Save the Children Australia announces new CEO
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Save the Children Australia is delighted to announce the appointment of Mat Tinkler as its new chief executive officer.
Tinkler takes up the position from Paul Ronalds, who led the organisation for more than nine years before resigning to lead the establishment of Save the Children Global Ventures.
For the past six months, Tinkler has been acting CEO of Save the Children Australia while onalds was developing a business case for the new global entity that will amplify Save the Children’s impact through innovative financing and taking new technologies to scale.
Save the Children Australia Board Chair Larry Kamener said the Board was pleased to have such a strong internal succession candidate.
“I am delighted that Mat has taken up the position of CEO at Save the Children Australia. He has shown tremendous integrity and drive for the work our people do each day to advance the rights of children,” Kamener said.
“Mat brings a leadership style that is inclusive, honest, enquiring, and empowering. The Board is confident he will continue to build a diverse and inclusive culture, and innovation across our program delivery, advocacy and support services teams.
“Paul has made an extraordinary contribution as CEO at Save the Children Australia over the last nine years. It has been a privilege for me as chair to have been able to work with Paul and now to oversee the transition to another outstanding leader.”
For more than eight years, Tinkler has driven change for children by leading Save the Children Australia’s International Programs division, as well as the agency’s Policy and Advocacy division. He has also been Deputy CEO since 2019.
In these roles Tinkler has led significant growth and diversification in Save the Children’s international programs portfolio, including through developing new relationships with a range of global donors such as the Green Climate Fund, Global Partnership for Education and Education Cannot Wait.
“I am thrilled to be appointed to the role of chief executive officer of this wonderful organisation,” Tinkler said.
“I stand on the shoulders of giants. From our founder, pioneering teacher and sociologist, Eglantyne Jebb, to my predecessor, Paul Ronalds, who skilfully led Save the Children through a period of significant change and growth.
“I’m motivated by the sheer audacity of our mission and inspired by the commitment of Save the Children staff to change lives for the better in Australia, the Pacific and around the world.
“I will continue to strongly advocate for the rights of children both through our international efforts and closer to home in Australia.”
Tinkler will continue leveraging educational technology to improve outcomes for children and building climate resilience through implementing programs with the support of the Green Climate Fund. Innovation will be a focus of core business in service delivery and supporting corporate services.
“Mat is a fierce advocate for children and our mission to change lives for the better, and I congratulate him on his appointment,” Ronalds said.
“I’m excited about my new role at Save the Children Global Ventures, which combines the best of our global delivery platform with new funding mechanisms and other new technologies to solve some of the most pressing problems facing children.”
Ronalds will now use his expertise to support the organisation’s global mission as Sponsor for Save the Children Global Ventures, which he has led with energy and enthusiasm since January 2022. He will also continue as Sponsor for the Global Transformation Portfolio, the Centre for Excellence in Innovation, the movement’s Tech for Development work, and remain a director of the Save the Children Impact Investment Fund.
Lourdes Antenor is an experienced writer who specialises in the not-for-profit sector and its affiliations. She is the content producer for Third Sector News, an online knowledge-based platform for and about the Australian NFP sector.
