Cassandra Goldie has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of ACOSS, the nation’s peak council of the community and social services sector.

“The ACOSS Board is delighted to announce the appointment of Cassandra Goldie as CEO and we look forward to her joining the highly professional team at ACOSS to progress its social justice agenda for Australia,” said Simon Schrapel, ACOSS President.

“Cassandra comes to ACOSS from the Australian Human Rights Commission where as Director of the Sex and Age Discrimination Unit she played a pivotal role in the inquiry into pay equity and paid parental leave.

“Cassandra’s impressive leadership, public advocacy credentials and her track record in policy and management make her ideally suited to this position. She has an extensive career in the community sector in Australia and internationally working in the human rights, law and justice fields.”

Cassandra has previously been the Director of the Homelessness Legal Rights Project at UNSW, a consultant to UN Habitat, Solicitor in Charge of Client Services with Legal Aid in Western Australia and Executive Officer of the Darwin Community Legal Service.

Cassandra has also been President of NTCOSS and Board Member of ACOSS (2001-2002) and was an ACOSS Law and Justice Policy Advisor (2000-2006).

Cassandra will take up the position in July 2010, replacing Clare Martin who has successfully led the organisation over the past two years. Clare Martin has been appointed a Professorial Fellow with The Northern Institute, a new research and development enterprise with Charles Darwin University.

Media Contact: Clare Cameron, ACOSS – 0419 626 155