Cade Lucas
When the Committee for Wyndham began its search for a new chief executive officer earlier this year, chairman Craig Kennedy told the Star Weekly they wanted someone with a great understanding of the municipality, both its businesses and the broader community.
In hiring a former Wyndham Citizen of the Year, it would appear Mr Kennedy and his board have achieved their aim.
On March 5 the committee announced it had appointed Leanne Down, CEO of the Wyndham Health Foundation and 2023 Wyndham Citizen of the Year, as its new leader.
Craig Kennedy said they couldn’t have hoped for a better candidate.
“Her exceptional qualifications and remarkable contributions to our community make her the perfect fit for this pivotal role,” he said.
Speaking to Star Weekly in the days after he appointment, Leanne Down sounded just as pleased to be joining the Committee for Wyndham as they were to have her.
“I am extremely excited to be continuing my impact on the wisdom of region in a further positive ways,” said Ms Down who begins her new role on April 8.
A Wyndham resident for 25 years, Ms Down has spent the past four running the Wyndham Health Foundation which raises funds to provide medical equipment, research and education programs at local hospitals.
Despite their differences, she said running a health organisation was ideal preparation for one more focused on business.
“I started at the foundation, literally the day the country shut down (from Covid) the 23rd of March 2020,” she said.
“It was literally the most challenging two years of my life as I entered into a sector that was directly impacted by COVID into a region that was the hardest hit by COVID and saw the economy almost immediately come to a grinding halt.”
Ms Down said the Wyndham Health Foundation came through the pandemic stronger than ever and while excited by her new role, she was sad to be leaving her old one behind.
“It was very humbling to have implemented and made an impact to our healthcare services that are touching our community. You do those roles not wanting anything in return, just wanting to leave a legacy.”
Ms Down hopes to do the same at the Committee for Wyndham where collaborating with members, her board and key stakeholders such as Wyndham council and the state government, will form a key part of her role.
It’s a task she appears well up for up for.
“As they say, ‘ if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go further go together.’ That’s very much my approach.”
