Anne Cross says she cares about the wellbeing of people and communities, and is driven by the contribution that not-for-profit organisations can make to the social and economic life of Australia.
It’s this fundamental drive that propelled Ms Cross, CEO of UnitingCare Queensland, as she led a challenging transformation of the organisation following her appointment in 2003.
That drive, and her accomplishments in transforming the organisation, were recognised last week when Ms Cross was named the 2014 Telstra Queensland Business Woman of the Year. She was also named Community and Government Award winner at the awards.
A former frontline social worker who held senior positions in government and non-government organisations across rehabilitation, disability, aged care and community services, Ms Cross now has responsibility for health and community services in over 400 locations across Queensland and the Northern Territory, leading a team of 16,000 staff and 9,000 volunteers.
Her governance, and enthusiastic belief in community services, have driven the successful merger of UnitingCare’s myriad community services into a mature, integrated organisation.
“Several years down the track we have made the executive role changes required, established shared services, common values and mission, and other strategic frameworks,” she said.
She was recently appointed to the Premier’s Taskgroup on Family and Domestic Violence to address Queensland’s growing problem with domestic and family violence.
Ms Cross predicts the major drivers of change in the health and community services sector in coming years will include increasing client expectations and empowerment, growing market contestability with new entrants including multinationals, and technology that will change delivery of services.
The awards judges described Ms Cross as an incredible business woman with a unique leadership and vision. They said:
“Anne has implemented a huge change program that has transformed UnitingCare Queensland. She has been responsible for significant structural reform, while being articulate and values-driven in a business that is the largest non-government employer in Queensland.”
The Queensland winners proceed to the national finals in Melbourne on 26 November.
Congratulations Anne.
The award gives hope to hundreds of Social Workers aspiring to be promoted into the executive ranks of Faith based organizations.
Your advocacy of rights for ageing transgender, lesbian and gay communities has been inspirational.
A pairing to scare any rational being…bleeding hearts and sky-fairy devotees . By what twisted standards do ‘faith based’ institutions automatically assume their superiority? perhaps they’re also wearing Eau de Social Work…splash it on and save the world.
When we finally come to our senses these bronze age nutters will all be locked away; Not for profit sure is profitable and we’re all paying for it.