Chief Executive Officer

The Organisation Act for Peace is the international humanitarian agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia. For over 70 years, Act for Peace has worked alongside local partners across more than 15 countries to support people forced from their homes by conflict and disaster, and those facing injustice and human rights abuses.

Through programs in emergency response, refugee protection, and peacebuilding, Act for Peace seeks to create a just, peaceful, and sustainable world where people can live in safety and dignity. At its heart, the organisation is driven by a belief in the power of solidarity and community, connecting people and churches in Australia with communities around the world to inspire generosity and long‑term support.

The Act for Peace board has been seeking ambitious organisational change in recognition of the changing sector and funding context, the need for sustainable internal operations, and an organisational model that reflects a new approach to program delivery and advancing partner‑driven impact. The change process has led to the launching of the Reimagine Project to transform the organisation and facilitate a sustainable and high impact future.

The Role Via visionary leadership, the newly appointed CEO will mobilise a movement for peace while stewarding effective governance, culture, strategy, fundraising and operations, and sustaining the organisation’s long‑term resilience. The role requires courage, relational leadership, and the ability to guide the team and stakeholders through change. Key responsibilities include:

Supporting clarity of organisational vision, purpose, and future direction

Leading organisational change and implementing the new business model

Convening and building coalitions across stakeholders, partners, and funders

Deep engagement with philanthropy and income development as an enabler of mission

Representing the organisation relationally with staff, partners, donors, and church communities

Ensuring governance, finance, and operational structures are fit for an agile organisation

Sustainability and alignment of funding as the organisation transitions towards a focus on philanthropic and capital fund donations

Skills Required You’re an experienced senior leader with strong alignment to faith‑based values and communities. You are courageous and bold, with the ability to lead a discovery process with your strong relational leadership skills at the core of your success. Given the recent deliberate resizing to create a smaller but more sustainable organisation, you’ll need to demonstrate leadership in the context of organisational change and transition. You also bring:

Ability to convene and collaborate across movements, coalitions, and ecumenical networks

Experience engaging with philanthropy and resource mobilisation, major donors and investors

Understanding of the international development sector and funding models, but not constrained by tradition

Capacity to manage risk, ensure financial sustainability, and lead with clarity in periods of uncertainty

Innovative supporter‑centric and data‑led initiatives, measuring impact and performance

If you’re a movement builder and fundraiser experienced in spearheading organisational change and philanthropic initiatives, and you’re aligned with the faith‑based ethos and the Act for Peace mission and values, we encourage you to apply. In the first instance please submit a CV and cover letter addressing the skills required above, or contact Richard Green or Louise Furlong at NGO Recruitment on.

To have a candidate information package emailed to you, please contact Richard Green or Louise Furlong at NGO Recruitment. Please note there is no formal closing date for this role; if you are interested, we would encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

NGO Recruitment values equitable recruitment practices and is committed to representing candidates reflective of the diverse organisations and communities we work with. We welcome and encourage applications from all backgrounds, ages, and identities, and are happy to adjust our recruitment process to support accessibility needs. If you are interested in this position and have most of the skills or experience we are looking for, please go ahead and apply.

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