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ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
Be inspired by the Magic of Rotary, through the stories told by our guest speakers, our showcase of projects, and your opportunity to connect with, and learn from, Rotary and Rotaract members and other conference attendees.
When & Where
28 - 30 MARCH 2025
Southport Sharks Event Centre
Cnr Olsen & Musgrave Avenues, Southport QLD 4215
Cnr Olsen & Musgrave Avenues, Southport QLD 4215
Pricing
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Conference Entry - Sat & Sun ($140 *)
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Welcome Cocktail Party - Fri ($40 *)
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Masquerade Gala Dinner - Sat ($90 *)
*plus booking & processing fees
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PROGRAM OUTLINE
Below you will find an outline of the conference program. Times are indicative and sessions may be subject to change. All events will take place at the Southport Sharks Event Centre unless otherwise noted.
A Conference Entry Ticket is required to access the main conference sessions and includes lunch, morning & afternoon teas. Separate tickets are required for the Cocktail Party & Gala Dinner, all of which can be purchased via the link above. The Peace Pole Dedication (Fri) and Walks (Sat & Sun) are FREE EVENTS though we do ask for expressions of interest if you wish to participate in the walks.
Friday 28 March
6:45am - Governors Cup Golf Day
Parkwood Golf Club
CANCELLED
10:00am - Peace Pole Dedication
Griffith University
near Glycomics Institute - Building G26
FREE EVENT
3:00pm - Conference Registration Open
6:30pm - Welcome Cocktail Party
Separate Ticket Required ($40)
Dress Code : Cocktail
Saturday 29 March
7:00am - Local Walk
Purple Shirts
(Say No To DV & Australian Rotary Health)
FREE EVENT
7:30am - Conference Registration Open
8:00am - House of Friendship Open
8:30am - Conference Opening Session
including Youth Programs Panel
10:30am - Morning Tea
Speakers : Various
12:30pm - Lunch
1:30pm - Focus on Environment
Keynotes : Peter Gash & Melanie Lewis
3:30pm - Afternoon Tea
4:00pm - Business Session
4:30pm - House of Friendship Close
5:30pm - Foundation Recognition Drinks
Invitation Only
6:30pm - Masquerade Gala Dinner
Separate Ticket Required ($90)
Dress Code : Evening Wear / Formal
Sunday 30 March
7:00am - Local Walk
End Polio Now Shirts
FREE EVENT
8:00am - Conference Registration Open
House of Friendship Open
8:30am - Project Showcase #2
Speakers : Various
10:30am - Morning Tea
11:00am - Transformational Power of Sport
Keynote : Nat Cook
12:00pm - District Awards
12:35pm - Conference Closing Session
1:30pm - Lunch
2:30pm - Conference End
House of Friendship Close
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KEY NOTE SPEAKERS
We have a fabulous range of guest speakers across the Saturday & Sunday sessions. Keynote speakers include -
NAT COOK OAM
Sunday (11:00am)
Nat Cook is a five-time Olympian in beach volleyball, winning Bronze in Atlanta (1996) and Gold in Sydney (2000). She also won a Silver (1996) and Bronze (2003) at the beach volleyball World Championships.
A passionate athlete advocate, Nat has always been a champion of the transformational power of sport and the life lessons learnt pursuing your dreams.
Her trademark authenticity, energy and ease, combined with her success as both an elite athlete and influential business leader, make Nat a powerful motivational speaker and strategic sports and wellbeing advisor.
Serving as a Director of Brisbane 2032, Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee, and holding a position on the World Olympians Association Board, Nat is a firm believer in the Games' potential to create enduring legacies for individuals, businesses, and society as a whole.
She is also an author (Go Girl : An Inspiring Journey from Bronze to Gold), a founder of various groups including the Aussie Athletes Fund and SurfVolley, and supports a variety of charitable causes.
PETER GASH OAM
Saturday (1:30pm)
Peter Gash is the Managing Director of Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort and Seair Pacific.
Lady Elliot is a coral cay island located 80 kms north-east of Bundaberg, on the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef. In his early twenties, Peter discovered the island and its amazing beauty, both above and below the water. In the mid 90's, Peter began flying guests to nearby Lady Elliot Island. Peter, his family and two business partners took over the lease of the island in 2005 and has been operating the 150-bed eco resort since that time.
