Behind the scenes
Meet the Organising TeamA core team of volunteers primarily from a Rotary clubs the Canberra Region, work collaboratively to organise the Aussie Peace Walk each year.
Health, Community & Peace
Bringing our Multicultural Community Together
Our aim is to foster peace in the community by bringing people of different ages and nationalities together for a weekend of healthy social interaction.
The Aussie Peace Walk is not a race. We encourage participants to chat with others from all parts of the globe as you walk together on the same journey around the Bush Capital.
By wearing something that shows a national identity, we encourage participants to ‘Come Say G’day’ to their fellow walkers and for all entrants to get to know each other and help foster greater cultural understanding.
The Organising Committee
Who’s Who & Who Does What?
The Aussie Peace Walk is only possible thanks to the tireless efforts of our volunteer organising committee and the team of volunteers who give of their time to help throughout the weekend of walking events.
Chris Edwards
Event Director
Rotary Club of Hall
Chris is the strategist and driving force behind the Aussie Peace Walk. He is passionate about improving community health and cross-cultural understanding.
Chris is a Past President of the Rotary Club of Hall, and has been an Ambassador for Australian Rotary Health since 2016.
A past graphic designer, communication strategist and leadership coach, Chris enjoys outdoor activities and ran before he walked. He is the youngest of the Sydney City2Surf Legends.
John Britton
Volunteer Coordinator
Rotary Club of Tuggeranong
John is Past President of the Rotary clubs of Narrandera and South Nowra and now an active member of the Rotary Club of Tuggeranong.
He enjoyed a good deal of bushwalking in a former life as a Scout Leader and NSW Branch Activity Leader and has been a driving force in Rotary youth development programs.
John retired after 50 years as a NSW Local Government Building Surveyor and development planner and in 2020, he was one of the first to put his hand up to help with the first Rotary Aussie Peace Walk.
Janine Linklater
Business Manager
Rotary Club of Hall
Past President of the Rotary Club of Hall, Janine is a well-regarded Business Advisor and trainer in Canberra and Southern NSW region.
Janine is passionate about youth development and facilitation. She has considerable organisational experience and loves seeing a plan come together.
Andrea Conti
Project Manager
Rotary Club of Canberra Burley Griffin
Past President of the Rotary Club of Canberra Burley Griffin, Andrea enjoyed a long career as a Project Manager and Director of large-scale IT infrastructure projects.
As a Rotarian, she learned to ‘simply get done what needs to be done!’
The team relies on Andrea’s expertise to crack the whip and keep us all on task and on time.
John Talbot
Routes & Signage
Rotary Club of Jerrabomberra
Past President of the Rotary Club of Jerrabomberra, John set an outstanding example by walking the Aussie Peace Walk marathon twice in 2021.
Who better to manage course signage than an enthusiastic walker?
A semi-retired maths teacher, John is dedicated to community service. He is currently on the boards of his Rotary and tennis clubs and was previously a past president of both. He has also served six years as vice-president on the board of his local meals on wheels.
Marwan Altalib
Public Relations
Rotary Club of Canberra Sunrise
Joined Rotary in 2012 and is a member of the Rotary Club of Canberra Sunrise. He is passionate about advancing international peace, capacity building for multiculrtual communities, and youth development.
Marwan is a general manager in the automotive industry and lectures at University of Canberra.
Diana Marshall
IML & IVV Liaison & Route Development
AussieWalk IVV
Diana was President of Canberra Two-Day Walk Inc for 8 years, and organised the two-day walking event prior to its reincarnation as the Aussie Peace Walk in 2021.
A passionate IML and IVV walker, Diana has completed IVV walks throughout Australia and also completed IVV walks in all 50 US states.
She is keen to continue to her quest to walk each of our sister IML walks, (with not many to go!)
Leo Farrelly OAM
Rotary Liaison
Rotary Club of Ginninderra
Leo is an enthusiastic rambler with a love of travel who has walked the Camino four times. He is a retired naval officer with enthusiasm and experience that is invaluable to the team.
Leo has been a Scout leader since 1979, taking on many roles from Cub Scout Leader to ACT Branch Chairman.
He joined the Rotary in 1989 and is currently a member of the Rotary Club of Ginninderra.
Leo was Governor of Rotary District 9705 in 2021-22 and was one of the first to join the Aussie Peace Walk organising team in 2020.
A Word
From the Event Director
The Aussie Peace Walk is entirely organised and managed by volunteers. There are no paid staff and all profits are put toward charitable projects that benefit disadvantaged communities in the Oceania region. (An area that Rotary International refers to as Zone 8).
If you would like to become involved in supporting this excellent community initiative, please get in touch and let’s start a conversation.
– Chris Edwards