The Board of Tearfund, the international relief and development charity, has announced the appointment of Anna Laszlo as the new Chair, replacing Clive Mather.
Born and brought up in East Africa, and with a wealth of experience in international development, Anna Laszlo joins having served as Chair of the World Vision UK Board for the past three years, and on its board for ten years. Before this she was a civil servant for over 14 years, working at the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and serving overseas in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Anna has previously worked alongside Tearfund and, with her family, been a supporter of Tearfund for many years. She goes to church at Christ Church in Cheltenham.
Anna will take over as Chair from Clive Mather at the next AGM (27th September 2018).
Clive Mather said, "I am simply delighted that Anna Laszlo has agreed to join the Board as its new Chair. She brings a wealth of experience, many personal gifts and a deep spiritual commitment to Tearfund's ministry. It has been an extraordinary privilege for me to work at the heart of Tearfund for the last 10 years - indeed a life changing experience. I will always remain a passionate supporter of Tearfund."
Anna Laszlo said: "Having worked alongside Tearfund professionally, and as a supporter with my family over many years, I am tremendously impressed by Tearfund's commitment to follow Jesus where the need is greatest. Tearfund's work is innovative, inspiring and effective, working through the local church wherever possible, responding both to disasters and to the challenges of entrenched poverty.
"I feel hugely privileged to be invited to take up this position. I look forward to working alongside the Board of Trustees, the Chief Executive and management in taking forward and developing this work, to take up the challenges and the opportunities of our rapidly changing world, and to see millions more people become their own answer to the outrageous scandal of poverty today."
Nigel Harris, CEO said: "I am delighted to welcome Anna as our new Chair. With her commitment to Tearfund's vision and mission, and great experience and expertise in the international development sector, I know that Anna will make a wonderful contribution to our work. We all look forward to working with her.
"I would also like to express my great admiration for Clive Mather as he steps down after ten years as Tearfund's current Chair. Working with Clive has been a real privilege and joy. Clive has given so much to Tearfund during his time as Chair, and I thank him again on behalf of Tearfund and the communities we serve."
Ends
For further information on Tearfund please contact:
Sarah Greenwood, Tearfund on 07423 431 417. For out of hours media enquiries please call 07710 573749.
About Tearfund
Tearfund is a Christian relief and development agency and a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee. Founded in 1968, Tearfund has been working around the world for 50 years responding to disasters and helping lift communities out of poverty. For more information about the work of Tearfund, please visit www.tearfund.org.
