New East Timor Hearts Fund CEO announced
6 May 2019
Experienced cross-cultural community leader David Marlow has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of East Timor Hearts Fund.
Mr Marlow, who will commence on 13 May, is the former executive director of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria. He serves on the Victorian Multifaith Advisory Group and until recently was on the Victoria Police Interfaith Council. He is also a board member of the Jewish Christian Muslim Association, among other multi-cultural and multi-faith leadership roles. David has a significant commercial background, including in the banking sector, across four countries.
“We are delighted to have someone of David’s diverse skills and experience to lead our organisation into the next stage of its development,” board chair Ingrid Svendsen said.
“This appointment comes at a pivotal time for East Timor Hearts Fund, as we continue our transition from our origins as a small-scale charity focussed solely on providing surgery in Australia to a broader role tackling the root causes of poor heart health in Timor-Leste.
“We’re looking forward to having David at the helm as we continue to add to our Australian surgical program with in-country initiatives, including preventative health and community and practitioner education and training.
“We also plan to partner to deliver the first ever open-heart surgical mission to Timor-Leste, which will allow us to provide more surgery, more cost-effectively, while also supporting the development of the local systems and skills that Timor-Leste needs.
“David’s real strength in cross cultural awareness and communication will help us to successfully deliver these projects.”
Mr Marlow said he was delighted and humbled to have the opportunity to support East Timor Hears Fund’s “vastly important and life-changing” work.
“What could be more motivating or satisfying than saving lives, especially young lives? They are the future of Timor-Leste, one of our nearest neighbours. They are the future builders, poets, artists, doctors, nurses and leaders of their country,” Mr Marlow said.
“I am very excitedly looking forward to working with the board, our magnificent volunteers and generous supporters, and the people of Timor-Leste in partnership, to lead the organisation into its next phase of growth and development.
“I am looking forward to bringing together my experience in leading small and large organisations, combining my commercial background with my passion for contributing to the community, to help build on the amazing successes of East Timor Hearts Fund.”
Ms Svendsen paid tribute to the outstanding work of outgoing CEO Stuart Thomson and wished him well.
Read Mr Marlow’s profile.