Announcing our new board chair

I am delighted to introduce our new Board Chair, Sean Dempsey. Sean brings a strong balance of commercial acumen and a deep commitment to social justice. He has extensive experience managing large businesses across the NDIS, aged care and financial services sectors, and has previously served as a board chair and non-executive director. Currently, Sean is General Manager at Compassionate Care Network, where he also works directly with older people and young people with disability – keeping him grounded in service to others.

Following a rigorous recruitment process, the Board and I are confident Sean is the right chair to lead Sacred Heart Mission into its next chapter. Under his leadership, and in close collaboration with our CEO Hang Vo and her executive team, we will continue to grow our impact beyond St Kilda, serving more people and communities and responding to the growing need across Victoria.

Sean will officially take up the role of Chair in April 2026 following my retirement. He is eager to get to know our staff, volunteers, members, participants and residents, and to learn from their experiences and perspectives.

Also joining the Board as Directors are Penny Anderson and Julie Caldecott. Penny currently serves as a Committee Member on the Royal Freemasons Quality and Safety Board and the Austin Health Board, and is a Board Member at the Melbourne Women’s Foundation.

Julie is a Non-Executive Director with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority and the Major Transport Infrastructure Authority, and is a current member of our Quality and Service Governance Committee.

Together, they bring extensive leadership and governance expertise across the health, community, welfare, infrastructure and government sectors. Their knowledge and experience will further strengthen our Board and support our ambitious plans for the future.

Please join me in welcoming Sean, Penny and Julie to Sacred Heart Mission.

With their appointments to the Board, I will step down as Chair this April, after eight rewarding and impactful years alongside my fellow board members, the executive team and staff.

It has been a privilege to serve Sacred Heart Mission in this role through both challenging and transformative times, and to witness its evolution into an evidence-based, highly respected not-for-profit organisation, driven by passion, commitment and innovation.

Some highlights I am particularly proud to have contributed to include:

Delivery of Sacred Heart Mission’s 10-year strategic plan (2014–2024)

Development and launch of our current strategic plan, Strategy 2030

Establishment and scaling of our Journey to Social Inclusion program (J2SI), now one of Australia’s most successful housing-first, outcomes-based homelessness programs

Completion of our $21 million transformational redevelopment and 2023 opening of our Campus of Care, a service hub with a 97-bed residential care facility, 14 independent-living units, upgraded Wellness Place and Women’s House and a new administration centre, and

A stable financial base to build on.

I am also grateful for how Sacred Heart Mission navigated the COVID-19 years, adapting our services to continue serving people and communities during these unprecedented times.

It has been a great pleasure to work with two outstanding CEOs: Cathy Humphrey, who led the organisation for 20 years, and Hang Vo, who has driven the implementation of Strategy 2030 since 2022, with a strong focus on lived experience voice, deep partnerships and organisational resilience.

In closing, I thank the leadership team and my fellow board members for their guidance and exceptional stewardship. I also extend my gratitude to all staff, volunteers, participants and friends of the organisation. Meeting and collaborating with you has been truly inspiring – your passion, expertise and stories have deepened my commitment to this work.

With Sean as Chair, and a strong board and leadership team in place, I am confident that Sacred Heart Mission will continue to advance its vision of a fair and inclusive society, where everyone can live a fulfilling life.

With gratitude and best wishes,

Chris Stoltz AM