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.”
Committee of the Association
The Committee of the Association controls and manages the affairs of the District, assists the District Governor, the District Governor Elect and the District Governor Nominee in all aspects of the administration and governance of the Association.
The Committee comprises:
The Committee comprises:
- The Officers (District Governor, District Secretary, and District Treasurer)
- District Governor-Elect
- District Governor-Nominee
- The most recent Past District Governor willing to serve on the Committee
- Five elected Cluster Representatives, one from each of the 5 Clusters in District 9685
The members of the Association are all Rotary Clubs designated to be within District 9685.
The objectives of Rotary International District 9685 Inc. are:
- To provide for the efficient administration and governance of the Clubs within the District by Rotary International and the District Governor
- To help and assist the Clubs within the District advance the Objects of Rotary
- To be a non-profit, non-share capital and not-for-profit Association paying no dividend and no part of its money, property or other assets to its Members, Officers or Committee.
Public Documents: ABN Number | Certificate of Incorporation | Constitution | Regulations
District Governor Nominating Committee
The District Governor Nominating Committee is to select a nominee for governor not more than 36 months, but not less than 24 months, prior to the day of taking office under the Rotary International Bylaws.
The committee comprises:
The committee comprises:
- District Governor
- The two most recent Past District Governors
- District Governor Elect
- District Governor Nominee
- Five members elected from the Zones/Groups designated from time to time
The Chair and Convenor shall be the second most recent Past District Governor.
Qualifications of a District Governor Nominee
At the time of selection, a Governor Nominee must:
1. Manual of Procedure 2022 – 25
16.010. Qualifications of a Governor-nominee.
Unless excused by the board, the person selected as a governor-nominee shall at the time of selection:
(a) be a member in good standing of a functioning club in the district;
(b) have served as club president for a full term or as charter president for at least six months;
(c) demonstrate willingness, commitment, and ability to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of a governor in section 16.030.;
(d) demonstrate knowledge of the qualifications, duties, and responsibilities of governor as prescribed in the bylaws; and
(e) submit to RI a statement that the Rotarian understands those qualifications, duties, and responsibilities, is qualified for the office of governor, and is willing and able to assume and faithfully perform those duties and responsibilities.
Unless excused by the board, the person selected as a governor-nominee shall at the time of selection:
(a) be a member in good standing of a functioning club in the district;
(b) have served as club president for a full term or as charter president for at least six months;
(c) demonstrate willingness, commitment, and ability to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of a governor in section 16.030.;
(d) demonstrate knowledge of the qualifications, duties, and responsibilities of governor as prescribed in the bylaws; and
(e) submit to RI a statement that the Rotarian understands those qualifications, duties, and responsibilities, is qualified for the office of governor, and is willing and able to assume and faithfully perform those duties and responsibilities.
2. Qualifications of a Governor.
16.020.Unless excused by the board, a governor, when taking office, must have attended the international assembly for its full duration, have been a Rotarian for at least seven years, and continue to possess the qualifications in
section 16.010.
section 16.010.
Click here to download the Guide for Potential Candidates
Note: Outcomes from the Regionalisation Pilot Team will likely alter the duties of future leaders.