Speakers
Our speakers embody our theme, having changed many people's lives, and we hope can inspire you to do the same.
Adam Welsh, Five Sisters Zoo
Adam is Head of Education at Five Sisters Zoo in West Lothian. Before taking on this role in 2018, he worked as an animal keeper and has been heavily involved with international wildlife research projects.
Five Sisters Zoo is a privately owned zoological park located in Polbeth, West Calder. The official mission of the zoo is to change the behaviour and attitude of its audience towards the natural world in order to fight against the global biodiversity crisis. This is a huge task but thanks to some incredible animal ambassadors the 200,000+ visitors to the zoo each year have the opportunity to learn about and engage with some of the worlds most threatened species. Animal rescue has also been a big focus of the facility, and the zoo has become particularly well known for its work with rescued bears.
The zoo's expansion was supported by donations from local supporters and substantial fundraising campaigns, which have funded the construction of new enclosures for larger rescue animals. Notable additions to the zoo include a £150,000 fundraising appeal in 2015 to create a habitat for four male lions rescued from a circus and, most recently two lionesses from a facility in Ukraine.
The zoo was named the ‘Best Family Day Out’ at the 2024 Scottish Entertainment and Hospitality Awards.
Geoff Mackey
Geoff is well known on the Rotary podium as as an entertaining and motivating speaker and we are delighted to welcome him back to Scotland.
Words to describe Geoff's life include ‘full’ and ‘varied'. Brought up on a small family farm in the bandit country of South Armagh, N. Ireland, his doctorate concerned the strategic business value of social networks, he first read biology in Liverpool and followed it with a range of post graduate qualifications in Health & Safety and management including a sleepless MBA.
Today he advises and consults to a wide range of strategic and tactical groups covering private, public and third sectors in arenas including science, communications, sustainability, environment and further education. Geoff has a range of trustee and directorships and is a Fellow of the Royal Soc of Chemistry, the Inst of Directors and the Inst of Sustainability & Environmental Professionals. He once won an award for his writing, and raises substantial charitable donations standing on his hind legs in public and talking.
Geoff has served three Districts, RIBI and RI in a wide range of posts. He is a Foundation benefactor, a GSE scholar, VSE team leader and Past Rotaract Chairman GB&I; he was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship in 2004 and in 2005 was honoured to receive an RI Service Above Self Award. He wrote the back page in the Rotary magazine and joined the board of Rotary GB&I in 2025. He will chair the Board in 2028-29.
He lives with his long suffering wife Luisa and their two sons, Alexander (20) and Nicolas (17) in rural Staffordshire and enjoys a full life to the full.
Phil Stewart, CEO, Dumfries & Galloway CAB
I retired from Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary in January 2013 having had experiences I could never have dreamed of as a young Constable. This took me to various parts of the world as well as every part of Dumfries and Galloway, working with people and communities that left an indelible impression on me and thankful to have been a part of delivering an outstanding public service.
Retirement lasted all of three and a half months before Mrs Stewart told me I was not ready for retirement and needed to get another job or I would be stabbed. As a theatre nurse I took this threat seriously!
I eventually landed in a post with Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice Service in January 2018, delivering on a project to increase volunteering across the Service. In July 2019 I took on the post of CEO, just in time for the covid pandemic then the cost of living crisis! We celebrated 25 years as an amalgamated service in January this year.
Mark Blair, CEO, Effectivenow
Mark is a former Professional rugby player and now heads Effectivenow, who work in partnership with schools and local businesses to support acquiring and developing meta-skills in young people.
Employers increasingly seek individuals with higher-order skills that enable them to adapt, learn, and excel in various situations to give their business the edge in innovation, creativity and growth.
Effectivenow provide schools and parents with a programme to teach young people these vital skills alongside their academic studies.
Craig Hammond, Starfish Project, ADAMAS Academy
Craig was born with a severe stammer that made communication impossible. He was punched, kicked, mimicked, spat on and labelled as a retard. He battled through suicidal thoughts every day. Now he is a keynote speaker and has started a non-profit organisation called ADAMAS Academy and has a mission to speak in every high school in the UK educating, empowering and encouraging young people to embrace what makes them different. Craig is being supported by and working in partnership with Rotary District 1280 to speak in every high school in their district and after hearing his captivating life story Craig hopes that other Rotary districts will get on board with the 1 CLUB, 1 SCHOOL, 1 LIFE SAVED project.