News

New CEO for MASP

Mon, 16 Jan 2017 04:39:00

One of the Mallee’s most respected community service organisations says it is setting the foundations for future growth with the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer this week.

The board of the Mallee Accommodation and Support Program (MASP) conducted a national search for a new CEO, but Chairman Greg Leslie said appointing a respected local administrator Gary Simpson was a win-win for the organisation.
“As a board, we were determined to find someone who had the vision, experience and insight that is critical to navigating MASP through a rapidly changing environment,” Mr Leslie said.
“To find an applicant who had the experience we were looking for, but who also has that all-important in-built local knowledge already is a fantastic result,” he said.
MASP has a 28-year history as a leader in alleviating the impacts of homelessness, abuse, suffering and disadvantage in Mallee communities. It provides a range of services and programs aimed at vulnerable children, youth and families, the disabled and frail aged, as well as the homeless, or those at risk of homelessness.
Mr Simpson is only the second CEO in MASP’s history and replaces the long-serving Doug Tonge, who retired last year.
Mr Leslie said Mr Simpson would be stepping into the role at a critical period for the organisation and the community services sector.
“It’s a really challenging time with a raft of Government reforms on the table, including the Roadmap to Reform, recommendations from the Family Violence Royal Commission, the Commission for Children and Young People’s “as a good parent would” (Geary) Report and the National Disability Insurance Scheme,” Mr Leslie said.
“There is substantial structural and competitive change already happening, and which will continue to have implications for the future of services like MASP,” he said.
“A challenge for us is to watch and listen closely to Government signals, whilst maintaining a degree of autonomy that’s allowed us for nearly three decades to provide the vital services for our own communities.”
Mr Simpson comes from a role as Executive Manager Service Support at Sunraysia Community Health Services.  He has broad experiences as a CEO and Executive Manager leading several large workforce recruitment and training organisations, including the Mildura-based Sunraysia Murray Group Training (SMGT).
Mr Simpson said there were useful parallels to draw from his experiences in the training sector during a period of rapid reform.
“I think MASP is now facing some similar challenges as we did at SMGT during the workforce training reforms several years ago,” Mr Simpson said.
“It’s a challenge, yes, but it’s also an opportunity to position ourselves as a lead organisation for a changing future,” he said.

“It’s exciting because it presents us with an opportunity to be a strong and influential player in the Mallee,” he said.

In addition to his professional experience, Mr Simpson brings to MASP a strong network of community involvements.  He is a director of the Merbein and District Community Bank, Chair of the Sunraysia Academy of Sport, serves on Mildura’s Community Safety and Roadsafe committees and a member of the Research, Evaluation and Measuring Committee of the Northern Mallee Community Partnership.
Mr Leslie said the board was grateful for the support and patience of the community and staff during the recruitment period.
“MASP has been a respected and well-run organisation throughout its history and the innovative operating model has resonated with the community,” Mr Leslie said.
“Our community, staff and supporters are committed to the concept of having locally-provided services offered by locals, for locals,” he said.
“The community and the corporate sector have willingly supported us over many years to get to where we are today.
“We’re confident Gary is the right person to nurture and grow that strong partnership in the long-term and secure MASP’s role of supporting the communities of the Mallee region.”