The RYLA Oceania AWARDS recognise and celebrate the individuals and teams who have made outstanding contributions to RYLA across Oceania.

RYLA could not be possible without the generous support of Rotary clubs and community groups, the kindness of speakers who give their time and experience, and most notably the incredible work and effort from passionate RYLA Program Leaders.

The categories are:

RYLArian of the Year
RYLArian Service above Self Award
RYLA Leader Award
RYLA Committee Award
Program with Best Endeavours in Equity and Inclusion
Program with Best Alumni Engagement
Program with Best Community Engagement
Program with Greatest Improvement or Innovation

This year, every nominee has the chance to win a half-price ticket to RYLA Oceania ELEVATE 2025.

AND…

Every winner has an additional chance to win a half-price ticket to RYLA Oceania ELEVATE 2025!!

RYLArian of the Year

RYLArian of the Year: Celebrates the incredible work that past RYLA participants are doing in their personal and professional and the positive impacts that they are having on the community.

Amy Strang (FINALIST)

Amy is someone who truly used RYLA Oceania as a launchpad for her development and positive impact.

Not only did she take a career leap, moving to Toulouse, France (her first time in Europe, and without speaking French!).

Within one year she had received a promotion and several recognitions. At 27, Amy has been leading sustainable aviation programs in hydrogen and marketing across Asia Pacific, America and Europe at the world’s largest aviation company – Airbus.

In addition, she became the first New Zealander to complete the Sahara Half Marathon in the Refugee camps of Algeria, raising thousands of dollars.

And this month she’s invited to launch the Emerging Leaders in Sustainable Aviation group at the International Aviation Innovation Summit, Montreal. Amy singlehandedly created this initiative to accelerate sustainable aviation action, developing a committee of diverse young people across the world, securing a sponsoring parent company (ATAG), and world-leading speakers.

Vanessa Mason

Vanessa is an outstanding young leader whose passion for service and community shines through everything she does. Since attending RYLA, she has shared her experience by speaking at local Rotary clubs and has taken the initiative to establish a new Rotaract club, where she serves as President. In her professional life, Vanessa works as a Solicitor in a small family business, demonstrating commitment and integrity. Beyond her career, she is a constant presence at community events and a strong supporter of Rotary. Through her leadership, networking, and genuine care for others, Vanessa has inspired many young people to engage in service and give back. She has a remarkable ability to connect with everyone she meets, leaving a lasting positive impact. With her drive, compassion, and vision, Vanessa is set to continue making a meaningful difference in her community and beyond.

Sally West

Sally West attend RYLA in 2015, then returned as a Supporter in 2016 and continues to support to this day. Sally has contributed to all aspects of the conference roles available. Sally lives the RYLA spirit through their resilience, leadership, and passion for helping others. Taking on RYPEN Chair in the last two years, Sally inspires young people to step out of their comfort zones and believe in themselves. Sally tackle challenges with determination, finding a way forward and encouraging others to do the same. With kindness and an inclusive approach, Sally brings people together and creates a positive, supportive atmosphere. Their dedication to youth development and community service shines, making a genuine difference in the lives of those around them.

Taylah Eyre-Hughes (FINALIST)

Taylah Eyre-Hughes, RYLA 2023 participant, leader in 2024 and Leaders’ Leader in 2025, continues to exemplify Rotary’s motto of Service Above Self. A proud member of the Rotary Club of Gloucester, Taylah is a passionate community leader whose energy and commitment inspire all who meet her. From her work as a Miss Showgirl and mental health ambassador to organising a successful community colour run fundraiser, Taylah demonstrates initiative and heart in everything she does.

A natural and approachable team leader, Taylah’s exceptional organisational skills and enthusiasm bring out the best in her young team. Her engaging presentation on community service captivated participants, showing how small acts of kindness can create lasting impact. A true country girl deeply involved in the equine industry, Taylah embodies resilience, warmth, and community spirit — proving that no task is ever too big or too small when it comes to making a difference.

