SPEAKER PROFILE: BOB AITKEN AM & JOHN BARNES

Bob Aitken AM

Fifty plus years in journalism and media management – 27 of which were spent ‘flying the flag’ as managing editor of Rotary Down Under – saw Bob well prepared to enjoy the role of Executive Director of Rotary Down Under Inc, specialising in public relations and corporate development in his final three years as leader of the Rotary region’s premier media organisation.

In 2015/16, Bob was chairman of District 9685 Public Relations and Polio committees, project manager of Rotary’s NSW Graffiti Removal Day project – in partnership with the NSW Government, and assisted with promotion of favourite Rotary projects in Australian Rotary Health and Dream Cricket. In 2016/17, Bob continues his role as Chairman of District 9685 Polio Committee; and that of Chairman of Graffiti Removal Australia Ltd. RI President John Germ has invited Bob to serve as END OF POLIO Coordinator in Zone 7B and part of Zone 8 in 2016/17.

John Barnes

John Barnes joined the Rotary Club of Clayton in District 9810 in 1979. He was President in 1983/84 and again in 2002/03.  He has held most positions at Club level including Secretary for ten years and is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and a member of the Paul Harris Society. 

In 2010/11 he began a three-year appointment as an Assistant Rotary Coordinator.  In 2011/12 he commenced a four-year term as District Foundation Chair.  In 2013/14 John received a Citation for Meritorious Service from the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation.  John has also been a part of the GETS Training Team for incoming District Governors in 2010, 2011 and 2012.  

On 1 July 2014, John commenced his three-year term as a Trustee for The Australian Rotary Foundation Trust (TARFT). In March 2015 John and Gaye represented the RI President and his wife at the District Conference of District 1260 in St. Albans England and again at the District Conference of  District 3011 in New Delhi, India in February 2017.

John is also a member of Interplast ANZ’s Committee of Rotarians,  having been associated with Interplast since 1999 and a Board Member from 2002—2014.  

From 1 July 2015 John took up a position as a Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator, responsible for the six New Zealand Districts and the ten South Eastern Australian Districts.