Great Potentials Foundation Appoints New CEO

Helping children, young people & families towards brighter futures

Press Release 29 November 2016

Great Potentials Foundation Appoints New CEO

The Board of Great Potentials Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Jacki Richardson as CEO, effective from mid-January 2017.

Dame Lesley Max, Founder and current CEO of Great Potentials, will remain with the Foundation in the role of Founder and Senior Advocate. This move will free her to work with like-minded organisations in the interests of vulnerable children and families, further cementing Great Potentials’ position as a thought leader and innovator in this field. Under Dame Lesley’s leadership the Foundation has established Family Service Centres, HIPPY – Home Interaction Programme for Parents and Youngsters – now in 44 communities; and MATES Mentoring and Tutoring Education Scheme.

Dame Lesley has headed Great Potentials for over 26 years, and this appointment of a new CEO is the next step in the evolution of the organisation. Jacki brings a comprehensive and complementary set of management and operational skills which suit the needs of an organisation which has seen significant growth and development over recent years.

Angus Fletcher, Chair of the Board, regards the appointment as an important step in the progression of the Foundation’s ability to serve more vulnerable New Zealand children, young people and families. “Under Dame Lesley’s outstanding leadership, Great Potentials has grown in scale and impact over the years. We now assist over 5,000 New Zealanders each year, and we recognise that we are of a size that now requires additional management resources. We warmly welcome Jacki to the role, and know she will continue the legacy Dame Lesley leaves with great success. We are delighted that Dame Lesley remains in the role of Founder and know that her advocacy work will continue to benefit disadvantaged New Zealanders.”

Jacki, who comes to Great Potentials from the Auckland City Mission, has many years of management experience at the highest level of non-profit organisations working in the health, education and welfare sectors. She is a Fellow of the NZ Institute of Management and a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors, and brings a wealth of experience and skills to Great Potentials.

Jacki says, “I am honoured to accept this role, and am looking forward to continuing the wonderful work done by Dame Lesley over the many years Great Potentials has been leading the way in this field. I’m excited about taking on the challenge of helping the organisation grow and expand the life-changing work that is impacting so many lives.”

End.

Great Potentials Foundation is a Registered Charitable Trust with approved donee status. Charities Commission Registration No. CC32333. www.greatpotentials.org.nz

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