Caitlin Lorigan

This candidate exemplifies the values of leadership, service, and personal growth that define a Rylarian of the Year. Since receiving the RYLA District 9920 Award in 2022, they’ve served as a RYLA Team Leader for three consecutive years, mentoring and uplifting emerging leaders. Professionally, they are building a career in photography and digital media, using their creative skills to serve Rotary youth programs. As lead photographer for multiple RYPEN events, they’ve produced powerful visual content, grown the RYPEN District 9920 Instagram presence, and created meaningful highlight videos shared across the district. Drawing from these experiences, they continue to grow their skills and connections. They’ve led five RYPEN events, co-organised the first RYPEN Fiji, supported inclusive initiatives like RYPEN Disability Day, and co-led the inaugural Rotary Youth Showcase. This candidate has consistently strived to do their best in every area and continues to find new ways to serve Rotary and give back to their community.

Ness Dunn (WINNER!)

Ness is a passionate advocate for youth mental health and community empowerment. As a dedicated member of the headspace Youth National Reference Group (hY NRG), she’s been a driving force behind national initiatives that amplify young voices and shape mental health services across Australia. Her impact extends beyond her local community, influencing policy and awareness campaigns at a national level. Ness brings with her powerful leadership skills and insight gained through her experience at RYLA and RYLA Oceania, where she developed a deeper understanding of service, collaboration, and personal growth. She uses these lessons to inspire others, create safe spaces for youth, and champion meaningful change. Ness’s work is a testament to the power of lived experience, leadership, and heart-driven advocacy, she continues to pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future for young people everywhere.

RYLA Committee Award

RYLA Committee: The RYLA Leader and RYLA Committee Awards are designed to showcase the incredible work that people are putting in to make their RYLA Programs possible! The RYLA Committee Award is for all those who serve on the RYLA board or committee.

Carmen Goodwin

Carmen is a remarkable candidate for the RYLA Committee Award, consistently going above and beyond to support and enhance the RYLA 9930 program. She pours her heart into every detail, ensuring participants not only gain leadership knowledge but also feel connected and inspired long after the event ends. Carmen takes the extra step to keep alumni engaged, fostering a strong and ongoing RYLA network. She has been instrumental in mentoring young leaders, including guiding me as I establish a Rotaract club, always striking the balance between offering support and encouraging independence. Humble and selfless, Carmen never seeks recognition, yet her commitment and vision are the driving force behind the program’s success. Her leadership and care have elevated RYLA 9930 into a truly transformative experience for all who attend.

D9815 Youth Leadership (RYLA, RYPEN) Committee

3 years ago, 2 districts combined RYLA and there were major tensions. Careful, committed work by the new committee has seen tensions go, program rebound in strength and participation. This year, I was too unwell to attend our RYLA, but the committee ensured it was delivered extremely successfully. It would be fair to say the group is united and positive – and about to resume RYPEN after a long hiatus.

Rob Cook (WINNER!)

Rob has been one of RYLA 9815’s greatest champion a true jack-of-all-trades and an unwavering supporter of the program. He consistently inspires the team with his can-do attitude and willingness to back our vision and ideas, no matter how crazy. The leadership team is incredibly grateful for Rob’s support, whether it be handling logistics and operations, answering our endless stream of questions, guiding us through the world of Rotary or simply encouragement/shoulder to lean on. Rob was our rock and bought such wonderful vibes throughout the RYLA week as one of our on-site Rotarians and first aid officer.

As registrar, he did a fantastic job helping all 43 participants secure Rotary Club sponsorships, maintaining clear and timely communication, and ensuring the committee worked efficiently as a team. On top of all that, Rob’s tech wizardry, especially with OneDrive, Merch design, Link tree and Microsoft. All of which has been invaluable.

Rob is the best, we are so lucky to have him as part of the RYLA 9815 team!

Zashua Hall

Zash is a man who has sacrificed his personal life and personal endeavours to dedicate his time to the RYLA program and has stuck with it in times of hardship and uncertainty. He has been a pivotal member of the program’s committee and leadership team who has helped be a key guiding force through those hard times. While taking the lead on many things, he is also a reliable member o the team who is willing to help anyone behind the scenes and seeking no recognition for this extra work. Our district’s program wouldn’t be the way it is without him; he has brought so many people into the program, his leadership has shaped it for the better, and is a constant inspiration to new participants and leaders alike.

