Richardson appointed Plan C chief executive

PLAN C has appointed former Byron mayor Simon Richardson as its new chief executive.

Founder Jean Renouf, who established the community resilience organisation in 2019, is stepping down after six years in the role.

Renouf said the organisation had grown from a volunteer group in Byron Shire to a not-for-profit with multi-year funding in place until 2028.

“Our aim has been to build skills, foster preparedness and strengthen community connections,” Renouf said.

The group runs the Community Carers and Responders program, the Northern Rivers Community Resilience Alliance, Preparing with Pride workshops for the queer community, and tailored sessions for people with disability and young people.

Renouf said lessons from the 2022 floods showed resilience “cannot be sustained without self-care and community care”.

He will remain as chair of the board for the next three months and continue delivering workshops and training.

Plan C said Richardson’s experience guiding Byron Shire through fires, landslips, coastal erosion and the pandemic would support the organisation’s next stage of growth.