In the grand tradition of Australian public service, Philip Cornish arrives at Rotary Melbourne’s helm for 2025–26 with all the quiet gravitas of a man who’s spent a lifetime mending the social fabric. Born in Brisbane, educated in Perth, and seasoned across hospitals from Melbourne to Adelaide, Cornish is the archetypal ‘fixer’ - the steady hand when health and community services needed calm leadership.
Armed with degrees in psychology, social work, an MBA, and a dash of Harvard polish, Philip has steered programs from Hospital in the Home to specialist rehabilitation and Indigenous primary care. A man who manages complexity without fuss, he is as comfortable directing operations as he is volunteering with his local Anglican church’s social enterprise - helping the long-term unemployed back into work.
He’s also a devoted family man - husband to Debbie, father to three daughters - and a self-deprecating cricket lover who admits his talents deserted him long before his passion did. When not cheering on the West Coast Eagles or Melbourne Rebels, you might find him at the opera or a jazz quartet, soaking up culture with the calm curiosity of a man who knows life’s finest pleasures come in quiet moments.
As Rotary President, Philip Cornish brings a refreshing blend of steady competence, thoughtful service, and just the right dash of Aussie humility.
