01 · Awareness
Pollinator awareness
Highlighting the ecological importance of bees and other pollinators, which pollinate a major share of the world’s food crops.
Protect bees,
secure our future
A global Rotary fellowship for pollinator health, biodiversity, and the environments we share.
Contact us~ Who we are
About IBRF
Chartered in Bled, Slovenia — bridging Rotary service and apiculture traditions.
The International Bee Rotary Fellowship (IBRF) is a global Rotary fellowship dedicated to protecting bees, promoting pollinator health, and raising awareness about the essential role bees play in global ecosystems and food security. It brings together Rotarians, Rotaractors, and friends of Rotary who share a passion for bees, biodiversity, and environmental sustainability.
Bees are facing severe threats worldwide. The fellowship works to counter these trends by mobilizing Rotary’s global network — turning fellowship into field projects, education, and advocacy that scales from local clubs to international collaboration.
A world without bees would face major food shortages, ecosystem collapse, and loss of biodiversity.
Habitat loss, pesticides, disease, and climate change are driving declines in pollinator populations. IBRF mobilizes Rotary’s global network to meet that challenge.
~ How it began
From World Bee Day to a chartered fellowship
a short history →
i
UN proposal · Slovenia
Slovenia proposed World Bee Day to the United Nations on the initiative of the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association.
ii
20 May 2018
The first World Bee Day — Rotarians in Slovenia and beyond began shaping concrete activities in support.
iii
June 2020 · Bled
IBRF was officially chartered at the D1912 conference in Bled, Slovenia — a formal home for bee-focused Rotary service worldwide.
~ What we do
Mission & action
Educate, advocate, and take action for bees and other pollinators — in four focus areas.
02 · Community
Community projects
Nesting boxes, pollinator-friendly gardens, and school programs.
03 · Youth
Youth engagement
Bee-focused camps and hands-on activities that teach biodiversity.
04 · Global
Global collaboration
Members across many countries; Slovenia is especially active, with strong apiculture traditions.
~ In the field
From the hive
Click any photo to open it full size.
~ Partners & board
Allies & leadership
Rotary Operation Pollination
Community-driven strategies for pollinator health within the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG).
operationpollination.net
Rotarians for Bees
An Australian initiative under the Rotary Club of Canterbury, Vic. — building awareness across Rotary’s membership and encouraging practical support for pollinators in agriculture and horticulture.
the people behind it
Current board
A small team of Rotarians and Rotaractors from Slovenia, Australia, and beyond — coordinating projects, partnerships, and outreach.
Apply via the form below-
AG
Chair
Anton Gradišek
RC Ljubljana Tivoli, Slovenia
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JK
Vice-chair
John Kenworthy
RC of Hall, Australia
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MK
Secretary
Mina Krevl
RAC Ljubljana Feniks, Slovenia
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ML
Treasurer
Marko Lavrih
RC Ilirija, Slovenia
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MV
Project manager
Matej Vošner
RAC Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia
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JW
Board member
Jeremy Wright
RC of Sydney Cove, Australia
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AK
Past (and founding) chair
Anton Končnik
RC Bled, Slovenia
