Guide Dogs Victoria CEO Ms Karen Hayes has been appointed as a board member of the world’s most significant peak body for guide dog associations.
Following a competitive submission process, she has joined the International Guide Dogs Federation (IGDF) Board where she will represent Australia’s low vision and blindness community at a global level.
“Being a part of the IGDF Board will ensure Guide Dogs Victoria and the broader Guide Dogs Australia network continues to stay at the forefront, providing world-class services that will improve outcomes for our clients, our dogs, our employees and supporters,” Hayes, AM DSJ (FAICD), said.
After being chosen as the Australian nominee, Hayes’s submission was included in a pool of candidates from around the world, at which point the top four candidates were selected. She ranked joint second and was appointed.
Hayes is a recognised figure within the Australian not-for-profit sector and has led the Victorian division of Guide Dogs Australia – which has been named Australia’s Most Trusted Charity by Reader’s Digest seven times – for almost nine years.
Additionally, she is a board member of Multiple Sclerosis Limited, The Melbourne International Comedy Festival and a past board member of Vision 2020 Australia.
She is also the president of the VU Western Spurs AFLW Football Club and is one the founders of Breast Cancer Network Australia, and was a co-founder of the Australian chapter of the International Women’s Forum (IWF).
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