RYLA Leader Award

RYLA Leader: The RYLA Leader and RYLA Committee Awards are designed to showcase the incredible work that people are putting in to make their RYLA Programs possible! The RYLA Leaders Award is for all of the leaders, facilitators, mentors, and coordinators.

Carmen Goodwin (FINALIST)

Carmen is an incredible leader whose dedication and passion make her an outstanding candidate for the RYLA Leaders Award. She puts her heart and soul into RYLA, creating a program that inspires growth, reflection, and genuine connection. Beyond the week itself, Carmen goes out of her way to keep attendees engaged and connected, ensuring the impact of RYLA lasts far beyond the event. She has personally supported me in starting a Rotaract club, guiding us as a mentor while allowing us the freedom to grow independently. Carmen leads with humility, never seeking credit, yet her influence is felt deeply by everyone involved. Her ability to support, encourage, and empower young leaders sets her apart. Having attended leadership courses in New York, I can confidently say that RYLA 9930 under Carmen’s guidance surpasses them in knowledge, experience, and inspiration.

Henry Thomas-Kircher (WINNER!)

Henry has transitioned from 2IC to take complete responsibility for the outdoor portion of our program. This is a highlight of our program and involved coordinating 180 x people (120 x Ryla participants +60 x volunteers) vehicles, cooks, engineers, communication team, command centre staff and govt liaison (govt land is used). In addition managing the risk around weather, health and safety (huge requirement for activity on govt land). He managed this incredibly well and did an amazing job. Directing staff who are all active or retired NZ Army officers commended him on the job done to a standard which they compare to their own experience.

Shannon Michelle

I nominate Shannon Michelle for the RYLA Oceania, ‘RYLA Leader’ award. As Chair of the Queenstown course, I have observed Shannon’s progression and contributions over several years, first in 2022 as an attendee. Since then, she has returned three times as a Leader, advancing to the role of Senior Leader. Shannon has demonstrated continuous growth, as an individual and as an inspiring leader among her peers, supporting and encouraging them to ensure they gain the most from their experience. This commitment to developing others sets her apart.

As an active committee member, Shannon brings valuable skills and innovative ideas to the programme to ensure it is relevant and purposeful. She sets up the alumni social and communication channels and identifies and onboards the incoming team leaders each year and supports them in their roles.

Shannon is eager to continue her involvement with RYLA and would greatly benefit from the new connections and training offered by Elevate. I would very much like to see her attend Elevate in person and fully support her in making this possible.

Amy Dyer & Jemma Moretti

At our 2025 camp, we unfortunately had several Committee members go home with Covid, including our Chair. Amy, as director showed great strength and leadership to adapt to the circumstances. Later, when Amy also had to go home early, Jemma stepped up into her role without hesitation and successfully led the rest of the camp.

Cassie Leong

Cassie has been integral to the growth and development of our program. Coming back as a leader in 2023, Cassie came in with so much energy and passion for the program, inspiring our participants and leaders to learn and grow throughout the lead up to, and while at RYLA. Cassie brought, and continues to bring positive energy, growth mindset and so much care and compassion for everyone who is a part of our program, from participants to Rotarians! Cassie lives leadership and RYLA in everything that she does!

Anthony Zirilli & Chloe Wotherspoon

Anthony and Chloe coordinated the RYLA Program for District 9640, not afraid to dress up, act out skits, get dirty in the activities with other leaders and awardees, but still maintaining professionalism and support to all that needed it. Chloe was phenomenal with her organising and budgeting skills and remaining calm in all instances, whilst simultaneously looking after her children on camp (both under 8yrs old). An incredible achievement.

