The Speakers
Our diverse line-up of speakers is sure to ignite your passion and inspire your purpose. Each speaker has been chosen to reflect our theme and remind us of the power of Rotary.
Eric Knowles: Antiques Expert
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Martin Edwards: CEO, Julia's House
CEO of Julia’s House since 2005, Martin has BA Honours and Masters in Law from Oxford University and a Doctorate in Business Administration from Bournemouth University. He has over 30 years’ experience of charity management and voluntary roles.
Martin works closely with the Julia’s House care team to help ensure high quality services and hosts the annual Remembering Day for bereaved families. He has supervised national research into the impact on families of respite breaks. Martin regularly raises funds for Julia’s House from sponsored challenges and has worked in every Julia’s House shop. |
Sanj Srikanthan: CEO, Shelterbox UKSanj Srikanthan is Chief Executive of ShelterBox, the international disaster relief charity. Before joining in 2019, he spent 10 years with the International Rescue Committee, becoming Senior Vice President for Europe and UK Executive Director, and was named a Evening Standard “Changemaker” in 2018.
A former Captain in the British Army, Sanj has led humanitarian responses worldwide, including work in Mali, South Sudan and Syria. He holds degrees from Columbia University and Sciences Po. 
Dave Grimstead: Locate International
Dave Grimstead is the co-founder of Locate International, an award-winning charity powered entirely by volunteers that works with families and police to help resolve long-term missing person and unidentified body cases. Following a 40-year career as a Detective Inspector investigating serious and organised crime, Dave co-founded the charity to ensure that no missing person is forgotten. He is also the author of Someone Must Know, sharing his insight into the world of missing persons investigations.
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Bob Maskall: Chair, Rotary GB&I Board
Bob is a retired RAF officer and fast-jet pilot with 30 years of experience, mainly as a flying instructor. He continues to work part-time as a military Flight Simulator Instructor and has delivered PR presentations as part of the RAF Presentation Team.
A dedicated Rotarian for 20 years, Bob has organised Club and District events, served as District Visioning Facilitator, Assistant Governor, and District Governor for North Wales and North West England (2019–20). He recently led the Rotary Great Britain & Ireland Leadership Team, training future District Governors. 
Chris Kaye: Purple Community Fund
A member of Westbourne Rotary will be updating conference on the work of the Purple Community Fund (PCF) in the two slums of 'Smoky Mountain' and ‘Tondo' in NW Manila, Chris visited them last December to see first-hand how those fragile communities are being supported. Chris’s presentation will outline the lives of some of these residents, and in particular the challenges faced by those seeking to further themselves and their families through higher education, showcasing the work of PCF in changing the lives of those who by choice or chance subsist there.
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Chloe Rollings: Chair, Rotaract GB&I
Since joining Rotaract Tyneside in April 2024, I’ve participated in projects reflecting the club’s values of connection, community, and dogoodery. Highlights include supporting the Purple Community Fund at local Pride events, raising funds to provide sustainable livelihoods for families in the Philippines.
I’ve also been involved in club events such as can-drives, charity stewarding, fundraisers, and quizzes, helping bring members together to deliver low-cost projects that make a meaningful impact in our community. 
Luke M Luke: Planet Purbeck
A passionate environmentalist and works with Planet Purbeck, an environmental organisation in South Dorset.
He will share how Rotary can inspire and engage young people in environmental action, highlighting practical ways clubs can work with the next generation to create a more sustainable future. |
Winchester Rotary will be introducing a speaker from the Great Lakes Peace Centre to tell us how the projects supported by Rotary have developed over the past 10 years.
Darren Hands: Governor, Rotary District 1175 (Host District)Darren Hands is a highly active member of the Rotary Club of Plympton (District 1175, South West Peninsula) in the UK, known for his work in Polio eradication and mental health awareness. He served as the 2020/21 Club President and is a Trustee for the Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland Disaster Recovery Trust. District Governor 2026-27
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