New chief to drive Give Where You Live Foundation’s mission

THE Give Where You Live Foundation has found a new chief executive to lead the organisation into its next chapter.

Zac Lewis, a Geelong local with more than 15 years of experience working in the not-for-profit and government sectors, will step into the top job in February next year.

His appointment follows the resignation of the foundation’s long-serving chief of 13 years Bill Mithen in September.

“I am thrilled to join the Give Where You Live Foundation, an organisation which for 70 years has strived to create a fairer and more inclusive G21 region,” Mr Lewis said.

“I can’t wait to join such an impact and values-driven organisation and look forward to working with the board, staff and wider community to create positive change in our region.”

Mr Lewis will depart his current position as the CEO of Western Chances, a Melbourne-based non-profit that empowers talented young people facing financial disadvantage by providing access to educational scholarships, paid internships, opportunity programs and ongoing support.

During his four-year tenure with Western Chances, Mr Lewis assisted the organisation to double both its annual budget and the number of students supported by its programs.

This year, he oversaw the scholarship program’s expansion into Geelong for a three-year trial that will support the educational and career pursuits of about 130 students across the region.

Between 2017 and 2020, Mr Lewis also served as Foodbank Victoria’s food program and partnerships manager, where he led the development and delivery of the organisation’s community food relief programs and forged new pathways for food security for community members in need.

Give Where You Live Foundation board chair Daleene Kroger welcomed Mr Lewis’s appointment, which she said followed an extensive and thorough recruitment process.

“He brings a strong passion for working with the community and is a values-based leader, who aligns strongly with the foundation’s core values,” she said.

“We are confident that Zac’s leadership, commitment to social purpose and ability to bring people together to create positive change, will strengthen the foundation’s work of creating a fairer and more equitable Geelong community.”