New CEO for Foresters Community Finance
14 January 2015 at 9:36 am
Foresters Community Finance has announced the appointment of a new CEO, Ashley Hood, following the departure of long-time CEO Belinda Drew. 
Hood is a banker with over 25 years experience, having held senior executive roles at the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank and executive director roles in various subsidiary and joint ventures companies of the bank.
According to Foresters, Hood brings deep expertise in the practical and technical operations of complex financial institutions, together with a strategic perspective on market trends and developments.
Hood replaces former Chief Executive Belinda Drew who finished in the role in June 2014. After more than nine years at Foresters, Drew left to take up the position of inaugural CEO of the Community Services Industry Alliance (CSIA).
Foresters Chair, Paul Keehan, said Hood had the right mix of financial skills and community awareness to see the organisation flourish.
“It was important for us to engage someone with appropriate finance skills as well as a deep interest in improving the prosperity and capacity of the community. We believe Ashley brings this challenging combination of talent and skills to the role of CEO,” he said.
“My experience with Bendigo and Adelaide Bank gave me a deep appreciation for placing the customer at the centre of everything I do, and the important role financial institutions place in their active support and contribution to strengthening communities,” Ashley Hood said.
“I look forward to applying this knowledge and experience in Foresters to help grow its ability to continue in its mission of community development finance.”
Foresters provides community development finance to Australian community organisations, small, medium and social enterprise, as well as individuals who are at risk of exploitation and exclusion from mainstream finance.
Including its subsidiary company Social Investment Australia, the Foresters estimates it has invested over $16 million into property and business loans for community organisations as well as, small, medium and social enterprises.
The organisation said that with the new CEO on board it plans to expand its reach to assist more people and organisations to become financially, and subsequently socially and economically included into the Australian community.
