Transition

In the past few weeks, lunches, afternoon teas, on-line tributes and a variety of other activities celebrated the contribution Kim Nass has made to MWIA. The decision to move the office to Melbourne necessitated Kim making the difficult decision to finish her seven years as Executive Officer of MWIA. Coming from 16 years as the Manager of Development at Loreto Kirribilli Kim was no stranger to things Loreto and she brought with her a deep commitment to the values of Mary Ward and the heritage of the Loreto Sisters. Networking is a key component of leading a not-for- profit organisation and Kim has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the people of Sydney! She has a considerable grasp of governance and the financial intricacies of trusts and foundations. Through her hard work and willingness to trawl through data bases, make forays into distant countries and keep connected with a variety of people and organisations Kim leaves MWIA on a very firm foundation. We thank Kim and wish her well. Having “moved” the office Kim is spending the next few weeks, in between social events, managing the hand over to the new Executive Officer, Hannah George.

There could be few more difficult ways to begin a new job than locked down in the grip of a pandemic but Hannah is managing, via zoom, teams, telephone, email and a Board Workshop, to get a grip, not only on MWIA, but on the organisation, personnel and communications of the Loreto Province Office – no easy task.

Hannah George began her role as Executive Officer, MWIA on Monday 25 August. Hannah comes to MWIA from Amnesty International Australia, with an extensive career of leadership in advocacy, campaigning, philanthropy and programs focussed on progressing human rights, gender equity and social justice.  Hannah has lived and worked in Laos, Thailand and the US. More recently she worked with UNDP in Fiji developing and over sighting media strategies, programs and policies for human rights. We wish Hannah well as she charts her way, via the virtual world, into the realities of disadvantage and injustice which MWIA programs work to transform.

Author: Sr Libby Rogerson ibvm

Images: The MWIA and Loreto team farewelling Kim and welcoming Hannah via video call