Inaugural Roar from our new CEO
Sep 26, 2018
Hello Whitelion Supporters,
It’s super exciting to be contributing to my first CEO Roar message. Since joining Whitelion in early August this year, I’ve been in awe of the passion and commitment of our staff, volunteers, supporters and partners alike. I love the energy and drive that everyone shares in working to improve opportunities for young people.
Having been in the hot seat for seven weeks, I’ve distilled into two words what I believe is the roadmap ahead for Whitelion to be an even greater organisation – a balance of transformation and renewal. Some areas require disruptive transformation while others require steady renewal to build on a strong base.
Like many non-profit organisations in the last decade, Whitelion has focussed on rapid expansion to achieve long term sustainability and impact. Over a seven year period since 2011, we grew from 90 staff to 180 today across five states.
With our primary focus being young people and program delivery over this time, our systems and infrastructure have not kept pace with the changing external environment. In the immediate, we have begun a strategy reprioritisation to ensure we are all geared to a common roadmap over the next 12 months. In the medium and long term, we will be rolling out a range of transformational initiatives that seek to build a more efficient and effective ‘back of house’ which will in turn position us for greater impact. Further, we will renew our programs by strengthening the way we engage young people in the design of services – to demonstrate that we ‘do with young people, not to them’. A key part of renewal is also getting really good at measuring and communicating our impact through evidence, data and stories.
It is really exciting times ahead for Whitelion. I would like to acknowledge Mark Watt for his leadership in building an amazing organisation and for being so embracing and welcoming of me joining Whitelion. I hope you continue to be part of this next phase of what has been an incredible journey so far.
Best wishes,
Hang