Leadership renewal at RSL LifeCare

RSL LifeCare today announced its CEO, Laurie Leigh, has resigned and will be leaving the organisation after almost three years in the role.

Ms. Leigh was appointed as a reformist CEO in 2018 to strengthen the corporate governance of RSL LifeCare in the wake of the Bergin Inquiry, and she later successfully guided the organisation through the Residential Care Royal Commission and the most challenging phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Current RSL LifeCare CFO, Drew Pearce, has been appointed Acting CEO, pending a full search for a permanent replacement.

RSL LifeCare Chairman Andrew Condon said Ms. Leigh had brought energy and expertise to the role and had improved staff culture.

“Laurie Leigh has been the CEO of RSL LifeCare since 2018 and has worked tirelessly to rebuild and consolidate the organisation post the Bergin Inquiry,” he said.

“This has not been a simple task given the complex nature of Residential Care and veteran services, which were further compounded by a range of external factors that included bush fires, floods and the COVID-19 Pandemic, and likely changes and impacts from the Residential Care Royal Commission.

“The Board would like to thank Ms. Leigh for her leadership through this period.

” We now move to a new phase of the RSL LifeCare journey and we will be looking to appoint someone with the skills and experience commensurate with that task, as part of an orderly and planned leadership transition.”

A suitably qualified executive search firm will be appointed to identify a new CEO.

Ms. Leigh said she was proud of RSL LifeCare’s growth under her leadership, with the number of HomeCare clients doubling in two years, while Retirement Living and Residential Care services also grew significantly.

“I would like to sincerely thank the RSL LifeCare Board for the opportunity to lead this iconic organisation over the last few years, and for their advice and guidance during that time,” she said.

“I am proud of our magnificent staff across the organisation, in particular those who so professionally cared for our residents during COVID and the bushfires. They have been absolutely exemplary.

“I am delighted to be leaving the organisation in a strong position and I thank the entire team for helping achieve that.”

Ms. Leigh’s last day will be April 14.

RSL LifeCare was created in 1911 to care for war veterans of the British Empire. Since then it has grown its veteran services and gone on to be one Australia’s leading Residential Care providers, employing more than 3,500 staff with veteran friendly retirement living and Residential Care services at Austral, Ballina, Byron Bay, Canberra(Curtin, Kaleen, Lyneham, Page), Cherrybrook, Dubbo, Dungog, Eden, Galston, Goonellabah, Griffith, Hawks Nest, Lismore, Merimbula, Narrabeen, Narrandera, Newcastle, Nowra, Penrith, Picton, Port Macquarie, Richmond, Tea Gardens, Thirlmere, Toukley, Tura Beach, Wagga Wagga, and Yass.

In-home care services are widely available with centres on the Far North Coast, Mid North Coast, Sydney, Southern Highlands, Riverina, ACT and the Far South Coast.

Media contact: Adam Connolly 0417 170 084