News from the board

 

Big thanks to the Chair of our board, Lauren Gawne, for providing the update below:

2020 is keeping us all on our toes. Even with everything that is happening in the world, there are still changes afoot here at Living Languages. It’s worth taking a moment to acknowledge updates to both our board and staffing. 

Stephen Morey

After six years Stephen Morey has stepped back from his role as Chair of Living Languages. Stephen joined the board of RNLD as Public Officer in 2012, and in 2014 became President. Stephen served six years as President and then Chair of RNLD, seeing the organisation through some major changes in those six years including the move from the Melbourne CBD to the office’s current location, a new governance structure, and the name change and rebranding last year. We’re delighted that Stephen, and his eye for procedural detail, continues as Secretary of the organisation.  

Recently we announced that our CEO of 3 years, Megan Broome, also finished at Living Languages. My thanks to Emma for stepping up as Acting CEO while we rethink our strategic plan and organisational structure. The board and staff have been working together to make some changes to how we operate and will now be advertising for a Program Director to oversee our training and steer the organisation.  

Lauren Gawne and Stephen Morey

In my new role as Chair of the Living Languages board I’ve enjoyed working with everyone through a period of strategic planning for the first part of 2020. I’ve been involved with RNLD since it was a membership organisation. I dug out my old membership card the other day; I’m member number 006, which is about as close as I’ll ever get to being a secret agent. I left Australia for a few years and was impressed at how the organisation articulates its purpose. I’ve been proud to be more involved in the last few years as a member of the board, then Secretary in 2019 and now Chair. In this time of change I believe the work that Living Languages does is even more important than ever, and look forward to working with the team to find new ways of giving people the linguistic tools they need for their own language work.