International advocacy organisation Global Citizen announced the appointment of Hon Mary Wooldridge as Chair of its Australian Board of Directors, and recent appointments of Directors, Professor Linda Kristjanson AO and Natasha Stott Despoja AO.

Together, these three new directors bring decades of experience in gender equality, health, science, education, innovation and charitable management to the Global Citizen movement, the world’s largest movement of action takers and impact makers.

Their contributions aims to ensure that Australians continue to play an active role on the global stage and that Australia champions efforts to end extreme poverty by 2030.

The new members will join existing directors, Trish Daley and Ian Allen AM.

“With less than ten years remaining to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the framework for ending extreme poverty, we need countries such as Australia to step up and ensure these goals are delivered. Due to COVID-19 more people have been pushed into extreme poverty. This means that the urgency and need to act is more important than ever. I’m delighted that we have the breadth of experience from these new directors to ensure we double our efforts in Australia and see the country return as a champion for the most vulnerable,” said Sarah Meredith, Country Director of Global Citizen’s Australian operations.

“We also thank retiring Director and former Chair, Michael Smellie, for his leadership and support since the organisation was established. Michael has been integral in supporting the organisation’s growth both here in Australia and internationally and we thank him for his commitment to ending extreme poverty”, continued Meredith.

Commenting on her appointment, Mary Wooldridge said: “As a teenager I was a Rotary Exchange student to Vancouver in Canada and one of my host parents was the Mayor of the local community. I saw then how activism within a community can drive positive change and this has always motivated me to support grassroots movements and people within communities to drive the change they want to see. Much of my work has been driven from that experience.”

“At this time as I move beyond Parliament, my appointment as Chair of Global Citizen’s Australian Board will allow me to harness and build on this, supporting the team with our aim to mobilise young people in Australia to advocate for the change that’s needed, and to ensure we inform and attract support to end extreme poverty from our government, corporations and broader community. Global Citizen’s mission to drive change at a global level, so that we recognise we are all part of an interconnected world, enables me to help drive this at a broader level than I’ve ever been able to contribute to before. I’m thrilled to join the team,” she said.