CARITAS AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND

MEDIA RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE20 January 2012New Caritas Director Appointed

The new Director for the Catholic social justice agency Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand begins work on 24 January.

Julianne Hickey has a background in organisational and business management, including government policy advice and implementation. She has spent the last 14 years as a consultant with UK-based, global consulting company PA Consulting, delivering projects across the health, social care, criminal justice and community sectors.

She has also been a very active volunteer for CAFOD – a Caritas organisation for England and Wales; and has supported a range of domestic and international charities and agencies for social change. In 2002, she led the monitoring of the Zimbabwean Presidential elections for the Movement for Democratic Change. She also helped create a single inter-racial Catholic student organisation for South Africa.

Caritas Board Chair Mark Richards says the Board is excited about Ms Hickey joining the wonderful team at Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand.

‘The mix of skills that Julianne brings to the role are complemented by a deep, practical and proven commitment to the poor and issues of justice, both within a local and global context.

‘The board are confident they’ve found someone able to lead us in times that are challenging, to respond in the fullness of Catholic social teaching and to the demands of the Gospel. That applies in Aotearoa New Zealand in respect of social policy, globally with our development and aid partners, and also within the unity of Caritas Internationalis, the world’s second biggest aid agency.’

Ms Hickey has a degree in Economics and Industrial & Organisational Psychology, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Management. After growing up in Zimbabwe and pursuing further studies in South Africa, Ms Hickey moved to Britain where she met her New Zealand husband. They arrived in New Zealand with their three children in December 2010.

Ms Hickey replaces Michael Smith, who left Caritas in December to take up a position with the Cancer Society in Wellington.

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is a member of Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of 168 Catholic aid, development and social justice agencies active in over 200 countries and territories.

ENDS.

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