Toastmasters International -A Presidential Year in Review

A smiling woman wearing a black shirt inside of a temple

Then-International President Aletta Rochat stands inside the Yu Lung San Tian En Temple in Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia.

Aletta Rochat’s term as 2025–2026 International President has been a full one. She has, by her own description, done a lot of learning, a lot of connecting, and a lot of participating in fun, festive events.

That spirit of celebration kicked off with her installment as International President—the first person from Africa to hold that position—at the 2025 International Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Since then, there have been many special experiences, including uplifting visits to different countries around the world. For example, of a visit to India, she says, “Part of their culture is that guests are welcomed as family. I experienced that on a grand scale! It made me realize that we should do the same in our clubs. That level of care and connection is powerful.”

Reflecting on her Presidential term, Rochat says the best part has been meeting so many members and visiting leaders in different countries.

Rochat at the District 121 Crescendo Conference in India, with then-Region 13 Advisor Vanitha Rangarajan and traditional dancers who performed. Photo credit: Varadham Media

Rochat with District 121 leaders at the Crescendo Conference in India. Photo credit: Varadham Media

Rochat at the District 33 Annual Conference in Fresno, California, standing with Communication and Leadership Award recipient Cynthia S. Sterling and then-District Director Darnell Evans (far right). Photo credit: Varadham Media

With 2025 World Champion of Public Speaking Sabyasachi Sengupta at the President’s Celebration, at the 2025 International Convention

Hugging a member at the District 121 conference in India. Photo credit: Varadham Media

Rochat and Toastmasters from District 87 paddle at night, in the island village of Kumbalangi, to witness the famed bioluminescence in India’s waters. “It’s quite magical!” she says.

Dressed in a saree at the District 121 conference

At the District 87 conference in Malaysia

At the Two Oceans Half Marathon in South Africa, where she completed her 10th half-marathon

“To meet District leaders who say, ‘Well, last year we were Distinguished for the first time in five years or longer,’ or to see that ambition to get the Toastmasters growth back up, that is really inspiring,” she notes.

After California, she headed north to the District 64 Conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, where she delivered a speech about how to ignite your club’s potential in the home stretch of the program year.

“We got some people to actually stand up and pledge what they were going to do, which was quite exciting.”

Cultural Flavor

During May, she had a whirlwind itinerary of District visits. Highlights of her visits to India and Malaysia included such cultural forays as:

Enjoying the many opportunities to savor local cuisine in both countries. In Malaysia, she says, “There were so many fruits and plants that I hadn’t seen before.”
Watching a vibrant music-filled celebration hosted by a temple in Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia.
Kayaking near Kochi, India, to see the luminescent sea at night.
Attending what she says was a first for her: a Toastmasters meeting on a river cruise, in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.

Despite the extensive travel involved, Rochat was energized by meeting members and sharing their excitement.

“It’s almost surreal when you see people are so excited to see you and you want to say, ‘But it’s only me,’” she notes. “But for them, it’s the first and last time maybe they’ll meet an International President.”

It was inspiring to see District leaders in their own settings and to see their enthusiasm for their role in helping members and the organizations, she says.

“It’s great just being there to be able to say thank you for what you’ve done and thank you for what you continue to do.”

Touting Toastmasters in Africa

Throughout her term, Rochat has tried to use her visibility to draw more attention to her continent and inspire fellow Toastmasters there. She actually built a DTM project around that mission, working with a small team to organize an ambitious Toastmasters program on May 25, an annual celebration of African unity.

The online event featured collaborative efforts with Rotary International, African business leaders, and the South African Chamber of Commerce in the United Kingdom, where many people from Africa live and work. Speakers—including Rotary International’s new president, Olayinka Hakeem Babalola of Nigeria—talked about various efforts to work together and promote Africa.

Capping off her term, Rochat even achieved a personal mission: In April she completed her 10th half-marathon (13.1 miles or 21.09 km) at the Two Oceans Half Marathon in Cape Town, South Africa. Fellow Toastmasters were on hand to cheer her on, one actually running alongside her the whole way, something that really touched her. The support from fellow members showcased again the community that is Toastmasters.

As for accomplishing the feat, she says it was a celebration of staying active and strong through the years: “I’m in my 60s now and I’m still running half-marathons.”

Aletta Rochat, wearing traditional Malaysian clothing, sits with Region 9 International Director Hani Nur Zaihanirah Zaini for a District 87 gala dinner in Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia. Photo credit: Varadham Media