ARACY CEO Resigns

The high profile Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY), Dr Lance Emerson, has announced his resignation after almost seven years in the job.

ARACY board chair Elaine Henry has thanked and congratulated Dr Emerson for “his leadership and contribution to ensuring ARACY is well-placed to embark on its next significant growth phase”.

Henry said Dr Emerson would leave the organisation in a stronger position than it was in 2007.

“Lance has played a critical role in helping ARACY become one of Australia’s most influential independent agencies working to improve child and youth wellbeing,” Henry said.

“During Lance’s time we have increased membership from 750 to 3400, delivered 250 events involving over 12,000 participants, rebranded ARACY, significantly diversified ARACY’s funding base, and lead numerous large-scale reforms and significant advocacy agendas including The Nest: a national plan for child and youth wellbeing.”

The Nest is an independent project to improve the wellbeing and life opportunities of young Australians by building a national plan for coordinated action.

Its most recent action agenda called on the Federal Government to make Australia a top five OECD country for education performance, physical wellbeing, social and emotional wellbeing by 2025 in Australia’s first national plan for child and youth wellbeing.

“I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to work at ARACY, particularly with the highly influential board, the competent and hard working ARACY staff, the highly proficient state, territory and network convenors, our many partners, and of course, all ARACY members,” Dr Emerson said.

Dr Emerson will take on a new role as the CEO of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) also based in Canberra.

Child and youth expert and ARACY NSW state convenor Dr Dianne Jackson will be the interim CEO until an appointment is made.