News
Issue No. 51 - February/March 2010
The business of changing the world
Former SA Premier Dr Lynn Arnold has seen, and managed, a lot of change.
Dr Arnold became Chief Executive of Anglicare SA in March, 2008, after 11 years with World Vision International. Anglicare is SA’s largest non-government agency involved in aged care, welfare delivery and community development. It employs 1350 staff (about 900 FTE) and has the support of 1200 volunteers.
At World Vision International, as Senior Director - Board Development & Peer Review, he helped 54 World Vision boards and advisory councils around the world, plus the boards of 42 associated microfinance entities, to develop their governance capacity.
Before taking up the international role he served 6½ years as CEO of World Vision Australia. Under his leadership, WVA grew revenues by 126% and cut operating cost ratios by 50%.
From 1994-96, he was an executive consultant to a large Spanish media company, helping direct investment in Australia. From 1979-94 he served in SA Parliament with more than 11 years in Cabinet, in senior ministries including Education, State Development and Agriculture. He was SA Premier in 1992-1993.
is World Vision career showed him changing any big organisation’s strategic direction is no easy task.
“That wonderful experience taught me a great deal about the not-for-profit sector and particularly the challenges NFPs face,” Dr Arnold says. “We face many similar challenges (at Anglicare) and some which are unique to South Australia.”
Anglicare is accomplishing “wonderful things” but he believes the organisation can help change SA’s social fabric.
“There is a danger that in doing what you do so well - helping people in need - you can lose sight of the bigger picture of changed circumstances that create the need,” he says.
Anglicare is becoming better able to find and close gaps in social services, changing its mission so it can alter social circumstances not just repair their effects. It aim...
