By  Claudia BrunnerÂ
Gordon McInally, a member of the Rotary Club of South Queensferry, Lothian, Scotland, will assume the role of president of Rotary International on 1 July 2023. McInally, the second Scot to lead the membership service organization, will focus on mental health during his one-year term.
Recognizing the critical role of mental health in community well-being worldwide, McInally aims to create a culture within Rotary that understands and supports mental health. His goals include reducing stigma, increasing awareness, and improving access to mental health services. With 1.4 million members in 200 countries and regions, Rotary will actively address mental health as part of its efforts to tackle global challenges.
In a statement, McInally emphasized the importance of bringing mental health to the forefront, especially in a world grappling with various challenges. He believes that Rotary, with its widespread network, has the capacity to foster dialogue and support. By prioritizing mental health, McInally believes that Rotary can make a considerable difference in communities worldwide, nurturing humanity for a better future.
Rotary members, including those in nearly 200 Rotary clubs in Scotland and throughout the world, develop and implement sustainable, community-driven projects. These projects focus on fighting disease, promoting peace, providing clean water, supporting education, saving mothers and children, growing local economies, and protecting the environment. Over the last 100 years, The Rotary Foundation has awarded more than US$5.5 billion to support these initiatives.
As the head of Rotary’s global network of 46,000 clubs, McInally will also oversee the organization’s top goal of eradicating polio. Rotary, along with its Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners, has achieved a 99.9% reduction in polio cases and contributed over US$2.6 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly 3 billion children from the disease.
Gordon McInally, a graduate of dental surgery at the University of Dundee, has been a member of Rotary since 1984. He has served as president and vice president of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland. McInally and his wife, Heather, are Major Donors and Benefactors of The Rotary Foundation and members of the Bequest Society.