NEW BLOOD GETS ON BOARD ACON

A fundraising expert from the United States and a community-minded telecommunications executive are the latest additions to the Board of ACON.

Following a vote by ACON members, Siri Kommedahl and Jason Bradshaw were both appointed to the Board at ACON’s annual general meeting on Wednesday 5 December 2007.

Adrian Lovney, who was re-elected as ACON President, says he expects both new Board members to make a significant contribution to ACON. “Siri and Jason are outstanding candidates in terms of their knowledge, experience and contacts as well as their commitment to the GLBT community,” he says. “We are extremely pleased to welcome them to ACON and wish them all the best in their new capacity.”

Siri – who was elected as a regular member – has more than 16 years experience in IT business development and currently works as a financial and strategic development consultant. She has also chaired fundraising committees for several organisations including the Human Rights Campaign Federal Club, a 700,000 member civil rights organisation in the US which works to ensure equal rights for GLBT Americans.

Jason – who was elected, unopposed, as Treasurer – has over 14 years experience in the banking, finance and retail sectors and currently oversees the delivery of operations to the corporate and government clients of a leading telecommunications company. Twice nominated as Young Queenslander and Young Queensland Manager of the Year, Jason has a solid track record of community involvement ranging from mentoring university students through to volunteering with ACON and the Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby.

ACON also farewelled two of its Board members at last week’s AGM. Advertising and design executive Simon Moore stepped down after five years on the Board and Dean Price, a disability rights advocate, also stepped down following three years as a Board member. Mr Lovney commended both former Board members for their contribution. “Both Simon and Dean have been outstanding and tireless advocates for ACON and we thank them with great sincerity for their hard work and dedication.” he says.

In other election results, Kate Connors was re-elected as vice-president and Mark Orr was re-elected as secretary. All other existing members were also re-elected.

The newly-elected Board is as follows: Adrian Lovney (president), Kate Connors (vice-president), Jason Bradshaw (treasurer), Mark Orr (secretary), Garrett Prestage, Louisa Degenhardt, Joseph Jewitt, Andrew Purchas, Jonathan Stambolis, Rod Bruem, Scott Berry, Siri Kommedah and Anders Neilson (staff rep.).

During the AGM, members were briefed about the broad range of campaigns, operations and activities that ACON had undertaken throughout the 06/07 financial year. Of particular interest was the fact that NSW was the only state in Australia and one of the only major cities in the world which recorded a decline in new HIV diagnoses during 2006.

The meeting was also advised of a recently released study into the economic impact of HIV/AIDS-related spending by the NSW Government since the beginning of the epidemic. The report showed that for every $1 invested in HIV prevention, $13 had been saved in clinical care costs, making investment in HIV programs more cost effective than any other health promotion investment in the country, including heart disease and anti-smoking.