New Chief Executive for International Aid Org
13 May 2013 at 11:19 am
Humanitarian relief agency RedR Australia has appointed a new Chief Executive to replace outgoing CEO Alan McLean who retired earlier this year.
Kirsten Sayers will take over the role, and the organisation says she will use her international experience in corporate, government and advisory roles from her experience as a lawyer and senior diplomat.
She was most recently Australia’s Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to Singapore, and Investment Commissioner to ASEAN. Concurrently, she also served as Vice President of the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Singapore. Kirsten was Australia’s Chief Negotiator and Delegation Leader to the APEC Women Leaders’ Network and Gender Focal Point Network meetings in 2009.
“Kirsten’s leadership, negotiation and strategic development skills, demonstrated across a number of international roles, will be crucial in steering the organisation through this dynamic growth period,” RedR Australia Chair Elizabeth Taylor said.
“We had a very specific ‘wish list’ in recruiting for this position, based on our strategic direction and what we want to achieve. Kirsten’s track record leading organisations through periods of change, together with her vision and formidable experience in the international diplomatic arena, positioned her as an ideal candidate for the role.”
In her new role, Sayers says she will strengthen existing relationships with RedR Australia’s United Nations partners and forge new ones to help RedR Australia successfully continue in its mission.
“This is a truly exciting time for RedR Australia, and I am proud to be part of this dynamic stage in its evolution,” she said.
“We recently confirmed a Standby Partnership Agreement with the World Health Organisation, formalising a relationship we have been developing for some time. This complements our existing partnerships with UNHCR, UNOCHA, UNICEF and WFP, further broadening the skills and expertise we are able to offer in times of disaster and crisis.”
RedR Australia currently has 36 specialists in 14 countries, including Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey in response to the Syria crisis. RedR Australia is supported by the Australian government via AusAID.
