New Chief for Housing Not for Profit
26 November 2012 at 9:14 am
 New CEO: Jon Blackwell |
National housing Not for Profit, Habitat for Humanity, has appointed Jon Blackwell as its new chief executive.
Blackwell is the former chief of Workcover NSW and has recently been consulting to Habitat on a major Australian project review.
The chair of the Habitat for Humanity Australia Board Chris Franks said the organisation was “delighted” with Blackwell’s appointment.
“Jon brings strong leadership, a wealth of experience and a range of valuable skills, gained over a long and varied career in the UK and around Australia including working with many remote and disadvantaged indigenous communities,” Franks said.
“Moreover, for nearly 10 years, he has been a tremendous supporter of Habitat, leading workplace teams on our Global Village trips to many countries including Mongolia, Vietnam and Cambodia and he clearly understands and shares our organisation’s values.”
Habitat for Humanity Australia works across Asia and Australia and says that in the past 12 months it has built 309 new homes, installed 253 latrines, repaired 188 homes, helped 181 people access microfinance and trained 3,754 people in construction skills, financial management, livelihoods, hygiene and disaster-preparedness.
The organisation says it relies on support from volunteers from all over Australia, and over the past year more than 400 Global Village volunteers, like Jon Blackwell, have travelled overseas to build homes.
According to Habitat for Humanity, the organisation has built more than 100 homes in Australia and last year announced plans to build 25 homes for families affected by the Black Saturday bushfires.
Blackwell will replace current chief Jo Brennan who resigned earlier this year.
