Events

The Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999 requires telecommunications providers to be members of the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) and to comply with the decisions of the Ombudsman.

The TIO provides a free and independent dispute service for small business and residential consumers who have an unresolved complaint about their telephone or internet service in Australia.

Dispute resolution services include:

• Dealing with individual and systemic complaints;
• Promoting fair and effective resolution of complaints;
• Providing information and analysis to community, government and members.

Appointed as Australia’s Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman, Judi Jones has extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution, management, and the law. She held the position of Electricity and Gas Complaints Commissioner in New Zealand for 14 years. As the inaugural ombudsman, Judi established a scheme that is now the largest in New Zealand and is fully funded by the electricity and gas industry.

Judi’s work in New Zealand for organisations such as the Advertising Standards Complaints Board and the Massey University Dispute Resolution Centre has given her a wealth of experience in her field. Her past appointments include being a member of the Security and Reliability Council for the electricity industry, Chair of the Advertising Standards Complaints Appeal Board, and former chair of Consumer NZ.

Judi holds a law degree and a Masters in Business Studies with Distinction in dispute resolution. She is currently the Chair of ANZOA, the peak body in Australia and New Zealand for industry-based, parliamentary and statutory ombudsman offices. Judi also has a long-standing involvement with ANZEWON, the Australia & New Zealand Energy and Water Ombudsman Network

Uganda has one of the youngest populations in the world, with young people making up the highest percentage of the population, majority of which are unemployed. 

Yimba Uganda (meaning sing Uganda) is a Uganda based non-government organization that equips Ugandan youth with sustainable income generating skills through vocational training and education.

Established by Emmanuel (Emma) and Anne-Marie in 2013, Yimba Uganda works to break the cycle of poverty in Uganda by providing vocational training and education to Ugandan youth who have grown up in vulnerable communities like Emmanuel, in order to reduce unemployment rates and empower the next generation to be economically independent and self-reliant.

Supported by Brighton Rotary Club and several other clubs, as a youth focused vocational training centre that trains Ugandan youth in a wide variety of diverse income generating skills and trades, they have already commenced a highly successful Tailoring, Fashion and Design course, a Music mentorship program and an Agriculture and farming project. As Yimba Uganda grows, it will continue to develop and offer more courses to Ugandan youth, so they are able to utilize their talents, and passions to pursue a promising career in their desired fields.

Consistent with Rotary’s focus for 2019-20 of connecting the world, Emma has epitomised this initiative through his remix of Essendon Football Club’s theme song:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkq6iATWbl4

The inspiration for Yimba Uganda developed from Emmanuel’s life experiences growing up. Emmanuel grew up in the slums of Katwe in Kampala and had a first-hand experience of the difficulties and hardships people living in such places face every day.  Due to the hard work and determination shown by Emmanuel’s parents while he was at school, Emmanuel and his family were able to move out of this area. He went on the complete a university degree in Social Sciences at Uganda’s most renown University, whilst building his career as an established Gospel artist. As his music career grew and he became more known and respected in society, Emmanuel never forgot where he came from and has utilized his standing and voice in society to advocate and address the needs of these communities close to his heart, in particular the youth.

Growing up in a Christian household in Buxton, Anne-Marie went to primary school at Marysville before completing high school at Alexandra, Healesville, Mt Evelyn Christian School and Ringwood High.

She fell in love with Uganda and its people when she first visited at 16 with her family and returned for six months during a gap year in 2012 working initially with the Village of Hope project with Hope Builders. It was her time at a Ugandan orphanage during her GAP year that changed everything and has led to a lifetime of community projects in Uganda.

It was through her work in the community that she met Emmanuel, stage name Coopy Bly, a successful gospel and reggae singer in Uganda.

Recognising Emmanuel’s same vision of working with youth in disadvantaged communities, Anne-Marie found they were very like-minded in terms of the programs they wanted to develop and their dreams of what Uganda could be like.

“We spent a lot of time together building the organisation, and you know how these stories unfold — we fell in love.”

Along with her now husband Emmanuel, Anne-Marie co-founded Yimba Uganda.

As Rotarians we are connected and share a common goal of realising Rotary International's vision- "Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change - across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves." This vision is perfectly represented in the RI theme for 2019-20, “Rotary Connects the World”. This connection is evident at every level of Rotary. It’s in the communities we support, between Rotarians locally and around the world. It’s also in Rotary clubs, and between Rotary Districts.