Caritas Australia, the Catholic Church’s International Aid and Development agency, has a new CEO at the helm.
Paul O’Callaghan, who brings experience in foreign aid and development, social and disability services and the Catholic sector, has been appointed to the role.
Mr O’Callaghan has held senior leadership roles in the not-for-profit sector and in the Department of Foreign Affairs, including time as High Commissioner in Samoa and as the Australian Representative to the South Pacific Regional Environment Program. He also had diplomatic assignments in Malaysia and Thailand.
Mr O’Callaghan said he was looking forward to this year when Caritas celebrates 50 years of work for the world’s poorest people.
“For 50 years, Caritas Australia has been walking alongside the poorest and most marginalised members of our human family, working tirelessly to uphold the dignity of the women, men and children most vulnerable to injustice the world over,” Mr O’Callaghan said.
“I look forward to contributing to this milestone for the Catholic Church in Australia and to thanking our supporters for their part in the Caritas story. It is only through the solidarity and generosity of our Australian Catholic community that Caritas is able to amplify the voices of those who are marginalised by injustice andtransform lives in Australia and around the world.”
Mr O’Callaghan served from 2011-2013 as the Executive Director of Catholic Social Services Australia (CSSA) and Secretary to the Bishops Commission of Health and Community Services since 2011.
Mr O’Callaghan said he was passionate about aid and development issues and the way Caritas Australia applies Catholic Social Teaching principles to its work, supporting people to help themselves out of poverty, hunger and injustice.