Long-serving UnitingSA Chief Executive Officer Libby Craft has announced that she will step down from the role in August 2021 after more than a decade at the helm.

Having dedicated her career to the community services sector, including more than 25 years with UnitingSA, Ms Craft will retire from the position she has held since 2007.

Chair of UnitingSA and UnitingSA Housing, Gael Fraser, paid tribute to Ms Craft’s leadership and service, which has spanned the organisation’s transformation from the Port Adelaide Central Mission to UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide and now UnitingSA.

“Libby joined the original Port Mission back in the 1980s when she was the Port Youth Accommodation Coordinator. She left and then returned to us 25 years ago as a senior project manager,” Ms Fraser said.

“Libby has seen the Port Mission transform into UnitingSA, one of South Australia’s foremost and most trusted providers of aged care, housing and community services.

“UnitingSA’s team has grown from 350 to more than 1000 carers, practitioners and staff. She has led the growth and development of our aged care services, the growth of our mental health services and the establishment of Wesley Social Enterprises.

“The Board is grateful for both the growth and development of the organisation under Libby’s leadership. She lives the strong values of UnitingSA … respect, compassion, courage and integrity and has provided a high level of leadership focussed on these values.”

Ms Fraser said Ms Craft’s influence, leadership and respect extended beyond UnitingSA across the sector and throughout government.

The search for a new CEO will begin immediately to facilitate a smooth transition over the next six months.