Charlie Allen became a Rotary Peace Fellow in 2010, studying Peace and Conflict Prevention at the Rotary Peace Centre in Thailand. “The Rotary Peace Fellowship changed the direction of my life,” says Charlie and working to build peace became his vocation both inside and outside of Rotary.Charlie became a Rotarian joining the Rotary Club of Melbourne. When his work brought him to Sydney, the Rotary Club of Sydney (RCS) became his Rotary home; he has been a Vice President of the RCS for the last 3 years. Charlie’s Rotary passion remains the Peace and Conflict Prevention Area of focus. He actively recruits Rotary Peace Fellows for the RCS to sponsor. In 2022 the RCS supported two successful candidates and in 2023 we have two applicants in process. Charlie is a Peace and Conflict Prevention Technical Cadre coordinator and a member of the Peace Major Gifts Advisory Committee.
Professionally, Charlie is a Senior Practice Fellow with the Institute for Economics and Peace. Part of this role is to manage the Rotary/IEP strategic partnership; in that role at the May 2023 Rotary International Convention in Melbourne, Charlie presented or facilitated 5 breakout sessions. Charlie also has his own consultancy, Space Melbourne, specialising in resilience. Charlie has a MA in Organisation Leadership and governance experience on NFP boards.
Charlie’s wife Suzanne is the General Manager of Knox Private Hospital; they have four children, all grown up and independent. Charlie is a keen bush walker preferring multi-day pack hikes in remote areas. His relaxation is his modest guitar collection and even more modest guitar playing. “I enjoy playing and enjoying hearing the neighbours’ windows and doors slam shut when I start singing.”
The Year ahead for Rotary Sydney
Charlie writes: “In 2023-24 as Sydney Rotarians reengage in the post COVID era we want a vibrant club with fun and great projects. I want to build on the work of Mark Dyer and David Hirsch offering variety, opportunity, and fellowship to Sydney Rotarians. We need to get RGECAF done, finalising the fund raising for the last part of the project. Let’s build on the success of RGECAF. Collaboration with other major clubs opens endless opportunity. I look forward to the Rotary year ahead.”
RCS Board Members 2023-24
Charlie welcomes new Board members for 2023-24: Phoebe Alexander as a Vice President, Bernard Macleod as he continues the role of Chair of International Service and Fleur Hourihan as Assistant Secretary. Continuing on the Board will be Immediate Past President David Hirsch, Glenn Stafford as Vice President and now President Elect, Honorary Treasurer Rahul Guha, Honorary Secretary Geoff Wilbow, Karen Loblay, Adri Lozano, Mark Dyer, Deborah Hill. Charlie acknowledges the work of outgoing board members, Simon Martin and Sonu Bhaskar, who has taken a new role in Japan.