New Directions for Vision Australia as CEO Resigns
23 May 2012 at 11:49 am
The long time Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vision Australia, Gerard Menses has resigned in an environment of major fundraising reform in the sector.
The Chairman of the Vision Australia Board, Dr Kevin Murfitt announced that he has accepted with regret the resignation of CEO, Gerard Menses.
Dr Murfitt says that after almost eight years Menses felt it was time for new challenges and a timely opportunity for fresh leadership at Vision Australia.
Dr Murfitt said that Menses had led the organisation through its early days of merging with some of Australia's most significant blindness organisations.
Corporate Services General Manager David Speyer is acting as CEO while a permanent replacement is recruited.
Menses joined Vision Australia soon after the first merger with the Royal Blind Society (RBS), the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind (RVIB), Vision Australia Foundation (VAF), and the National Information Library Services (NILS) in 2004.
The move made Vision Australia the first national blindness organisation.
Menses then oversighted subsequent mergers with the Royal Blind Foundation Queensland (2006) and Seeing Eye Dogs Australia (2008).
Dr Murfitt says this was a period of significant change in the blindness sector and the mergers were a casebook study of successfully bringing together significant blindness organisations into one entity, responsible for currently delivering advocacy and support services to up to 50,000 people across Australia.
"There is no doubt that Gerard Menses can take a lot of credit for the creation of the new organisation."
"The departure of a CEO is always a challenge, but it also offers an opportunity for new ideas and energy for Vision Australia, especially with the significant and positive changes occurring in the disability sector with the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme," Dr Murfitt said.
Menses has an extensive background and wealth of experience of leadership in the Not for Profit sector, and is currently Chair of the National Roundtable of Nonprofit Organisations.
He has focused on disability services and rights and has a strong sense of social justice, having served in leadership roles with the Endeavour Foundation in Queensland and Anglicare South Australia.
Dr Murfitt said the Board of Directors, Senior Executives and staff of Vision Australia wish him and his family well in his future endeavours.