Peter's main motivation is Education and the Environment. Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort operates on a 'Four E's' Philosophy: To look after our Environment we need to be Efficient, Economically Sustainable and able to Educate Effectively.
In recognition of Peter's 30+ years in Queensland's dynamic tourism industry and his passion, dedication, and leadership in sustainable ecotourism, he was awarded the Marie Watson-Blake award for 'Outstanding Contribution by an Individual' in 2014 and an Order of Australia Medal in 2020 for his service to ecotourism and aviation. Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort has also been awarded multiple awards including the Steve Irwin Award for Ecotourism in 2014, 2017, 2019, 2021 & 2022 and silver in the Australian Tourism Awards in Ecotourism in 2019.
Although awards and recognition are wonderful accolades, Peter’s main personal mission is to "inspire & encourage other people, particularly the younger generation to follow their dreams to make a difference on the planet".
MELANIE LEWIS
Saturday (2:40pm)
Growing up on a hobby farm in the bushland north of Adelaide, Melanie developed a deep love for animals, nature, and Australia’s rugged landscapes, from towering gum trees to the sweeping Aussie scrub. Her connection to the ocean came later, sparked by countless surf sessions with her dad, where she first fell in love with the rhythm of the waves and the world beneath them.
A formally trained marine biologist, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology and a Master of Science in Research, where she studied the life history traits of an endangered fish species to support its conservation. Now completing her doctoral dissertation on climate knowledge innovation communities, she is exploring how we can accelerate climate action at scale.
As the Regional Director of End Plastic Soup, a global Rotary initiative tackling plastic pollution, she is passionate about empowering communities to create meaningful environmental change. Her expertise has taken her around the world, delivering talks at universities and conferences on environmental sustainability, innovation, and action. Her research has been recognised with multiple scholarships and awards, including Best Research Paper, further solidifying her impact in the field.
When not advocating for a cleaner, healthier world, she loves spending time with her husband, their two children and their loving but stubborn Border Collie. Whether it's exploring the outdoors, enjoying family adventures, or simply relaxing together, they remind her why protecting the planet for future generations is so important.
Join Melanie for an inspiring session that will challenge, motivate, and equip you to take action in your own community. Because together, we can turn the tide on plastic pollution.
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OTHER SPEAKERS
In addition to our key note speakers, we have a range of other inspiring updates and discussions from a wide range of speakers, including -
- A Youth Programs Panel, including past participants, leaders and others to share their experiences
- Professor Michael Good providing an update on the Malaria Vaccine Project
- David Barnes, providing an update on the Falls Prevention Project
- Mike Greenslade, providing an update on the work of Shelterbox
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Cole Sutar, speaking about the Kick For Kids Foundation.
- Kat Cacavas, speaking about the Make Ways Foundation
- John Walters, discussing the School Mates Program
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ACCOMMODATION & LOCAL INFORMATION
Accommodation
The Mantra at Sharks is located right next to the venue but get in quick as there are limited rooms available. As a special offer for conference attendees, Mantra is pleased to offer a special discount code, SSROT25, for 15% off the flexible daily rate - refer to this flyer for more details.
There are also plenty of other accommodation options around the Gold Coast which you can find on popular booking sites such as Booking.com, Wotif and Trivago.
Getting There
If you are driving, there is plenty of free parking available at Southport Sharks. The venue is located on the corner of Olsen & Musgrave Avenues and you can find it on the map here.
The venue is also accessible via public transport -
- G:Link (Tram) - the nearest Gold Coast Light Rail (G:Link) stop is Gold Coast University Hospital station, located approximately 800m walk away or you can also catch the bus (Route 714 or 719) from the station to the venue - see below The G:Link comes from Helensvale in the north or Broadbeach in the south.
- Train - If travelling by train you can swap to the G:Link at Helensvale.
- Bus - there are also two bus stops located right near the venue - either the Olsen Ave at Southport Lawn Cemetery stop (Route 714 & Route 719) or the Musgrave Ave, near Botanical Dr stop (Route 715).
Visit the Translink Journey Planner site to plan your journey.
General Tourist Information
The Gold Coast has a wide range of options for everyone including beaches, sub tropical rainforest, theme parks, outlet shopping, and much more. You can find out more at the Experience Gold Coast website.
