New CEO For ALAC

PRESS RELEASE 06 DECEMBER 2006

The Alcohol Advisory Council (ALAC) today announced the appointment of Gerard Vaughan as ALAC’s new Chief Executive Officer. He will take up the position on February 12 2007. Announcing the appointment, ALAC’s outgoing Chairman Professor Andrew Hornblow said he was delighted.

“Gerard has held senior management roles in health, disability and welfare organisations that have spanned strategic communications, contract management, community engagement, programme development and change management,” Professor Hornblow said. “With Gerard’s mix of experience I am very confident of the further enhancement of the very successful drinking culture change programme ALAC has been running for three years now.”

He is currently based in the Public Health Directorate at the Ministry of Health in Wellington where he is national project manager for Like Minds, Like Mine – a social marketing campaign to reduce stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness. His role includes strategic leadership for the community-based programme and project management of over four million dollars annual funding for the national campaign.

“For the last five years Gerard has led this campaign which has been acknowledged both nationally and internationally and we are pleased that he will bring his experience in the development and the implementation of this programme to his new role,” said Professor Hornblow.

Gerard has an extensive knowledge of the health sector and the roles of government, ministries, commissions, legislation and non-government organisations within health. He combines experience in marketing and communications with good knowledge and qualifications in the area of qualitative, quantitative and evaluative research.

Gerard takes over the role from Dr Mike MacAvoy who has moved on to head Drinkwise in Australia after 12 years at ALAC.

Peter Glensor, who will take over as ALAC Chairman in the New Year, said he was looking forward to working with Gerard to further develop ALAC’s challenging task of reducing alcohol-related harm.

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