Adara Development has announced the appointment of senior businesswoman, Jo Brennan, to its Australian board, effective 1 November 2021. Ms Brennan joins a highly regarded group of 21 directors globally, whose experience spans the business, not-for-profit and philanthropic worlds.

Brennan is currently the Chief Operating Officer for Aware Super, Australia’s second-largest superannuation fund. She has had a diverse corporate career having held senior executive roles with Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Macquarie Bank, QBE and Santos. Ms Brennan is a highly experienced business and people leader having delivered complex organisational, digital and technology transformations while leading large scale service teams.

In addition, Brennan brings a unique understanding of international development, having been Chief Executive Officer of Habitat For Humanity Australia. Most recently, she was a Board member with ChildFund Australia for more than 6 years.

“I am delighted to welcome Jo Brennan to the board of Adara Development (Australia), on behalf of our teams worldwide,” said Audette Exel AO, Adara’s founder and Chair. “Jo has been a fantastic supporter of Adara for many years. She has unique experience at the executive management and board levels across both the business and international non-profit sectors. Jo’s deep expertise will be invaluable to Adara as we expand our work and pursue our vision of a world where every person has access to health, education and other essential services. The breadth and depth of our boards globally speak to the strength of the Adara Group and its impact on so many in need around the world.”

The Adara Group has a 23-year history and bridges the worlds of business and international development. Adara has deep expertise in maternal, newborn and child health and remote community development. It delivers service through centres of excellence in Uganda and Nepal, and it deepens impact through its networks, its knowledge sharing and its work inspiring people to use their business skills for purpose.

Brennan said that she felt honoured to be able to join the board to support Adara’s important work and commented that this was a time when the global need for innovative, community led development has never been greater.