Social change charity appoints new Chair of its board

Social change charity Good Things Foundation Australia has appointed Jo Cavanagh OAM as the Chair of its board, following the retirement of the founding Chair, Greg Whiddon.

Jo is the CEO of Family Life, a Melbourne-based charity that works with vulnerable children, families and communities, as well as an Adjunct Professor with Swinburne University in the Faculty of Health, Arts and Design. Beginning her career as a social worker, she has since worked with government and community agencies to improve the quality of care in Australia, and is passionate about the benefits of education for vulnerable and excluded groups.

Good Things Foundation has a vision of a world where everyone can benefit from digital, and since its establishment in Australia in 2017, it has built a network of over 2,500 organisations, and supported over 160,000 older Australians to improve their digital skills.

Good Things Foundation was established in the UK in 2011, and has since supported 2.8 million people to improve their lives through digital, working with a range of partners from Government, corporate organisations and the not for profit sector. The Australian subsidiary charity was established in April 2017, and has since gone from strength to strength, winning the contract to grow and support the Be Connected program, which is an Australia-wide initiative empowering all Australians to thrive in a digital world led by the Department for Social Services.

Jo will lead the Australian charity’s Board through an exciting time, as it grows its network, and expands its work to enable all Australians to benefit from digital, as well as working with Trustees based in the UK on the strategic development of Good Things Foundation’s work globally.

Jo says “I am passionate about supporting vulnerable groups to access the opportunities many of us take for granted, so joining the Good Things Foundation board is a great fit. I’m looking forward to bringing my skills and experience to the team at an exciting time, as we look to expand our impact across the country, working with new partners and reaching new people.”

Liz Williams, Group Chair of the Good Things Foundation said they are delighted to have Jo joining to chair the Board for Good Things Australia in such an exciting time. “Jo brings a wealth of experience with her – as well as a passion for making change happen – and I know the support and guidance she will provide to the team will be invaluable,” she said.

Jess Wilson, National Director for Australia said Jo will be a great leader of an already strong Australian Board. “She joins us at a time of growth, and I know she will be instrumental in helping us to extend our impact across Australia. With over 2.5 million Australians currently not online, 4 million limited users of the internet and a strong correlation between social and digital exclusion, Jo’s experience will support our continued focus on ensuring no one is left behind in our increasingly digital world,” he said.

Liz Williams thanks Greg Whiddon for his pivotal role in helping establish Good Things Foundation in Australia and in recruiting and leading such a great new Board. “He leaves a great legacy as he hands the baton to Jo,” she said.

Pearl Dy

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Pearl Dy is a community manager and journalist. She is passionate about business and development particularly involving not-for-profits, charity and social entrepreneurship.

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