As co-Founder and National Director of Australia for UNHCR, I am writing to share some news with you.
After 22 years of leading this wonderful organisation, I have decided it is the right time for me to step down as National Director, and I will be doing so on 1 August 2022.
As you will appreciate, this is quite a momentous decision for me personally. I can do so knowing that not only is Australia for UNHCR one of the leading not-for-profits and refugee support organisations in Australia but that I am handing over my role into highly capable and trusted hands.
I am delighted that the Board, under the leadership of our Chair Michael Dwyer, has appointed Trudi Mitchell as the new CEO as of 2 August 2022.
Having worked closely with Trudi for the past six years in her role as Deputy National Director, I know that she is a highly capable and ethical leader with strong values and passion for supporting the work of UNHCR.
In July, our Chair Michael Dwyer AM will host a national virtual donor briefing as an opportunity for me to share with our donors and supporters some of my reflections after working with UNHCR over two decades. It is also an opportunity for Trudi to share some of the important initiatives and refugee projects we are funding with your support.
In the meantime, I wanted to thank you and all our amazing donors who have answered my appeals for support to refugees. I have been privileged to work in the philanthropic space where I believe you really see the best of humanity. At the same time, I have been continually inspired by the people I have met in my work - our donors, humanitarian staff, my Australia for UNHCR team and UNHCR colleagues. Most inspiring of course are the refugees and other displaced people who have generously shared their stories, lives, challenges and hopes with me, which I in turn have shared with you.
I look forward to your continuing support and thank you again for helping make a positive difference for refugees and displaced people.