Christine Tolotchkov (FINALIST)

Christine is the epitome of RYLA. Her dedication to this program is beyond words. Taking up a bigger role in this year’s conference, she gave herself the challenge to run a “Personal Branding” workshop to this year’s participants and did this with so much enthuasiam and passion. She was extremely nervous and worried about this workshop, however was able to capture all the participants in the room! She goes beyond what a CG mentor does by making RYLA booklets for her team consisting of goals, aims and gratefulness journals for each day. She also was responsible for revamping the D9815 RYLA instagram page that now has so many content videos for the team to post in the future. She spearheaded this year’s RYssembly which was an absolute hit! She deserves this award for her dedication, love and commitment to RYLA.

Christine has been an exemplary leader, bringing passion, dedication, and a strong sense of purpose to her role as a facilitator and mentor to new leaders within the team. In 2025, she took a big step by delivering a one-hour workshop on Building a Personal Brand, helping build participant’s knowledge in personal development. She also introduced innovative and tailored facilitation tools to enhance reflection within her colour group. These included a custom-designed template to help participants articulate their team’s value proposition and a thoughtfully created reflection booklet to guide participants in processing their experiences throughout the week. Her attention to meaningful engagement helped deepen the group’s learning journey. Beyond her facilitation work, Christine played a key role in mentoring her co-leader, offering encouragement and guidance to help them confidently lead toolbox sessions. Her growth as a leader has been remarkable, and her contributions continue to add immense value to the RYLA program.

Alannah Vidic-Wirth

Alannah’s growth as a leader has been outstanding and has brought significant value to the RYLA program. She consistently approaches training with a strong learning mindset, offering valuable insights and feedback that help improve each session. She served as a thoughtful and inspiring mentor to her co-leader, offering guidance around facilitation and self-management during the program. Throughout RYLA week, she led dynamic and empathetic toolbox sessions, empowering her participants with curiosity, encouragement, and emotional intelligence. A standout moment was her engaging presentation on Being Imperfect, which was highly rated by participants and left a lasting impression. Her ability to lead with authenticity and purpose made her a truly impactful presence during the program.

RYLArian Service above Self Award

RYLArian Service Above Self: Celebrates all of the RYLA participants who are doing amazing work with Rotaract, Rotary, or other Rotary Programs.

Vanessa Mason

Vanessa is an inspiring candidate for the RYLA Service Above Self Award. Since completing RYLA, she has actively shared her experience by speaking at multiple Rotary clubs, encouraging others to get involved. Motivated by her RYLA journey, she founded and now leads a new Rotaract club as President, creating opportunities for young people to connect, serve, and grow as leaders. Vanessa is a passionate advocate for Rotary and a regular face at community events, consistently showing her commitment to service. Through her leadership in Rotaract, she has built strong networks with Rotary clubs, fostering collaboration and support between members of all ages. Her dedication, warmth, and genuine care for others inspire those around her and embody the spirit of Service Above Self. Vanessa’s achievements highlight both her impact already made and her potential to continue strengthening Rotary programs for years to come.

Jesse Scott

Jesse has been fundamental to the sustainable development of our RYPEN Camps and did an exceptional job leading our recent winter camp. She brings refreshing passion and ideas which has resulted in a significant intake of Rylarians volunteering post- RYLA 2025. Jesse’s professional background and expertise has helped to build volunteer retention and improve communications both internal and external. Jesse also had a major role in seeing RYPEN Fiji come into fruition. Her influence and support to the team has not gone unnoticed and will go on to shape the future generations of leaders.

Jane Loxton

Jane is an incredible, caring, and community-minded person who truly lives the value of Service Above Self. Beyond Jane’s 4 years of service to the RYLA Committee, Jane dedicates her Thursday’s to Somebody Who Cares, helping sort and ship essential medical supplies and clothing to multiple countries in need. She also regularly supports Rotary events – often seen grilling at a Bunnings BBQ or using her “magic van” to transport supplies and volunteers wherever help is needed.

Jane’s generosity and time knows no bounds, as she has also volunteered for the Cancer Council, RARE, EHFAF, in Winton within their laboratories, and more.

Jane’s kindness, reliability, and heart for service make her a shining example of RYLA’s spirit in action.

