TasCOSS was pleased to join with members and supporters of the community services industry in Burnie last week to pay tribute to the many invaluable contributions of TasCOSS’s outgoing Board President, Alex McKenzie, who has been in the role since 2019.
TasCOSS CEO, Ms Adrienne Picone, said during Alex’s tenure as Board President TasCOSS had faced a number of significant headwinds, notably the complexities of COVID-19 and supporting organisations and communities to navigate this challenging period.
“Alex provided a great deal of support and guidance to the TasCOSS leadership team in a time of great adversity for the community, and was a pillar of strength for the organisation at a time where decisions needed to be made swiftly and decisively,” Ms Picone said.
“Strengthening the community services industry’s governance practices has been a clear focus and passion for Alex during his time as President.
“He oversaw the successful modernisation to the TasCOSS Constitution to better ensure the organisation commanded a skills-based, contemporary board of governance; was successful in expanding TasCOSS’s governance-related training offerings for new and established board members; and had a driving role in securing the ten-year Tasmanian Community Services Industry Plan (2021-31) with the Tasmanian Government to guide industry development, recruit and train our growing workforce and futureproof the delivery of much-needed services to Tasmanians in need.
“Alex also presided over a period which saw TasCOSS deliver positive outcomes for Tasmanians living on low and inadequate incomes, with successful energy advocacy securing in $30 million in energy savings for Tasmanian households, and the waiving of the $150 million Commonwealth housing debt, which was key to accelerating the delivery of new social and affordable homes.
“Alex has been a fantastic support to TasCOSS and the community services industry and I wish him and his young family all the best for the future.”
Ms Picone said TasCOSS was pleased to announce Georgie Ibbott will take over the reigns as Board President.
“Georgie is a dynamic leader with vast board-level appointments in the not-for-profit space, and experience as a former executive and CEO,” she said.
“Most recently, she served as Non-Executive Director at Volunteering Tasmania, and is the Independent Chair and Non-Executive Director at the Wildlife Network Tasmania.
“I trust she will make for a excellent leader for both TasCOSS and the broader community services industry.”