By Natalie Williamson

The torch of leadership, driven by the vision of ‘Uniting For Good’, officially began on June 28th, with the formal installation of Professor William D Aiken as District Governor for Rotary International District 7020 and Mikhail Raymore as District Rotaract Representative Elect.

Both sons of Jamaican soil, their installation ceremony at The UWI Regional Headquarters on Mona Road signifies a strong commitment to fresh perspectives and a strengthening of the bond between Rotary and its youth, all aimed at addressing crucial community needs.

District 7020 encompasses ten countries and territories across the Northern Caribbean: Anguilla, The Bahamas, St. Barthelemy, The Cayman Islands, The British Virgin Islands, Haiti, Jamaica, The U.S. Virgin Islands, The Turks and Caicos Islands, and St. Martin/St Maarten.

Speaking at the ceremony, Professor Aiken, a distinguished urological surgeon, and Head of the Department of Surgery, Radiology, Anaesthesia & Intensive Care, and Emergency Medicine at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, articulated this forward-looking approach: “Let us Recognise Needs, Transform Lives as we Unite For Good through partnerships and collaborations within and outside of Rotary so that we continue to increase our impact and expand our reach in the Caribbean and beyond.”

Reinforcing the theme of collaboration and future impact, Mikhail Raymore, newly installed as District Rotaract Representative Elect, shared his vision for Rotaract District 7020. He explained his approach as “Nexus,” a place where passions and energies meet to build synergies and create greater things, and “Nurturing Excellence through Unity and Service.”

Raymore stated, “We strongly believe that by leaning on each other and utilising our respective skills and resources, we can not only further the sustainability of Rotary but also enhance its impact in our local, national, and regional communities.” A highly awarded Rotaractor and dedicated professional, Raymore emphasised the vital role of strengthened collaboration between Rotary and its vibrant youth arm. He also reiterated the need to synchronise synergies.

The keynote address, delivered by Audrey Tugwell Henry, president and CEO of Scotia Jamaica and Senior Vice President of Caribbean North and Central, offered profound insights into true leadership.

Tugwell Henry emphasised that leadership is often misunderstood as mere visibility or social media popularity. Instead, she asserted, “True leadership is not about the leader. It is about persons, members of the team, the cause the leader is called to do.”

She elaborated that the “hallmark of leadership” focuses on transformation and impact on individuals, groups, communities, and the world. Tugwell Henry encouraged Rotarians to model transformational leadership, which inspires, uplifts, and envisions a better future, empowering others to achieve beyond their perceived limits. She further stressed that such leadership is not confined to boardrooms or large institutions, but must occur everywhere—in classrooms, sports fields, clubs, churches, and government—as this is how fundamental change happens.

“Sometimes in our leadership journey it is easy to sprint and to be happy when things are going well but we are often tempted to retreat when they get hard, but true transformational leaders like the past and incoming DG stays the course when we have a major cris… we step forward and try to be the transformational leaders, but it has to be part of our DNA,” she stated.

The installation ceremony reinforced Rotary’s commitment to “Service Above Self” and set a dynamic course for the upcoming Rotary year, focusing on impactful partnerships, health initiatives, and the empowerment of both seasoned and emerging leaders. This commitment is guided by Rotary’s enduring Four-Way Test, which asks:

• Is it the TRUTH?
• Is it FAIR to all concerned?
• Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
• Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?