Suzette Mitchell Headed for the UN Full Text

Message from the IWDA Board

Dr Suzette Mitchell, IWDA’s Executive Director for the past four years, has accepted an offer to serve as Country Programme Manager with UNIFEM in Viet Nam and will leave IWDA on 29 June 2007. The Board is delighted for Suzette and wishes her well for the future. Her return to Viet Nam presents many opportunities – for Suzette and for advancing the status of women in our region.

Suzette has made a significant contribution to IWDA over the last four years. The organisation – and the wider Australian gender community – will miss her presence. Under Suzette’s leadership, IWDA has enjoyed steady growth in supporter income and has continued to diversify its funding sources. This increased financial stability has enabled us to grow our project work. IWDA has been very fortunate to receive generous donations in 2005 and 2007 which will be used to seed a trust fund that will underpin IWDA’s work to empower women into the future.

Suzette’s creative flair has been reflected in the strong and consistent look that you see across our publications. Suzette was a driving force behind the two Women’s Eye on Peace exhibitions, which drew hundreds of photographs from women around the world and was seen by thousands of people in Melbourne, Sydney and on the internet. The Women’s Feast, a fantastic fun event with great food and entertainment, attracted funding and other support for IWDA’s work.

During Suzette’s tenure, IWDA continued to shape policy and practice in support of quality gender work throughout the international development community. Suzette led IWDA’s successful Harmonisation of Gender Indicators Symposium to promote discussion, strengthen policy and practice and build linkages between government, the private sector, non-profit organisations and the academic community. Suzette contributed to AusAID’s new gender and development policy and provided training for non-government organisations on its use. Her consultancy work has underlined the importance of focusing on gender in conflict and post-conflict situations and as part of ongoing mine clearance and rehabilitation activities.

IWDA’s long practice of working with partner organisations on the issues and priorities that they identify has flourished during Suzette’s tenure. When Kantha Shakthi, our partners in Sri Lanka, called for help, IWDA quickly established a Tsunami appeal to help them help women whose lives had been devastated.

Suzette’s passion for IWDA’s work and her energy in the role of Executive Director were very much valued by the Board. We look forward to working with Suzette in the future and to the opportunity to strengthen our links with UNIFEM and other organisations working to promote gender equality in Viet Nam and the wider region.

Any movement of key staff also presents an opportunity to reflect on future directions and to bring in someone to work with the Board in pursuing a renewed vision. The Board is seeking a new Executive Director who can build on our strengths and reputation and grow the organisation. We are looking for a visionary, strategic leader and manager to partner with the Board to consolidate IWDA’s position as a gender expert in our region and lead IWDA into its next phase of empowering development work. The position offers an exceptional opportunity for someone keen to combine their professional capacities with a commitment to gender equality and social change.

The Board has asked the Vice President, Joanne Crawford, to act as interim Executive Director. Jo will stand aside as Vice President during this time. She will resume this role when a permanent appointment is made and will be available to provide a full handover to the new Executive Director.

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