27 February 2012
Statement by David Bonbright, Board Chair, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
After four highly successful years as Secretary General of CIVICUS, Ingrid Srinath has, reluctantly, resolved to leave us in order to address pressing family matters at the end of her current contract in March 2012.
In accepting her resignation, the CIVICUS Board recognises that her leadership legacy includes, among other things, an outstanding executive team, a transformed organisational culture and strong support for the CIVICUS mission from our members, funders and civil society promoters generally.
"This is the best job in the world," Ingrid told the board, "because CIVICUS' work and mission have never been more relevant and because of the people I work with day to day who commit themselves to citizen participation for a more just world."
Effective 1 March 2012, Deputy Secretary General, Katsuji Imata, is appointed Acting Secretary General. Katsuji has been with CIVICUS' senior management team since 2007, and was appointed to his current position in 2010. Katsuji has extensive experience in international civil society coordination including the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) and promoting NGO cooperation under the US-Japan Common Agenda.
The end of Ingrid's tenure coincides with the final year of the current CIVICUS strategic directions. The CIVICUS Board is therefore taking the opportunity to combine the global search for the next CIVICUS Secretary General with stakeholder consultations to review and update CIVICUS' strategic directions and provide fresh perspectives on organisational priorities.
To lead this process the Board has appointed a Leadership Transition Steering Committee made up of Board Vice Chair, Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, a longtime member of CIVICUS, Jay Naidoo, and Acting Secretary General, Katsuji Imata. Nyaradzayi will chair the committee, which will report to me as Board Chair.
Nyaradzayi is the General Secretary of the World YWCA, a global federation in 125 countries, and a human rights lawyer with extensive experience in NGO governance and transition management. Jay is a leading anti-apartheid activist and global civil society leader who served in President Mandela's cabinet and now is Chairman of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN).
Their work begins immediately with the aim of announcing final results at the CIVICUS World Assembly, held in Montreal, Canada from 3 to 7 September 2012. The committee will use a range of social media to ensure that its work is as transparent and participatory as is possible. Details of how to participate in the CIVICUS Leadership Transition will be available on the CIVICUS website.
For enquiries contact CIVICUS:
Monday 27 February: Andrew Firmin, , +44 7540 892074
From Tuesday 28 February onwards: Mark Nowottny, , + 1 246 2650972
