Lion Phil Nathan MBE
The expression ‘a man of many parts’ could have been coined for this dedicated Lion. A family man, he is married to Lion Heidi-Anne, a member of the Helen Keller Internet Lions Club, with daughters Hannah and Lion Francesca, a member of the Centennial 100 Champions Lions Club.
He first became a Lion in 1982, but his name became synonymous with that of South Woodham Ferrers Lions Club where he was Charter President in 1989. In 2016, Phil, with another innovative idea, helped form the Centennial 100 Champions Lions Club and transferred there. He was Club President for 2018-19 & 2019-20 enrolling 6 Special Olympics Athletes into the clubs membership.
He fast-tracked through Club, District and Multiple District and was Chairman of Council in 1996-97 shortly afterwards becoming Chairman of the ‘Lions Clubs International – a Gift for Living Trust’, which has saved the lives of several thousand babies & children. His work with young people has been exceptional, Including being MD Leo Chairman and receiving the International President’s Leo Award, and serving as MD Youth Chairman. He has tirelessly served the Multiple District in active ways, too numerous to list here but including: twice Chairman of the Council Advisory Committee, Grant Administrator for the Lions Eye Health Programme and an inspirational advocate of membership extension and retention. He was the prime mover for the creation of the Palace of Westminster Lions Club in 2006 and the Helen Keller Internet Lions Club in 2008. His qualities were recognised by being elected to serve on the International Board in 1999-2001, chairing the Service Activities Committee in his second year. For two years he was Area Impact Team Leader for Europe.
He was appointed back to the International Board as Advisor to the Finance and Headquarters Committee.
Phil has served four International Presidents as Group Leader for DG-Elect Seminars and was an instructor at European Leader Institutes including those at Bern (2010) and Vienna (2013) and Brussels (2020). He chaired the Host Committee and was President of the exceptionally successful 2006 and 2014 Europa Forums in Bournemouth and Birmingham, and for a long period was Chairman of the Working Group on the procedures of the Europa Forum, and represented the English speaking countries on the European Long Range Planning Committee. At the Europa Forum, Montreux (2017) he was elected Archivist & Advisor for a 5-Year term and sits as Secretary to the European Long Range Planning Committee.
Prime among the many recognitions for his work, in 1989 he received the Freedom of the City of London and in 2001 Lion Phil was honoured by The Queen with an MBE. He has received innumerable awards and other recognitions from Lions Clubs International. Uniquely in MD105, before serving as an International Director, he was honoured to receive the Ambassador of Goodwill Award, the Association's highest recognition, from International President Howard Patterson JR 1997/8. He is a Second Century Ambassador, Senior Master Membership Key Holder, Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow and Progressive Bert Mason Humanitarian Award recipient.
In 2011 Lion Phil was presented with the Lion Recognition Award, given only to Lions whose endeavours have been deemed appropriate by the International President, the first Lion in the European Constitutional area to receive this honour, acknowledging his first 15 years work in the former Yugoslavia: work that still continues. He was recognised with the medal of merit from MD118 Turkey in 1997 and from Ireland in 2006.
He was honoured with Fellowship of the Helen Keller Lions Eye Foundation of California, Nevada in 2002 and the Louis Volks Humanitarian Award of South Africa in 2019. Phil was also made an Honorary Tennessean in 2019 by the State Governor of Tennessee.
Lion Phil has stepped back after a distinguished career as a Stockbroker in the City of London.
He is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Securities Institute and a Fellow of the Institute of Directors. In a highly competitive environment he remains highly respected for his integrity. He holds a number of significant roles in connection with the London Stock Exchange and throughout his career has proudly lived by its motto of ‘Dictum Meum Pactum’ (My Word is My Bond). In 2018 Phil was elected as The Chairman of the Stock Exchange Veterans Charity. Lion Phil’s skills as a leader, motivator and communicator have resulted in him taking a major role at Forums, Seminars and Conventions, including International Conventions, over the years. He was the International President’s Representative at the 2000 Europa Forum in Florence, a prestigious post awarded only to Lions of experience and expertise. His skills as a leader and strategic thinker have been recognised by appointment to the Boards of world-leading charities, including MedicAlert both in the British Isles and Ireland and Internationally, where he served on the Board and helped to develop joint programmes between MedicAlert and LCI.
He served for 9 years on the executive committee and board of MedicAlert International stepping down by rotation. He was a Trustee of the 105EA Lions Hearing Trust, now being extended across the MD, and in 2011 was elected to chair the Board of Music and the Deaf, retiring in 2013 having led the transformation of the charity’s fortunes and creating a new strategic direction.
In 2013 Lion Phil was appointed as Chairman of the Lions Central and Eastern European Initiative (CEEI), and in 2021 the International Board appointed Phil to chair the newly formed Central and Eastern European Development (CEED). The objectives of which include actively supporting regional growth and development needs, building a strong member base, and other initiatives to ensure that LCI remains the world’s leader in community and humanitarian service. In February 2017 he was appointed to the New & Emerging Countries Committee as the representative for Europe and in 2019 was appointed to be a European voice on the Data Protection (GDPR) committee. Council appointed Lion Phil as a Director of MD105 Lifeskills Ltd to take over from TACADE, and develop the business, now working closely with Lions Quest. After serving for 9 years Lion Phil stepped down by rotation as a Director of Special Olympics GB with which Lions worldwide have a highly successful relationship. He constantly uses his talents to benefit Lions and partners and has subsequently been appointed to the Advisory Board of Special Olympics GB.
Lion Phil sourced two significant sponsors for the Young Ambassador Competition and in connection with ‘Gift for Living’ has secured anonymous substantial corporate donations to complement LCIF Grants totalling more than £1.5 million.
Phil led a successful tri-partite partnership between MD105, LCIF and the Loomba Foundation, raising in excess of £100,000, helping to empower Widows by providing sewing machines and training, enabling their rightful return to society.
Council appointed Lion Phil as the MD Centennial Committee Chairman for the period 2014-2018 to co-ordinate the MD’s contribution to the Association’s Centennial celebrations and as the Global Service Team Chair for 2017-21 to build on the Centennial successes.
Lion Phil was invited to speak at the Global Lions Leadership Summit and presented on Lions collaboration in delivering service across borders. He also took part in another virtual programme called ‘ROAR’ with Rishi. Phil participated in the 12 hour epic Lions Globally United programme. He was involved with ‘Tell A Thon 1’ and now ‘Tell A Thon 2’ which will become a unique global annual event to support LCIF. He has participated in a series of interviews with Leos talking about his vision of inclusion.
Innovation and relevance are his by-words and in this currently uncertain global environment, Phil and his team, with the full support of LCI, has successfully completed a live zoom-based Regional Lions Leadership Institute (RLLI) utilising break-out rooms and simultaneous translation for the Lions of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH), Republic of Montenegro and Republic of Serbia (ROS), the first such event to be held in the world. He is currently country co-ordinator for BIH and ROS along with Republic of Iraq.
At Europa Forum 2021, Phil championed ‘A Ball for All’ (a soft soccer ball with bells inside) allowing visually-impaired children to be involved in sports activities.
Lion Heidi-Anne has been an outstanding support to Lion Phil in all his activities and continues to be so.