Mental health charity announces new board chair

Online mental health service ReachOut has announced that Julie White will step down from her role of Chair of the ReachOut Board this month, following 10 years of service. Current ReachOut Board Member, Andrew Wilson, has been announced today as the new Chair.

During her 10 years of service to in the charity, White has overseen major milestones including the launch of ReachOut Parents, the launch of the  flagship fundraising event Laps for Life and ReachOut’s vital advocacy on behalf of young people in the Marriage Equality campaign.

White said that her departure from ReachOut was a chance to reflect on how much the organisation has grown over the past 10 years.

“For ten years I have had the privilege of serving as Board Chair of ReachOut. Over this time ReachOut has grown and developed into the most accessed online mental health service for young people and their parents in Australia. I am proud to see the impact that ReachOut has had on the lives of so many young people, their parents and their educators across Australia, supporting them with whatever life throws at them.

Meanwhile, incoming Chair, Andrew Wilson, brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership skills to the role. He is currently the CEO of Ascender HCM and has previously held key roles at a number of global organisations including Coca-Cola Amatil and Bain & Company.

“I am delighted to announce Andrew Wilson as incoming Chair. Andrew has played a key role as Board Member at ReachOut for six years. He brings to the role both strong leadership and a clear vision for how digital innovation can provide vital mental health support for young people in Australia, their parents and their schools,” White said of her successor.

Wilson thanked White for her generous contribution to youth mental health and said that the work of ReachOut was very important to him.

“It means a great deal to me to take on the role of Chair of the Board at ReachOut. Supporting and improving the mental health of young people across Australia is crucial. Ensuring young people have access to tailored and appropriate support is vital in moving towards a future with zero youth suicides.

“I thank Julie for her leadership, and in particular for her guidance and support during my time as a ReachOut Board Member. Her legacy is significant and will have an impact for years to come,” he said.

Additionally, Michael Price will also step down from the Board of ReachOut after nine years of service. Michael’s key contributions to the charity have included chairing key internal committees, actively supporting the generation of funds and providing leadership in the areas of sustainable fundraising.

Ashley de Silva, CEO of ReachOut, said that changes this month were a reminder of the key role that all Members of ReachOut’s Board play in the organisation.

“On behalf of everyone at ReachOut, and the wider ReachOut family, I would like to thank Julie for her unwavering commitment to youth mental health and her personal contribution to ReachOut. Julie was one of the earliest advocates of ReachOut – as an early backer in her role as Foundation Head at Macquarie through to her thoughtful stewardship over the past decade.

“We thank Julie and Michael for all they’ve done and wish them both the best with their future projects.”

“The team is excited to welcome Andrew Wilson to the role of Board Chair. Having already served on the board for six years Andrew brings a great depth of knowledge and expertise to this role. We wish him the best of luck in his new role and look forward to working closely with him.”

Ashley de Silva

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