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
Showcase 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.
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.
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!)
Janine Linklater
Operations Manager
Rotary Club of Hall
Past President of the Rotary Club of Hall, Janine loves an organisational challenge.
Not only is she the Operations Manager for this event, Janine’s first love is travel. Having started her career as a corporate travel consultant with Ansett New Zealand, she is now an owner-operator of LifeSmith Travel, which focuses on helping visitors to the ACT region get the best value accommodation and visitor experience during their stay.
Fill in our accommodation enquiry form and, using her local knowledge and personal contacts, Janine will organise the best accommodation package for you.
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.
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