August 16 2022

OzHelp positioned for purposeful growth

The OzHelp Foundation (OzHelp) is delighted to announce that current Board Director, Hamish Thomson has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organisation over the next 12-months, to assist in leading the organisation as it enters a significant period of national growth.

“As OzHelp enters this phase, Hamish is well-placed to maintain the momentum achieved in recent times and continue building the resources and capability to extend OzHelp’s reach and support nationally, to high-risk, hard-to-reach, male-dominated industries,” said Peter Howman, Chair of the OzHelp Board.

“He has been a great supporter of OzHelp’s initiatives during his time on the Board and is inspired by the purposeful and critically needed work the team at OzHelp provide,”

Hamish believes his knowledge and expertise in strategic consultancy and working across large-scale organisations, nationally and internationally, coupled with his passion towards mental health and suicide prevention, holds him in good stead to lead the organisation.

Commenting on the business, Mr Thomson says, that since being on the OzHelp board for the last 18-months, he has been both humbled and inspired regarding the impact that the foundation has made to the lives of thousands of Australian workers, family members, friends and communities.

“From my corporate days, I am a firm believer in proactive mental-health and wellbeing strategies that benefit not only individuals, but also that of business culture and organisational productivity. The focus on hard-to-reach, high-risk, male-dominated industries is critical for Australia and within todays’ challenging environment, value-add support is needed more than ever,”

Mr Thomson will take over from acting CEO Bruce Papps, since the departure of Darren Black who held the CEO position for just over four years, announcing his intention to step away from the organisation in June.

“In welcoming Hamish to the role, the Board wish to thank Darren for his role in building the profile and capacity of OzHelp over the past four years. His strong and effective advocacy has raised awareness of the importance of workplace mental health and highlighted the need for partnerships between government, industry and the community. We wish him the very best for the future,”

“We are also thankful to Bruce and the rest of the Executive team for their highly capable leadership over the past month, keeping things going as business as usual,” Mr Howman said. “As a result of the foundations outstanding momentum, the Board is also pleased to announce the full-time promotion of Bruce Papps to the newly created role of Deputy CEO,”

The appointment of Hamish is the next stage in OzHelp’s journey as they look to further develop the OzHelp approach through valued partnerships, leading stakeholder engagements, building influential advocates and ambassadors and doing what they do best as a leading organisation for mental health and suicide prevention – delivering proactive mental health and wellbeing strategies, making a difference to the lives of thousands of Australians.

“These are important times for OzHelp and the sector as a whole,” said Mr Howman.

In brief: OzHelp’s new CEO

Hamish is a strategic consultant, published leadership author, and speaker. He has been a successful CEO/Regional President and Global Brand head for Mars Incorporated (UK, Australia, and Chicago), a senior marketing and sales lead for Reebok International (England and the Netherlands), and an account executive in the London advertising scene. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Bachelor’s degree in marketing and commercial law.