Caitlin Lorigan (WINNER)

Caitlin possesses a remarkable talent for creating engaging video summaries of each day’s events. At the conclusion of our activities during both RYPEN and Disability Day, she presents concise three-minute videos that capture the essence of our experiences. These presentations not only showcase the highlights but also bring the group together to reflect on the day’s achievements and memorable moments. It is a no mean feat with limited internet connection at camp’s location. She has done so since 2022. Check out our @rypendistrict9920 IG page

This candidate truly embodies the spirit of *Service Above Self* through their ongoing dedication to Rotary youth programs. As the RYLA District 9920 Awardee in 2022 and a RYLA Team Leader from 2023 to 2025, they have continually uplifted others through mentorship and service. Their leadership in RYPEN—serving as a lead for five events and helping organise the first-ever RYPEN Fiji—demonstrates their commitment to empowering youth across diverse communities. They have also supported inclusive initiatives such as the RYPEN Disability Day events and contributed behind the scenes by growing the RYPEN social media presence, capturing event highlights through photography and videos, and showcasing the achievements of fellow participants. In 2024, they co-led the inaugural District 9920 Rotary Youth Showcase, connecting youth programs with the wider Rotary network. Their consistent, humble, and impactful service makes them a standout candidate for the RYLA Service Above Self Award.

Charla Dougal

Hard working, strives to create inclusiveness and Makes It Happen for the new Rotaract Club. Creating visits as guest speaker to Rotary clubs to garner support, attending Rotary district events to garner Rotaract awareness

Jane Hillyard

I have the privilege of walking alongside Jane on her RYLA/Rotaract/Rotary journey and mentoring her. Seeing Jane grow both personally and professionally has been an honour and one that I’m very proud to have been involved with.

Jane has had some challenges to face within the positions that she has held, however she faced these head on and not shied away. The never give up attitude, Jane has shown maturity beyond her years. Each challenge has been thought out, solutions noted, consulted with others and then presented to those involved.

Jane is always ready to listen, learn and improve herself in all ways, she has learnt from the best and now she is mentoring others to be the best they can be.

Jane Hillyard upholds the goals of Rotaract and lives by Rotary’s 4-way test, we are all better to have Jane as a member of the Rotary/Rotaract/RYLA Family.

Program with Best Alumni Engagement

District 9930 (CO-WINNER!)

RYLA 9930 has built an exceptional connection with its alumni by ensuring the RYLA journey continues well beyond the program itself. Under the leadership of Carmen, who now serves as a Rotaract advisor, participants are supported to continue their leadership and service pathways after RYLA. A dedicated Facebook page provides an ongoing platform for alumni to share, connect, and celebrate achievements, strengthening the sense of community. Many past participants are so inspired by their experience that they actively return as volunteers, helping to deliver future programs. The impact of these initiatives is a strong and engaged alumni network where young leaders feel supported, empowered, and motivated to carry forward the values of RYLA into their personal, professional, and community lives.

1. returning alumni as volunteers to help run the programme

2. now engaging alumni into a newly formed Rotaract Club – creating visible pathway for meaningful connection post-RYLA

3. closed Fb groups for each RYLA year so all attendees can communicate, share etc

District 9920 (CO-WINNER!)

Two programs in our District Youth Calendar consistently attract RYLA awardees to help run the program. This year, 136 past awardees from the 2023–2025 cohorts have been involved as team leaders & volunteers at the 3 x RYPEN & Disability Day programs. Additionally, the Disability Day program included members of the Auckland University Canoe Club and the Auckland Whanau Special Needs Support Group.

Program with Best Community Engagement

District 9930

Continued engagement with high profile community leaders to act as guest speakers in subject to include Business Leadership and Leadership in a Bicultural New Zealand. This year saw a deeper dive into Conflict and Leadership, as well as maintaining the programmes usual mantra of immersive experiences ‘outside of the comfort zone’. Continue engagement with community-based volunteering opportunities has inspired this years cohort to form a Rotaract club to continue with ‘doing good in the hood’.

District 9620 – (WINNER!)

