Sydney Rotary Club's Guest Speaker on Tuesday 2nd July at 12:30pm is Gail Kelly, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Westpac Group.

Gail began her banking career in 1980, and by 2001 she had held various senior management roles in a broad range of areas, including retail and commercial banking, strategy, marketing and human resources. Gail has spent the last eleven years as CEO of two Australian banks, St.George Bank from 2002 to 2007 and Westpac from 2008 to date.

Gail has presided over a period of enormous change and challenge for the Westpac Group.   In 2008, she led Westpac through its merger with St.George, the largest merger in Australian financial services history. Gail also led Westpac as it successfully navigated through the turbulence and risk of the Global Financial Crisis and the consequent and continuing structural shifts in world banking and financial markets.

Visitors are always most welcome at Sydney Rotary Club luncheons which are held each Tuesday at the Castlereagh Boutique Hotel, 169 Castlereagh Street, Sydney.

Although each luncheon usually has a notable guest speaker, there is also the opportunity for fellowship with other members of the Club.

Recent guest speakers have included the current Premier, scientists, business leaders, authors, community leaders, philanthropists media representatives and opinion makers.

This painting was painted by the current Prime Minister of Timor-Leste when he was political prisoner in Cipinang Prison in Jakarta, Indonesia. It was smuggled out of the prison and sent to Dr José Ramos-Horta (then in exile in Portugal) as a birthday gift in 1994.  

The painting was given to the Rotary Club of Sydney to assist in raising funds for Fundu Isin-Di'ak Timor-Leste  which will improve health outcomes in Timor-Leste.   Help us to SEND THIS PAINTING BACK TO DILI where it will be housed in the new National Resistance Museum – THIS IS WHERE IT BELONGS!

DONATE HERE.  The person who donates the most to this project by 30 June 2013 will win a high quality print of the painting which has also been signed by Xanana Gusmão.   All funds donated will go to Fundu Isin-Di'ak Timor-Leste and are tax deductible. 

The painting is currently on display at the Wentworth Gallery, 61 Phillip Street, Sydney.

 During the 2012-13 Rotary year the Club will be supporting the University of Sydney’s Isin-Di’ak Fund.  This new fund has been set up with the overall objective of improving health outcomes in Timor-Leste.

One of the first major projects of the fund will be the elimination of lymphatic filariasis, a very nasty, mosquito transmitted, parasitic disease.  This is the disease that causes elephantiasis – the gross swelling of limbs and other parts of the body.  It is very debilitating but quite preventable!  

The Rotary Club of Sydney is hoping to raise at least $300,000 in support of this very worthwhile project.  Please help us…