Interact New Generations Conference

CONFERENCE KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Deepa Willingham

Past District Governor 5240

Founder/Chair of PACE Universal

Deepa Willingham, residing in Solvang, CA, is a naturalized citizen of the United States, was born and brought up in Calcutta, India where she obtained her primary (under the stewardship of Mother Teresa, who was her teacher), secondary and undergraduate educations in Calcutta and graduate degrees in the US. Prior to her entrepreneurial endeavors in the energy sector, Rotarian Willingham served as the Administrative Director of Ancillary Services in the hospital industry. 

Deepa is an active Rotarian and served as the District Governor for Rotary District 5240 in 2010-2011. She is the Past President of the Rotary Club of Santa Ynez Valley, being named the Rotarian-of-the-Year during her year as President and being honored by many other humanitarian awards from the Rotary and non-Rotary world. In 2014 she was one of ten women honored at the White House as “Women of Action”. PDG Deepa has participated in many local and international projects - built Pisos (cement floors) in Mexico; participated in National Polio Immunization Day in India; supported girls’ education in the Philippines; escorted US high school children for humanitarian educational trips to India and continues to serve as a keynote speaker at many different venues, including the 100-year Rotary International Convention in Birmingham, England and at the UN. 

She is an ardent believer of the principles of Rotary and therefore, actively participates in recruitment and retention of Rotary members. During her year as Club President, she added 12 new members to her club, she chartered a new club and she helped her daughter establish a community-based Rotaract Club in Santa Barbara.

PDG Deepa is the founder of PACE Universal, an US not-for-profit organization spearheading a program to prevent of child trafficking and eradicate extreme poverty through education of girls and women, vocational training and holistic village rehabilitation. It is her aspiration to make the first PACE Learning Center be a model for duplication around the world. 

Rotarians may register by credit card below.  Students/Advisors please use the download and complete the form on the left.