Arriving in Taipei for my 20^th Rotary Convention I was excited to discover a new country which is frequently in the news, to meet old Rotary friends and make new friends, hear inspirational speakers and attend a whirlwind of breakout sessions and social events, and Taipei did not disappoint.

This was the largest Convention since Covid with 38,000 people from over 140 countries, held at the impressive Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center and the Taipei Dome. I noticed there were fewer Plenary sessions and breakout sessions this year. I always love the Convention Flag Ceremony with flags from more than 140 countries presented, it brings home the global reach of Rotary. One highlight for me was the address by the President of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te at the opening ceremony. It was such a privilege to hear him speak with passion about peace in the region. He thanked Taiwan Rotary members for bringing the world to Taiwan. He said “Let’s work together to Do Good in the World. In our commitment to peace, public health, environmental sustainability, humanitarian aid, and beyond, Taiwan will continue to walk hand in hand with Rotarians worldwide. Together, we will foster a more connected world through goodwill, and shape the future through action.”

Another inspirational speaker was Malala Yousafzai, the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate and a leading advocate for girls’ education. I remember well when she was brought to Birmingham for life saving treatment after the Taliban attack in Pakistan. I have always admired her resilience and passion for empowering young women through education.

I was pleased that polio eradication featured prominently both in the Plenary session, breakout sessions and in the House of Friendship, as well as a Polio Walk around Taipei.  As Chair of the IPPC Communications Sub Committee I have advocated for greater prominence of the polio programme at Convention. This year did not disappoint the House of Friendship was emblazoned with End Polio Now messages and the two-life size cut outs of President Francesco Arezzo and Foundation Trustee Chair Holger Knaack provided a wonderful photo point for Rotarians. The speech in the Plenary session from Senator Ayesha Farooq, the Pakistan Prime Minister’s Polio Focal Point expressed the commitment and determination to stop the polio virus in Pakistan. With only three polio cases in Pakistan this year, let us hope that these are the last cases in Pakistan.

I was pleased to learn the next Programme of Scale has been awarded to Haiti to provide clean water to every household. As a member of the Programme of Scale Selection Committee for the first four years, I know how competitive these bids are and how important they are to the winning communities.

I always meet the Host Organising Committee having served on the 2009 Convention Host Committee in Birmingham. The Host Committee organised two wonderful cultural events: an evening at the opera and a concert with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra, both held in the magnificent Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Building.

For the first time the Rotary Club of London had a booth in the House of Friendship, this was a great success attracting Rotarians from all over the world. Congratulations to Saumen Ray and Gill De Warren for organising the booth.

I will never forget the warm hospitality of Taipei Rotarians which was on full display as we left the closing session. Hundreds of Taiwan Rotary volunteers formed a human corridor outside the venue, greeting departing attendees with cheers and celebratory gestures.

Judith Diment MBE