Awardees are asked to think about a project they would like to do if money was no barrier, focusing on 1 of the 7 Rotary causes. Together within their family groups they pitch their projects, vote for one they will work on, and all members participate in the presentation. There are sessions, guest speakers and activities to help the groups prepare for their presentations, a few of these include Project Management, Public Speaking/Presentations and Conflict Management. Some Projects have been completed by Rylarians and Rotary Clubs, Saving the Turtles in PNG and starting Rotaract Club in Solomon Islands. SI Rotaract have sponsored an Interact Club and hosts a RYPEN style camp at the end of each year with 2 local Interact Clubs and Rotaractors. Most recently they have partnered with Paddington Rotaract (3 members being RYLA Leaders) to fundraise and rebuild a school library on one of the islands. Several Rotaractors from both clubs are Rylarians Alumni.

Program with Best Endeavours in Equity and Inclusion

District 9930 – (WINNER!)

RYLA 9930 is an inspiring program that continues to innovate by ensuring inclusivity and cultural responsiveness are at the heart of the experience. The program actively diversifies its speakers to reflect the needs of the community, bringing together voices from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. From opening with karakia to embedding practices that honour culture and identity, RYLA 9930 creates a space where all participants feel valued and represented. The committee consistently seeks and responds to feedback, showing a genuine commitment to growth and improvement. The impact has been profound: participants leave feeling seen, supported, and empowered, while the program itself stands as a model for how RYLA can foster true diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Program with Greatest Improvement or Innovation

District 9660

D9660 RYLA: Going Above and Beyond

The D9660 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program continues to go above and beyond in delivering an incredible, life-changing experience for its participants. The program’s peer-led delivery model, the brainchild of Meg Hanlon (RYLA 2016, Leader 2017, Leaders’ Leader 2018, Rotarian from Inverell), developed alongside Andrew Stokes (RYLA 2017, Leader 2018, Leaders’ Leader 2019) and Dr Benjy Clarke (RYLA 2018, Leader 2019, Leaders’ Leader 2020), has redefined how leadership is cultivated within Rotary.

This innovative approach empowers past participants to guide new cohorts, fostering mentorship, authenticity, and shared growth. The program recognises that leadership is a continuous journey — one of learning, development, and improvement. Through teamwork, reflection, and real-world challenges, RYLA encourages every participant to find connection, purpose, and renewed confidence. The result is a vibrant community of emerging leaders who embody Rotary’s spirit of service and make a lasting impact across District 9660.

District 9920

Our 8 day, 120 x awardee program is awesome – it combines 4 x days in the “classroom” or camp environment, followed by 72 x hours in the field with military directing staff testing in a practical, very challenging and impossible to replicate elsewhere way what has been learnt. It is simply amazing. The Island phase whilst 20 + years old continues to evolve, most recently being the formal pullback of NZ Army only to be replaced with the same team on a voluntary basis (due to the value it offers the community), I believe this is unique in the world of RYLA and is without compromise the most challenging RYLA one could attend.

District 9815

Leadership Pool

9815’s program has seen huge improvements in a number of aspects. Starting with the Leadership Team, we have had the largest leadership team since the program re-started, with 14 Leaders (from an applicant pool of 27), and an equal split of returning and new leaders. Our program participant numbers have grown, from 34 in 2024 to 43 participants in 2025 – nearly reaching capacity.

New initiatives were implemented, including welcome packs + farewell tote bags (which included 2 x leadership books pp), which helped spark conversation throughout the week, and invoke further thought into different leadership topics and conversations outside of workshops and presentations.

A direct impact of the success of our 2025 program is highlighted with 29 applications to return to the program as leaders in 2026!

Social Media

RYLA 9815’s social media strategy saw its greatest improvement through a significant boost in content production, 54 posts, including 13 engaging videos, over 4 months leading up to the program, compared to 10 posts the previous year, a 5x increase. This consistent and creative output led to a noticeable improvement in engagement and reach across platforms, including 18,000 views, 2,500 reach, with 1,000 content interactions, and over 100 new followers across platforms. This increase in visibility helped spread RYLA’s message as well as also allowed for outreach into more communities to show them what RYLA is about. The digital presence now better reflects the programs vibrant, impactful leadership development experience.

