NEWS
3 February 2012
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has a new director. From a background in organisational and business management, including government policy advice and implementation, Julianne Hickey has spent the last 14 years as a consultant with UK-based, global consulting company PA Consulting, delivering projects in the health, social care, criminal justice and community sectors.
Ms Hickey has also been a volunteer for Caritas’ partner in England and Wales, CAFOD, and has supported a range of domestic and international charities and agencies for social change. In 2002 she led the monitoring of the Zimbabwean presidential elections for the Movement for Democratic Change. She also helped create a single inter-racial Catholic student organisation for South Africa.
Caritas Board Chair Mark Richards says the board is excited about Ms Hickey joining the team.
‘The mix of skills that Julianne brings to the role is complemented by a proven and practical commitment to the poor and to issues of justice in a local and global context.
‘Board members are confident they’ve found someone able to lead us in challenging times to respond to the demands of the gospel in the fullness of Catholic social teaching. This applies to social policy locally, globally with our development and aid partners and also within the unity of Caritas Internationalis, the world’s second biggest aid agency.’
Ms Hickey has a degree in Economics and Industrial and Organisational Psychology as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Management. She grew up in Zimbabwe, studied in South Africa and moved to Britain where she met her New Zealand husband. They arrived in New Zealand with their three children in December 2010.
Ms Hickey replaces Michael Smith, who left Caritas in December to take up a position with the Cancer Society in Wellington.
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is a member of Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of 168 Catholic aid, development and social justice agencies active in over 200 countries and territories.