Aruma CEO Andrew Richardson announces retirement

After 16 years at the helm, Andrew Richardson, CEO of Aruma, one of Australia’s leading disability service providers, has announced he will retire in July 2022.

“I love leading this very special organisation. It is truly a privilege to support people with a disability. Being entrusted to provide this support is something I have never taken lightly,” he said.

“Personally, it’s time for me to prioritise my family. Professionally, after 16 years, it’s also time for someone with new vision, energy and ideas to lead Aruma on the next exciting stage of our journey.”

Richardson’s retirement is nearly six months away, and until then, it is business as usual for him. He will continue to lead Aruma and lobby for a better deal for people with a disability and the organisations like Aruma that support them.

Chair of the Board, Candice Charles said, “Andrew will leave an extraordinary legacy. Through his leadership and unwavering advocacy for the human rights of people with a disability, the organisation grew both in scale and capability as the NDIS went from an ideal to a reality. Today, Aruma supports more than 5,000 people to live their best lives.”

The Board will now begin the search for Aruma’s new CEO and work to ensure a smooth transition.

While that goes on, Mr Richardson said, “Aruma staff will stay focused on serving and supporting our customers and standing up for the rights of people with a disability. That’s the reason Aruma exists, and that’s certainly what I’ll be doing!”

About Aruma:

Once called the House with No Steps and The Tipping Foundation – two organisations with over 100 years of combined experience that came together in 2018 – Aruma is a disability service provider and the trusted partner of around 5000 people with a disability throughout the east coast of Australia.

Aruma has its roots in languages and cultures from all over the world.

It means a happy place, to plough the land, being real and true, and the calm time between sunset and sunrise – when the body and soul renews for a new day.

Lourdes Antenor

Website | + posts

Lourdes Antenor is an experienced writer who specialises in the not-for-profit sector and its affiliations. She is the content producer for Third Sector News, an online knowledge-based platform for and about the Australian NFP sector.

• Lourdes Antenor

  https://www.thirdsector.com.au/author/lourdes-antenor/

  Eye disease trachoma eliminated in Vanuatu, leads the way for Pacific push
• Lourdes Antenor

  https://www.thirdsector.com.au/author/lourdes-antenor/

  Featured CEO: The Smith Family CEO Doug Taylor on improving the lives of children through education
• Lourdes Antenor

  https://www.thirdsector.com.au/author/lourdes-antenor/

  Pay increases for aged care workers to greatly benefit older Australians
• Lourdes Antenor

  https://www.thirdsector.com.au/author/lourdes-antenor/

  Researchers seeking volunteers for Australian study of new treatment for devastating lung disease