Adrian Nelson

Team Leader

Aged 35, Rotarian Adrian Nelson is the immediate past President of the Rotary Club of Glen Eira and the youngest ever GSE team leader for District 9800.

He manages his fifth generation family funeral business Nelson Bros Funeral Services which has five funeral homes across Melbourne.

A qualified lawyer, Adrian worked with international management consulting firm Accenture where he met his English wife Louise. They have a very happy and active one year old son, Harry. Family time is important and Adrian also enjoys playing the piano, watching his beloved Western Bulldogs Aussie Rules team, and teaching Harry new tricks.

Adrian is excited about leading this year’s team and highlighting the contribution that young professionals can make to Rotary both in Australia and the Netherlands.

Vince Lepre

Team Member

An associate financial planner at Homestead Financial Group, Vince Lepre is at 25 years of age the youngest of our team. He is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Wyndham. Wince holds a double degree in Business/Arts (Italian) and a Diploma of Financial Services (Financial Planning).

One of his recent achievements was the establishment of the Young Adult Business Alliance Group, an association of young professionals that are committed to supporting each other by referring clients for professional services. In addition, Vince is a member of the Melbourne Junior Chamber of Commerce.

Vince enjoys participating in sports and is an avid follower of sports such as Australian rules football, basketball and tennis.

Marnie Lewis

Team Member

Marnie at 26 is a landscape architect working for a large development company in Melbourne, Delfin. She is extremely interested in sustainable living. Her current role is involved in Water Sensitive Urban Design where she endeavours to specify recycled materials & drought tolerant plants wherever appropriate.

Marnie sees the exchange as an opportunity to learn more about sustainability, not just in the landscape realm, but in the broader context of the built environment where water recycling & alternative power sources are implemented. She has considerable interest in Eco-park, De Kleine Aarde in Boxtel, the National Centre for Sustainable Living and a source of inspiration for those wanting to learn more about sustainable housing, gardening, food, personal care, mobility, and recreation alternatives.

There are several places she would like to visit, such as projects by West 8 and Vista (2 internationally renowned Landscape Architecture firms in the Netherlands) & the Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, which are the most famous gardens in Holland & will be blooming with spring colour in May.

Marnie enjoys exercising, the outdoors, travelling & experiencing different cultures and traditions. She is a member of the Lorne Surf Life Saving Club & provides a voluntary community service in the summer months. Marnie was endorsed the Rotary Club of Carlton.

Matthew O’Meara

Team Member

Matt O’Meara is a 33 year old Local Laws Officer with the City of Boorondara and was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Hawthorn.

As an officer, he investigates breaches of Council Law, animal Management and Promoting Responsible Pet Ownership, Parking and Traffic flows. Matt’s formal qualifications include Certificates in Management, Hospitality and Government & Statutory Compliance.

Matt is happily married to Katrina with a cat Jasmine and a beagle BJ (aka “the naughtiest dog in the world”).

He has played poker for 10 years and still loves the challenge of the game. He enjoys all styles of music and recently travelled around Australia to 12 Pearl Jam concerts. Matt loves spicy and exotic food and washes it down with Jagermeister.

Matt’s aim is to experience all that the people of the Netherlands have to offer both personally and professionally. He wants to meet people who are excited and passionate about their work and their lives.

Walter Saldanha

Team Member

Walter is 29 & endorsed by the Rotary Club of Essendon North. He has a strong family background with his parents from India & raising their 4 sons in the western suburbs of Melbourne. He has a double Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) degree with 1st Class Honours from Monash University & has recently completed a Diploma in Business (Frontline Management).

Walter has worked as a Project Manager/Civil Engineer at VicRoads for 6 years (through the graduate program) & is now on a major A$330M new freeway project — the Deer Park Bypass Project .

He is best described as a cricket tragic (which probably explains the single marital status!) & loves watching & playing the game. He is a proud player in the 1 st XI at Sunshine Heights Cricket Club & plays A -Turf in the Moreland Moonee Valley Cricket Association (MMVCA). Sunshine Heights is a club which has evolved over more than 50 years to promote the development of the youth in the western suburbs and embraces people of all abilities, races, religions, colours & creed. Born in Australia but with Indian heritage makes it difficult to support one international team and even though his brain says Australia, his heart is always with India!

Walter hopes to use the GSE experience to develop his public speaking skills & grow a network of local & international contacts. He interested in all that the Netherlands has to offer; the windmills, tulips & streets of Amsterdam but from an engineer’s point of view, the Delta Project is the major attraction.