This month, Dr Phoebe Wynn-Pope, daughter of former Prime Minister and CARE Australia founding chairman, Malcolm Fraser, was appointed as Chair of CARE Australia.
Phoebe has been on the Board since 2018, but began her career working with CARE Australia in some of the largest complex emergencies of the 1990s: the refugee crisis in Iran after the first gulf war, the conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Somali famine, and in the Great Lakes Region after the Rwandan Genocide. She later returned to join CARE Australia’s leadership team in Australia.
Phoebe says of her appointment:
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to serve as the Chair of CARE Australia, following the strong leadership and guidance of Marcus Laithwaite, our outgoing Chair. I look forward to working with the wonderful cohort of fellow directors and staff, and building on the work of so many who have gone before me.
“Malcolm Fraser, our founding Chairman, had a vision of a world where children could grow up free from fear and hunger, and CARE Australia was a vehicle serving to that end. As in his time, the challenges ahead are immense. Every day, CARE staff are confronted by harsh realities of the impact of increasing displacement, conflict, and climate change contributing to inequality that is felt most severely by women and girls.
“For the last 36 years, CARE Australia has partnered with the Australian public who have generously given us both resources and support to work with our local partners around the world to address suffering and alleviate poverty.
“I look forward to continuing this partnership, to working with all those who seek social justice, equality and believe in the fundamental right to human dignity.”
Phoebe is currently Head of Business and Human Rights and Head of Pro Bono at Corrs Chambers Westgarth. She is also a member of the Australian Human Rights Institute Advisory Committee, a Director of the Business and Human Rights Lawyers Association and an Ambassador of the Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia.
Phoebe commenced in her new role following a transition period with former Chair Marcus Laithwaite.
Marcus, who has acted as Chair since March 2020, also represented CARE Australia as delegate to the CARE International Assembly, the Association’s global authority. CARE Australia wishes to thank Marcus for his leadership and guidance during his tenure and wishes him all the best with his future endeavours.
ENDS
For media enquiries contact Briony FitzGerald on 0404 117 927 or briony.fitzgerald@care.org.au
About CARE Australia
CARE Australia is one member of the global CARE Confederation. CARE Australia supports women and girls around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice. We work in partnership with local communities to provide equal opportunities for women and girls to be educated and to earn an income, gain access to essential resources like food, health care and clean water, and to be able to withstand and recover from the increasing impacts of disasters, conflict and other crises. Our programs focus on women and girls because we know when one woman breaks the cycle of poverty she brings four others with her – and that’s a powerful multiplier of impact.
