Leadership
District Governor
District governors provide leadership, motivation, and guidance to Rotary clubs under the general supervision of the Rotary International Board of Directors. Governors act as officers of Rotary International, fostering achievement in their district at the club level. District governors prepare for and execute their duties over a three-year period.
Districts nominate governors 24-36 months before the governors take office. Governors-nominee are elected at the Rotary International Convention and serve as governors-elect for 12 months prior to taking office.
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Michele Ellery
District Governor 2025-2027 Rotary Club of Lower Blue Mountains info@believesupportconnect.org
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Michele is a Mental Health facilitator, bringing a wealth of experience from her nursing background. She is the proud founder of a multi-award-winning charity that caters to men, women, and children who have experienced violence and abuse. Recognising the significant waiting time for services in Western Sydney, Michele ensured that people were seen within seven days. She provided free counselling and court support, effectively reducing barriers to access.
Michele's journey with Rotary began in 2018 when she joined the Penrith Rotary Club. Her dedication and leadership skills quickly became evident as she served as Secretary and Public Relations. Later, she transferred to the Rotary Club of Lower Blue Mountains, where she continued to make a significant impact. Her roles included President (2020-21), Bulletin Editor, Admin Director, and Public Image Chair. In recognition of her contributions, Michele was awarded the prestigious Paul Harris recognition in 2021.
She has also served as the ROMAC Communications Coordinator, District Public Image team member, District Domestic and Family Violence Committee member, and Winter RYPEN camp mum, which she loves. Having spent three years as District 9685 Assistant Governor for the Blue Mountains and AG Convenor, she has learned much from the clubs and members. She is constantly inspired by the great projects delivered locally and internationally.
She has facilitated with the Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) for the last five years and enjoys delivering leadership training as part of a team of facilitators in the future.
Michele is passionate about Mental health and raising awareness about the stigma of mental illness in the community. This is achieved by providing Mental Health First Aid courses for adults and Youth and has provided, in the last 12 months, over 35 courses to many Rotarians and community members.
Michele was the District 9685 Learning and Development Chair for 2024-25 and a Rotary Community Leader under the Regionalisation Pilot, looking forward to an exciting year!
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Haran Ramachandran OAM
District Governor Nominee 2027-2028 Rotary eClub of Greater Sydney rotary.haran@gmail.com
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Haran is former Chair, International Service, and former President, Chair Rotary Foundation (Rotary Club and District 9685) and former Chair Rotary Foundation Grants Sub-Committee. As well as being part of programs in Australia, including a project to provide a portanle OCT camera to the Westmead Children’s Hospital Eye Unit, he has been project manager for several overseas projects under Rotary Australia World Community Service to Vietnam, Sri Lanka and India and also been involved in The Rotary Foundation Global Grant programs in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bolivia, Nigeria and Cambodia.
In addition to his Rotary leadership, Ramachandran has made significant contributions to Australia’s Hindu community. He served on the Management Committee of the Sydney Sri Ayyappa Swami Temple from 2001 to 2016, including terms as Secretary and Assistant Secretary. He is also a Life Member of the Hindu Society of Victoria, having volunteered at Melbourne’s Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in the early 1990s.
Haran joined Hills-Kellyville Rotary Club in 2001 and joined the E-Club of Greater Sydney in 2023 due to work travel commitments. While a Rotarian for a long time he became really active after recovering from a near-fatal accident.
“Socio-economic development projects have taken me to underserved communities all over India. In Odisha, we built school toilets for girls and biotoilets for women across 10 slums in Bhubaneswar, alongside health and hygiene education with local women’s groups. In Prayagraj, we helped the leprosy mission acquire a mobile van for early detection. In Aurangabad, we partnered with local organisation Udaan to provide a mobile van for outreach on Type 1 diabetes prevention in remote areas. During COVID, we worked with a Victorian team to send medical equipment to India.”
Haran Ramachandran speaks with passion about a particular Rotary project in Vijayawada, which collected funds to help build a hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.
“Rotary is a global family – we see people, not borders or religious divides or conflicts.”