President's Welcome
Matthew Neuhaus
Welcome to the website of the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS), Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Branch. The modern Commonwealth of Nations compromises of 56 member nations across all regions of the globe united by the values of the Commonwealth Charter.
The Commonwealth and its civil society organisations, of which the RCS is the oldest, seeks to advance these values of human rights, democracy and sustainable development in its member nations and across the world.
I was delighted to be elected President of the RCS ACT Branch earlier this year, after a 40 year career in Australian Foreign Service, over six years of which was as Political Director at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London.
We in the ACT Branch are committed to promoting and supporting these objectives through our various activities and programs, which are set out on the website. We hope you will join us.
Hon Professor Matthew Neuhaus, RCS ACT President
Branch Council
The Royal Commonwealth Society ACT Branch relies on our wonderful volunteers. If you have an interest in helping out on the council, or organising a special project please get in touch!
We are especially interested in hearing from any young people who want to get more involved.
President
Prof Matthew Neuhaus
Vice-President
Mrs Maureen Hickman
Treasurer
Dr Sunita Dhindsa
Secretary
Mr Jack Milne
Membership
Dr Martin Hess
Council Members
Dr Hugh Craft
Ms Sue Gage
Mr Bradley Innes
Dr Elmo Jacob
Mr Kanti Jinna
Prof David Plummer
Mrs Ann Sutton
Branch Presidents
Sir William Dunk (1897-1984), First RCS ACT President
1958-1960 Sir William Dunk
1961-1962 Air Chief Marshal Sir Frederick Scherger
1963-1963 Mr H Clive Newman
1964-1966 Prof H Sydney Hodges
1967-1968 Mr J Keith Lawrence
1969-1969 Dr Bruce Lambert
1970-1970 Mr Ian McKillop
1970-1971 Mr Thomas M Owen
1972-1973 Colonel John Watch
1974-1976 Sir Alan Turner
1977-1979 Dr Richard G Dodson
1980-1981 Mr Bryan Yates
1982-1983 The Rev Dr Peter F. Rudge
1984-1986 Mr John Smith
1987-1989 Mr John Horan
1990-1992 Mr Martyn Finger
1993-1995 Mrs Phyllis Montgomerie
1996-1998 Mr Hugh Craft
1999-2001 Dr Ken Edmondson
2002-2004 Mrs Phyllis Montgomerie
2005-2005 Mr Kevin Squair (Chairman)
2006-2013 Dr Hugh Craft
2014-2016 Mr Kanti Jinna
2017-2019 Mr Colin Milner
2020-2021 Mrs Maureen Hickman
2021-2023 Mr Kanti Jinna & Dr Hugh Craft
