6th August 2012
PRESS RELEASE- New Executive Chairman Appointed

Prison Fellowship New Zealand has appointed Mr Gregory Fortuin of Porirua as its Executive Chairman. He takes over the reins from Mr Ian Elliott who has served as Board Chairman for the past 20 years. Mr Elliott will continue to serve on the Board as well as maintain his commitment as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Prison Fellowship International.

“Gregory is the right sort of person to lead the strategic relationships with key Government Departments at this juncture” said Mr Elliott, “he has been on our Board for 10 years and knows the core essence of Prison Fellowship’s vision, values and principles”.

Mr Fortuin is well known in community circles, and has extensive knowledge of both business and Government. Moving from South Africa 20 years ago he was the Managing Director of AXA New Zealand, the Hon Consul for South Africa, and has had Government appointments on Boards like NZ Post and ACC. He recently completed a term as a Family Commissioner, and now serves on the Boards of Whitireia Polytechnic, Wellington Polytechnic and chairs Streets Ahead for at- risk youth in Porirua.

Mr Ray Smith, CEO of the Dept of Corrections, says” Mr Fortuin’s appointment is at a vital time for one of our major community partners, Prison Fellowship, as we seek to better use its expertise and passion for helping prisoners and ex-prisoners to live crime free in our communities; his understanding of the key Government goal for reducing re-offending will help us translate our partnership agreement into action that delivers the results we are looking for”.

Major Graham Rattray of the Salvation Army also welcomed this move. “All of us in the Christian Social Services sector are passionately involved in various forms of service provision that assist reducing re-offending, and together we need to be able to step up to the mark with the increased focus that the Government has, to bring our combined expertise to the table in a collaborative way”.

” I have known Gregory for many years” says Mr John Jamieson,Chairman of the Prison Chaplaincy Service Board, “and cannot think of a better servant leader to help lead Prison Fellowship, with its innovative community and voluntary based services, in the challenging times ahead. We will all strive to work together in every prison and community to help change lives for good”.

“The community is where I see us having the greatest impact in reducing recidivism, and that is a new arena for Corrections, Health, Housing and other State agencies to work effectively together with key NGO partners such as ourselves”, said Mr Fortuin, ”This is a new space for many to work in but we bring considerable expertise in dealing with prisoners, ex-prisoners, victims and their families by mobilising church and other community organisations to provide the wrap around support that is required to help people live crime free, I look forward to this new role and assisting communities to be a major part of the solution”. ENDS

© Scoop Media