Meet The Team 2024-2025
Ewan Dodds
President
Ewan Dodds was elected an Associate of the Royal Association of Chartered Surveyors in 1986 and a Fellow in 2000. He joined Whybrow in 1987 and became CEO in 2000, with clients including pension Funds, residential/commercial developers, private companies and individuals. He has over 40 years’ experience in advising clients on freehold and leasehold disposals and acquisitions, strategic property advice on a range of commercial and residential property throughout East Anglia, the South East and London. He is also a Director of the family recycling business, Sacker Ltd.
He joined Ipswich East Rotary Club in 1990 and is proud to be its President from July 2024.
A past President of Colchester Chamber of Commerce, he also sat on the Essex Board, was invited to become the Lead Partner for Business on Colchester 2020, the town’s Local Strategic Partnership to promote business, increase employment opportunities, educational and skills attainment in the local area between 2000 and 2013 and was instrumental in forming the Colchester Business Group to encourage greater business collaboration.
He lives in Ipswich with his wife, Julie and has three children, Cameron, Bryony and Rhiannon, two of whom live in New Zealand and Amsterdam.
Steph Mackentyre
Junior vice-president
Stephanie Mackentyre is a broadcaster, author & podcaster who has been a member of Ipswich East Rotary Club since 2011. Her roles include Publicity Officer and she is also a member of the Fundraising Committee.
Her latest book to be released is entitled Beyond the Bucket – A how-to guide for charities to get noticed and increase funding.
With over 35 years of experience, working both in the media and with the media, it was a natural step for Stephanie, once she left BBC Radio, to set up her own podcast.
Now, as well as writing books for herself and others, she also hosts the Ruby Shoes Podcast each week featuring the latest entertainment news and interviews across East Anglia.
Robin Needham
Secretary
Robin is a family man with grown up children, grandchildren (some also grown up) and a great granddaughter. They all live locally either in Ipswich or Colchester. He started out in his working life joining a local garage on an automotive apprenticeship. After a few months he then joined the Army at the tender age of 17 and spent the next 23 years serving Queen and Country visiting many parts of the world. On leaving the regular Army in 1996, he joined the then Territorial Army (TA) (now Reserve Forces), which he did one night a week and weekends for the next 17 years.
Alongside doing the TA, he also carried out a civilian job (Monday to Friday), firstly in recruitment (for 7 years), followed by providing facility services to Barclays via two companies – Johnson Controls Ltd and ISS Facility Services, both for 10 years each.
He finally retired in July 2022 and now volunteers with the Royal British Legion and the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association charities helping serving and veterans in need.
He joined Rotary in February 2023. He liked the fact that not only does Rotary raise money for good causes, but also offers practical help to those who need it.
His hobbies these days revolve mainly around the Bramford & District Social Club, where he organises and runs their Christmas Savings Club, meat raffle, bingo caller, quiz master, darts tournaments and race nights.
Neill Keveren
Treasurer
Neill joined the Rotary Club of Ipswich East 18 years ago after an introduction from a friend and business client. He became the Club’s Treasurer in 2024.
Neill has over 40 year’s experience in business banking, with spells at Barclays, Clydesdale and Virgin Money. He retired in 2023 as a Senior Director in Virgin Money’s Strategic Finance Team in London and now devotes his time to family and friends, golf and shooting (clays only!). And of course, Rotary.
“Ipswich East’s support for the local community is truly inspiring, backed by an impressive fund raising effort, and I’m proud to be part of that. It’s great that fellowship is as important to the Club as service and there’s no shortage of fun along the way, with a busy program of social and sporting events.”
Andy Lewis
Community Service Committee
Following a 38-year career in insurance, Andy is now retired and is able to spend more time with his family and volunteering. During his career he developed excellent people management skills, process and financial management skills, client relationship skills and change management skills.
He is married with two grown up children, both of whom attended Copleston, and has two grandchildren.
Andy is also a Club Council Member, and enjoys the volunteer opportunities the Club provides.
“I have been a member of Ipswich East Rotary Club since 2007, as I wanted to help give something back to the community. It has been very satisfying getting involved in volunteering through opportunities such as the Trinity Park COVID Vaccination centre, Ipswich Furniture Project and Safe Harbour Church top-up shop.
I also organise our annual Senior Citizens Concert in September which gives our local community an excellent free evening with a ‘Last Night of the Proms’ feel… everyone over 60 is welcome!”
Steve Flory
Club Service Committee
Steve Flory is a local businessman born in Ipswich, Suffolk, a county close to his heart. His career has taken many twists and turns to where he finds himself today. Starting his working life at the major UK Insurance company, Willis Faber and Dumas (now Willis Towers Watson), for the last 25 years he has developed his own business ventures. Steve was a founder of ‘Ansaback’, a leading UK call centre, and is currently Managing Director of the Hudson Group.
Working to help support aspiration and opportunity for all, Steve is the lead industry partner of Suffolk New College, an active member of the Ipswich East Rotary Club since 2008, Eastern Enterprise Hub ‘Superstar’ helping people fulfil their dreams of owning their own business. Until September 2017, he was Chair of the Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity and is now Chair of Trustees for Brave Futures.
Steve is also the current senior vice-president of the Club.
Mark Murphy MBE
International Committee
After several years in Round Table, Mark joined Ipswich East Rotary club in 2002 and has loved every minute of it.
“It’s a thriving and vibrant club which does so much good in the local community but also helping international projects too.
I’m a past president of the club and I’m presently looking after our international activities. That means liaising with our twin clubs in Ipswich, Massachusetts in the USA and our German twin club in Bad Salzuflen. We regularly hold exchange visits and work together on international projects.
Rotary is a great organisation and Ipswich East in particular.”
Ed Nicholls
Vocational and Youth Service Committee
Edmund started his working life in Marine insurance and then was involved with the family bookkeeping business. He then went into transportation by owning Gemini travel, from whence tourism and history became a focus for him.
A proud football fan, Ed was a chairman of local football team Ipswich Wanderers for five years, and is still very much involved with the club.
These days, Ed is a historian and raconteur who ran the hugely successful Ipswich Ghost Tours for many years. He is still regularly called upon for talks on the subject with clubs and organisations. He has published three books about hauntings (which can be purchased on Amazon): The Haunted History of British Theatres, The Haunted History of British Pubs, and more recently, The Haunted History of British Hotels.
Ed joined Rotary in 2004, and, twenty years on, still loves being part of it and making our community a better place.
Bob Parker: Chairs the Foundation Committee.
George Woodward: Past-president of the club for the 2023-2024 period.