well as in the wider world.
There is more than one way of undertaking service and Steve’s vision is to encourage clubs to review their programmes and the projects and activities that they do to find ways of doing them that will engage their valuable current membership at the same time as encouraging more people to become involved. Steve feels that his varied work experience will enable him to promote and encourage those required changes.
In his younger years Steve played village cricket every weekend and is now a keen golfer, playing most weekends when time allows. Other interests include travel, visits to the cinema and walking around the beautiful parts (and pubs!) of South Dorset where he lives.
Steve is married to Teresa, who he met in 1999, and he will be celebrating his 25th Wedding Anniversary during his District Governor year in 2027.
Rotary International Director
The Rotary International Director term of office runs for two years. The current Director is in post from 1st July 2025 to 30th June 2027, at which point they are succeeded by the Director Elect.
The Director Elect will sit on the Rotary GB&I Board (no vote) from 1st July 2026 in the year prior to taking office.
Harriette Verwey
Rotary Club of Leiden-AM, Netherlands
Rotary International Director 2025-27 (No vote)
Contact: h.f.verwey@gmail.com
Bio:
Harriette was born and bred in Surinam, South America and at the age of 18 moved to the Netherlands to study medicine at the Leiden University. She became a cardiologist specialised in chronic heart failure and cardiac transplantation.
She was the founder of the Woman’s Heart movement seeking a better understanding and treatment for women with heart complaints. She has also introduced assist devices as an alternative treatment for cardiac transplant which is now fully covered by the insurance companies.
She has a PhD in Medicine and was deputy of the Heart and Lung Centre of the Leiden University Medical Center. As a doctor and deputy of the department she was familiar with all kinds of people, not only patients, but also in the staff and have learnt to negotiate with respect. At her retirement she was knighted by His Majesty, King Willem Alexander with the Officer in the Order of Orange Nassau decoration, the second highest honour to be given to civilians.
She joined Rotary in 2002 and ever since has been a proud member of Rotary Club Leiden AM. She has had several positions at district level, also was a District Governor 2017-2018. She became a Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator for Region 22 from 2019 to 2022. In September 2023 she was nominated RI Director for Zone 19 & 20. Harriette is very goal-oriented and determined.
Harriette likes cooking, traveling and reading and is very fond of antiques and architecture. She lives in the beautiful city of Leiden which harbours the oldest University of the Netherlands.
Non-Voting Board Members
Amanda Watkin
Rotary Club of Redditch Kingfisher
Rotary GB&I General Secretary (No vote)
Contact: governance@rotarygbi.org
Bio:
In her early career, Amanda worked in the field of Information Technology, specialising in supervisory and data acquisition (SCADA) systems consulting for several blue-chip organisations. This transitioned into wider business consultancy with technology at the heart of her specialist focus, extending to training and development to ensure people and technology were considered to create blended organisational solutions.
In 2013 Amanda was selected to join the Great Britain and Ireland Rotary Support Team in the capacity of General Secretary. She leads a team of twenty staff who provide information, advice, and guidance to members across the region.
During her time as General Secretary, Amanda has worked with the Senior Rotary Leadership Team to review how the support and marketing provision should be shaped for the 21st century. This work has led to the streamlining of the volunteer leadership structure, ensuring continuity, with extended terms of office and greater levels of accountability and responsibility for the team leaders and most recently a new Governing Board.
Complementing the structure changes, Amanda has brought her professional technology experience into the organisation, setting out the digital systems and information technology strategy that is being implemented to enhance member and organisational services today.
Meeting the desire to change the image of Rotary across Great Britain and Ireland, Amanda spearheaded Volunteer Expo, an externally focussed event, hosted by Rotary, which connected the diverse ‘third-sector’ together and included motivational speakers, learning workshops, and networking opportunities to celebrate and develop the power of volunteering. And of course, the concept of Direct Membership, delivered through the Rotary Global Hub has been a vision for membership growth that Amanda has held since being Rotary GB&I Membership Chair back in 2012 – today this vision has been realised through the dedicated support of Rotarians giving their time and talent to help meet this ambition.
Chris Osborne
Rotary Club of Westminster International and Rotaract Club of Westminster
Rotaract GB&I Chair 2025/26 (No vote)
Contact: Chris.O.NZ@outlook.com
Bio:
Chris is a proud member of both Westminster International Rotary Club (WIRC) and Rotaract Westminster, and has served as club president for WIRC for 24/25. He is a Chartered accountant and also holds a Master of Analytics, and a New Zealand Diploma of Ambulance Practice. After emigrating to London from New Zealand with his wife, he now lives in the village of Tiptree, located about a hour out of London in Essex. They have just been blessed with a young son who has been known to join the odd Rotary board meeting as an observer.
Chris is very passionate about Rotaract and encouraging younger members into Rotary. He believes that through Rotary and Rotaract we both can and do make the world a better place, but Rotary has an opportunity to offer a better experience than it currently does, and so is very focused on membership experience for Rotaract in Great Britain and Ireland in his term as Chair.
In his spare time (not that there is much of that outside of Rotary) he enjoys board games, travelling and cooking, as well as photography. He is always happy to help support Rotarians who share his vision so feel free to reach out.
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"Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves"
Rotary International Vision Statement
Any questions?
If you have got any questions, please get in touch with us at governance@rotarygbi.org
More on the Rotary GB&I Board
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Our Strategic Plan