Special bulletin - 29 June 2007

Jane Singleton appointed CEO

The President of ARHA, Heather Macdonald, today announced the Board's decision to appoint high-profile media personality, public campaigner and company director Jane Singleton as ARHA's new Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Christina Richards, who has been CEO for the past three years. Ms Singleton will take up the position 9 July.

Ms Macdonald said the Board was delighted that Ms Singleton would bring her extensive talents and experience to the job.

"We expect Jane's leadership will result in greater public awareness of the importance of sexual and reproductive health nationally and in Australia's international aid program, and we look forward to welcoming her on to the team," she said.

Ms Singleton is well known as a former journalist and presenter on ABC television and radio and SBS TV, and as director of a number of organisations in the corporate and community sectors, as diverse as the international aid organisation ChildFund, and the NRMA.

She is currently manager of communications and public affairs at Family Planning NSW, and director of her own public affairs consultancy, Jane Singleton Pty Ltd. Prior to that she worked on the campaign for compensation for Hardie's asbestos victims. Ms Singleton also sits on the Independent Complaints Review Panel for the ABC.

She has been a director and chair of ChildFund Australia for more than ten years, and has also served on the executive committee of ChildFund International and the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID).

Career highlights include coordinating Nelson Mandela's visit to Australia before his election as President, being the inaugural compère of ABC TV's 7.30 Report, and working on the Maritime Union's communications during the Patrick waterfront dispute.

Ms Singleton succeeds Christina Richards as CEO of ARHA and Secretariat Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Population and Development (PGPD).

Under Chris's leadership, ARHA played a major role in informing the RU-486 debate in parliament, and was instrumental in raising the profile of the PGPD and its work. The PGPD has 140 state and federal members.

The Australian Reproductive Health Alliance (ARHA)
www.arha.org.au
Our mission is to promote public support for enhanced reproductive and sexual health in Australia and internationally, and promote the advancement of the status of women and girls.