Rotary International President-Elect Ian Riseley Visits Prince George
Posted by Andrea Johnson
The incoming president of Rotary International, representing 1.2 million members in 35,000 clubs around the world, visiting Prince George this week. Ian Riseley, a member of the Rotary Club of Sandringham, Victoria, Australia is being hosted by Prince George’s three Rotary clubs (Rotary Club of Prince George, Rotary Club of Prince George – Yellowhead, and the Rotary Club of Prince George – Nechako).
He arrived in Prince George Tuesday evening, October 18th and spent Wednesday touring the city. Today he’ll be addressing Rotarians from Prince George and neighbouring communities as the guest speaker during a luncheon at the Hart Community Centre. He’ll return to Vancouver tonight and spend the weekend at a variety of Rotary events.
Riseley’s visit to Prince George was spurred by his urge to visit a smaller community outside of Vancouver during his week-long visit to B.C.
“We are absolutely thrilled that Rotary International President-Elect Ian chose Prince George,” said Ross Birchall, president of the Rotary Club of Prince George. “To have the chance to welcome and host someone such as Ian with such high stature in Rotary International is an honour and it’s very exciting.”
During his time in Prince George, Riseley visited venues the three Prince George Rotary clubs contributed to, such as the Rotary Soccer Fields, Rotary Hospice House, the new skateboard park at Darren Fitzpatrick Bravery Park, and the Rotary Gazebo at UNBC among others. He also learned about ongoing projects the three clubs are passionate about such as Prince George Rotary’s Big Blue Ball that fundraises for men’s health, the Taste of India (Yellowhead Rotary’s fundraiser for various local non-profit organizations and sanitation and water projects in India) and Nechako Rotary’s Journey to the Well Water Well project in Tanzania and Operation Red Nose here in Prince George.
“Rotarians in Prince George have contributed thousands of hours of their time towards local and international projects,” said Neil Godbout, president of the Rotary Club of Prince George Nechako. “We’re happy to show off the work we’ve accomplished to both Ian, as well as visiting Rotary International director Dean Rohrs.”
Riseley is a practicing accountant and principal of Ian Riseley and Co., which specializes in advising local and international businesses, and has a strong interest in international affairs. He received the AusAID Peacebuilder Award from the Australian government in 2002 in recognition of his work in Timor-Leste. He also received the Order of Australia medal in 2006 for service to the Australian community.
A member since 1978, Riseley has served Rotary as treasurer, director, trustee, RI Board Executive Committee member, task force member, committee member and chair, and district governor. He is also a former member of the Australian Polio Eradication Private Sector Campaign and a recipient of the Rotary Foundation’s Service Award for a Polio-Free World.
Riseley will succeed current Rotary International President John Germ of Chattanooga, Tenn., on July 1, 2017.
