Hearing Rotary Action Group

Ellen has played a critical role in establishing the Hearing RAG. In 2013 she changed the Rotarians for Hearing Fellowship from a fundraiser for Hearing Research to a Rotary Action Group with projects around the world to help children and adults with hearing loss obtain the  treatment they needed to reach their potential. As a 4 year old child, she remembers being sad at losing her hearing and not being able to hear the nursery school read the stories. From Kindergarten on, she had access to hearing aids and speech therapy. She is grateful for this intervention, without which she would not be the verbal, well educated, and connected person that she is today. She vowed to pay it forward with work as the Chair of the Hearing Rotary Action Group.

Elaine is a career hearing professional, with qualifications in science, clinical audiology, biomedical engineering and business. She is an Australian Rotarian, Paul Harris Fellow and Past President of the RC South Yarra. Elaine started her career as a teaching assistant in a school for deaf children in Derby, in the UK, but now tries to bring advanced technologies to help people hear. She is Secretary of the Hearing RAG

Jon is a career development consultant who completed his postgraduate counselling training in 2024. He joined Rotary in 2022 and is committed to contributing to service initiatives in his community and globally through Rotary and purpose-led Rotary Action Groups. Currently undertaking further professional development in Accounting & Bookkeeping, Jon is looking forward to supporting the Hearing RAG as Treasurer for the Board.

John, (our Technical Officer) lives in Tasmania (Australian state) and while studying to be a maths/science teacher lived at the Blind and Deaf Society as House Master with major responsibility for the older deaf boys. After teaching in a high school for a very short time he was invited by the Education Department to train as a teacher of the deaf in Victoria. He returned to Tasmania and became the Foundation Head of a brand new, audiologically rich school for the hearing impaired. After a few years John studied in California for a year. At about that time he was invited to join Rotary International becoming in turn - Club President, District Governor then RI Director. John is active in a number of other community groups including the Royal Society of Tasmania. He is married to Shirley and they have two adult daughters.

Max brings international Marketing and Business development experience in high technology electronics.  This included regional management of Hong Kong, Australia, China, New Zealand, Japan and Korea. He built his >US$100m revenue. With degrees in Electronics, Marketing and Business Management, he has also been a Director of Kids Under Cover, Men’s-Line, Crisis Support Services, & PW Services.

Deidre is an executive in mining and renewable energy. She has been a CEO and held senior roles in business and government. She is also an experienced non-executive director. She is Past President of Woodend Rotary Club and is currently helping deliver a global grant in Bali, Indonesia.

Christy is founder and CEO of Marketing Direction Outsourced Marketing Experts. She was born with hearing loss and didn’t get her hearing aids until she was 27 years old because of the expense. Learning about the addiction and suicide rates related to children not getting their hearing aids, and seeing two of her hearing-impaired cousins die of addiction, she created Sounding Joy, a nonprofit that buys kids hearing aids in the Tampa Bay area. In just two years, Sounding Joy has helped more than 50 children (100 ears).

MSc in Audiology, Member of the Rotary Club of Mazatenango, Guatemala.
Jose's interest in audiology began with his brother’s experience with profound hearing loss. He started by organizing hearing evaluation campaigns in rural communities of Guatemala, aiming to transform lives through early diagnoses and accessible solutions.
He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Philosophy in Audiology and Clinical Vertigo, driven by the shortage of professionals in this field in Guatemala. His commitment is to improve the quality of life for children and adults, promoting their inclusion and advancing the development of audiology in the country.

Sana Malik joined the Rotary Club of Melbourne in 2021.
She is currently Assistant Secretary and Protection Officer for the Club and has been actively involved in various projects during her time as a Rotarian. Sana first became aware of the Rotary Action Group on Hearing when she attended the RI Convention in Singapore in 2024. This sparked her interest in bringing awareness to hearing issues and making solutions more accessible to the global community. Sana holds a Juris Doctor and Bachelor’s Degree in Arts from Monash University.