A Special Message from Rotary International Director Virpi Honkala

A Special Message from Rotary International Director Virpi Honkala
Rotary International Board of Directors, 2023–2025

It is with profound honor and gratitude that we welcome a special congratulatory message from Rotary International Director (RID) Virpi Honkala, as part of the Icons of Change Awards 2025 celebration.

As a respected medical professional, public health advocate, and dedicated Rotarian, RID Virpi Honkala exemplifies the spirit of service above self. She served for decades as head of surgery at Raahe Hospital in Finland, where she also held the position of medical director from 1989 to 2010. Her pioneering contributions to health systems and wellness earned her national distinction, including an honorary title conferred by the President of Finland in 2015.

Her commitment to promoting community health extended beyond the hospital walls. As a founding member of the Finnish network within the World Health Organization’s International Network of Health Promoting Hospitals and Health Services, she played a key role in strengthening the intersection between healthcare and social transformation—an ethos that continues to inspire her work within Rotary.

RID Virpi joined Rotary in 2001 and has since served in numerous critical leadership capacities. These include District Governor, District Foundation Chair, RI Training Leader, Council on Legislation representative, and Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator. Currently serving her second term on the Rotary International Board of Directors, she is also the RI Treasurer, helping guide the organization’s financial stewardship globally. She and her husband, PDG Matti Honkala—National Polio Advocacy Adviser in Finland—are both Major Donors, Bequest Society members, and champions of The Rotary Foundation.

Her message for this occasion reflects the shared vision of Rotary International: to empower changemakers who serve with excellence and humility across sectors and borders. The Icons of Change Awards is a movement that seeks to recognize extraordinary individuals and organizations whose contributions align with Rotary’s seven areas of focus and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Director Virpi’s message is a reaffirmation that the call to service transcends national boundaries, and that every act of compassion, courage, and leadership—no matter how quiet—is part of a larger tapestry of change.

To all our awardees and honorees: may you find inspiration and solidarity in the words of RID Virpi Honkala, whose global leadership continues to elevate Rotary’s mission of peace, progress, and people-centered development.

Let us now listen to her message of encouragement and unity.

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