Welcome + Farewell

RYLA 9815 has grown in size from 34 participants (2024) to 43 participants (2025). The leadership team has also expanded from 12 to 14. RYLA 9815 in 2025 has bought on tailored welcome packs and farewell packs for participants including leadership book picks encouraging exploration, notebook for reflections/notes, hand crochet animal crochet representing their home group and other goodies to add to their experience (snacks, wellbeing resource list, RYLA pin).

T-RYLA – (WINNER!)

Before COVID, D9815 struggled to get colour group leaders on board and the program off the board. Now in 2026, there are 30+ individuals interviewing to be part of the team and at this year’s program, there was a record 45 participants – the highest this program has seen. This year in particular saw a change by the Conference Leaders who decided to implement T-RYLA, a day where activites were trialled with RYLA alumni. This worked in the favour of the Colour Group Leaders because it provided feedback on what needed to be improved and changes that need to be implemented. RYLA continues to grow into a program that inspires young adults to make change!

Personal Goals

Furthermore, training sessions for leaders have designed to provide more meaningful opportunities for growth and development. Each session now includes standing items designed to build both individual capability and team cohesion. These include leadership discussions that explore key concepts for example, “Is a charismatic leader the most effective leader?” to prompt critical thinking and deeper conversations around leadership concepts. We have also introduced team-based challenges that encourage collaborative problem-solving and strengthen team bonds.

Each leader is empowered to define their personal goals, both within the RYLA program and outside. As a leadership team we support this by regularly checking in on progress, offering encouragement, and fostering accountability. This structured yet flexible approach has significantly enhanced leadership development and strengthened our team culture.

We would love as many supporters of RYLA to put forward nominations and recognise outstanding examples of leadership. Please circulate this information across your RYLA teams, RYLA Alumni networks, Rotary Clubs and District Leaders.

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The nominees and winners of the RYLA Oceania AWARDS 2024 were:

RYLArian of the Year (0-5 years)

Alex Lapina – District 9800
Carina Calcagno – District 9815
Parris Smith – District 9640
Amity Lees – District 9675
Christine Tolotchov – District 9815
Joel Devlin – District 9685
April Eden – District 9999 – WINNER!
Jemma Moretti – District 9675
Ben Jepsen – District 9685
Janis Baker – District 9940

RYLArian of the Year (5+ years)

Kevin Choi – District 9920
Heather Miller – District 9690 – WINNER!
Tylah McConnell – District 9685

RYLArian Service Above Self (0-5 years)

Caitlin Lorigan – District 9920
Audrey Ayoul – District 9685 – WINNER!
Elizabeth Dihn – District 9800 – WINNER!
Alex Lapina – District 9800
Matthew Gibney – District 9815

RYLArian Service Above Self (5+ years)

Chloe Wotherspoon – District 9640
Krissie Webb – District 9685 – WINNER!
Eeshwar Rajagopalan – District 9423
Richie Goddard – District 9660 – WINNER!

RYLA Leader Award

John Williams – District 9940
Janis Baker – District 9940
Johanna Parker & Tristan Knoop – District 9780
Todd Hanlon – District 9920
Parris Smith – District 9640
Christine Tolotchov – District 9815
Mathew Wise – District 9815
Alannah Vidic-Wirth – District 9815
Cassie Leong – District 9815 – WINNER!
Ben Watts – District 9660 – WINNER!
Jane Loxton – District 9640
Keishan Hunkar – District 9815
Ash Gillespie – District 9815

RYLA Committee Award

Wendy Muldrew – District 9999 – WINNER!
Alex Malubag – District 9675
Suzanne Caldwell – District 9815
Jesse Budel – District 9760

RYLA Program with the Best Alumni Engagement

District 9940 – WINNER!
District 9920 – WINNER!
District 9990 – WINNER!
* (It was a 3-way tie!!!)

RYLA Program with the Best Community Engagement

District 9930 – WINNER!
District 9920
District 9705

RYLA Program with the Greatest Innovation

District 9675
District 9560
District 9999 – WINNER!