Media Release
6 November 2012
For Immediate Release
SCOUTS New Zealand appoints new Chief Executive
SCOUTS New Zealand announces the appointment of a new Chief Executive, Niamh Lawless. She is the first woman to take up
the Chief Executive position in over 100 years of Scouts in New Zealand.
Mrs Lawless has extensive experience in community and government organisations around the world, most recently as Deputy
Chief Executive with Barnardos New Zealand.
The position is based at the National Scout Centre in Wellington and is responsible for driving the organisation’s
strategy, leading the management team and providing support and resources to youth and adult members.
Scouts has been growing for the past 5 years and youth membership now sits at 15,000 (including 20% female youth) who
are supported by over 5,000 adult volunteers all over the country.
Mrs Lawless said she was attracted by Scouts ‘Adventure Plus!’ theme which underpins all the programmes the organisation
offers to young people. These encourage youth to develop themselves to their highest potential.
“I am really into youth having self-belief,” she said. “More than anything I want to expand the organisation, broaden
the range of experiences available and give young people the opportunity to learn things they can’t or don’t do in other
parts of their lives.”
Mrs Lawless took up the Chief Executive role on 1 November 2012.
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