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28 Feb 2007
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Transplant Australia appoints new CEO
Transplant Australia announced today it had appointed a new Chief Executive Officer following the resignation of long-serving CEO, Mark Cocks AM.
Christopher Thomas, former General Manager of the Advertising Federation of Australia, will officially take up the position on March 1.
The vision of Transplant Australia, the largest support organisation of its kind in the world, is for Australia to lead the world in making organ and tissue transplants available for all who need one saving lives, minimising suffering and providing care and support.
Transplant Australia National Chairman, Bernie Morellini, today paid tribute to the commitment, vision and skill displayed by Mark in his 11 years as CEO.
Mark took what was formerly the Australian Transplant Sports Association and turned it into one of the most respected and meaningful charitable organisations in Australia today, Mr Morellini said.
His unending work has literally saved the lives of hundreds of Australian transplant recipients as he has strived to increase organ donation rates.
Our Transplant Games, held every two years, have raised public awareness about the tangible benefits of transplantation by demonstrating the quality of life people achieve following this life-saving gift.
This greater awareness has directly resulted in increased donation rates.
Mr Morellini said Christopher Thomas has been brought in to further increase the profile of Transplant Australia and the need for organ and tissue donations and the well being of transplant recipients.
Christopher has a solid and extensive background in communications, public affairs and journalism and we are confident he will build on these great foundations, Mr Morellini said.
Mr Thomas has spent the last six years in senior management roles with the AFA, the last three as General Manager.
He has worked with the National Heart Foundation and the Australian Medical Association in public affairs roles. He is also a former Medical Reporter of The Sydney Morning Herald and has worked on five newspapers.
He was a reporter on The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth when Dr Victor Chang conducted the first two successful heart transplants in Australian history - the first on Peter Apthorpe from Armidale and the second on Fiona Coote from Manilla near Tamworth.
It seems life has gone full circle. I have written thousands of words about transplantation, and in particular Fiona Coote and Peter Apthorpe. I hope I will be able to help more Australians achieve the second chance of life that Fiona and Peter received.
Australia, despite leading the world in transplantation, has one of the lowest donation rates of the Western World. There are complex barriers to lifting the donation rates and I hope I will be able to play a small part in helping all Australians better understand the miracle of transplantation.
About Transplant Australia
Transplant Australia is an organisation representing transplant recipients, people currently undergoing dialysis treatment, those awaiting transplantation, donor families (including living donors) and medical professionals involved in organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
With over 7,000 members, ranging in ages from 6 months to 76 years of age, Transplant Australia is the largest support organisation of its kind in the world.
Every two years it conducts the Australian Transplant Games and has won the right to host the World Transplant Games on the Gold Coast in 2009.
More Information:
Web: www.transplant.org.au
Email: chris.thomas@transplant.org.au
Phone: (0425) 353-893
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Click here to donate to the Transplant Australia Trust - Ashley Cooper Foundation.
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