Cromarty to resign from Committee for Geelong

THE Committee for Geelong (CfG) is on the hunt for a new chief executive officer, with incumbent Jennifer Cromarty planning to step down from the influential not-for profit group in December.

The CfG board announced Ms Cromarty’s resignation earlier this month.

CfG chair Clive Pugh said Ms Cromarty would be leaving the organisation after almost four years as chief executive officer, during which time Geelong and the wider region had seen difficulties, yet also growth, development, and opportunities.

“Jennifer joined the Committee for Geelong in March 2019 and within a year we all faced the unknowns of the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought a whole new set of challenges to our organisation and the region.

“Jennifer has been able to navigate the Committee for Geelong through these issues and continue advocating for the region, including delivering a new strategy, releasing multiple research reports… and strengthening relationships with key stakeholders.

“It has been an extraordinary period and we are well-placed for future progress, so we thank Jennifer for her achievements, her effort and her commitment, and we wish her every success.”

Speaking at last week’s announcement of funding for the Creative Industries Strategy for the G21 region, Geelong MP Christine Couzens paid tribute to Ms Cromarty’s work at CfG.

“It’s a huge loss and it will be enormous shoes to fill,” Ms Couzens said.

“You’ve been so passionate on all the projects we’ve worked on together – hopefully we’ll continue to work together in whatever you choose to go into moving forward – but I do want to thank and acknowledge you for all your work, particularly in the creative industries; you talk with such excitement and create such a buzz.”

CfG’s board will conduct an executive search to recruit a new chief executive officer.