By Katherine Mountain
Western Australian-based MercyCare CEO Chris Hall has recently been named one of Australia’s most influential figures in the nation’s not-for-profit sector.
Mr Hall is one of just two West Australians who made it into Pro Bono Australia’s first Impact 25 – an honour roll of the country’s key influencers working in the social economy, including major charities and advocacy organisations.
Voted by readers of Pro Bono Australia, the award formally acknowledges his role as a leader in the WA social services sector for several decades.
Mr Hall has headed up MercyCare since 2010, steering it through one of the most challenging, complex and volatile periods for the not-for-profit sector.
During this time, MercyCare itself has been radically transformed with the sale of its hospital, allowing it to expand its mission to break cycles of significant disadvantage for those people and communities marginalised in WA. Their recently released Strategic Plan is focused heavily on investing in its existing aged care, health and social services with the addition of innovative programs in affordable housing and in-home and in-community support.
“The inaugural Impact 25 list comes at what has been one of the most challenging 12 months for many not-for-profit organisations, including a tough economic climate, growing competition from multinationals and private equity firms, as well as pressure from governments and the move towards consumer-directed care,” Mr Hall said.
“At the same time, there is also a huge increase in the volume and complexity of community need and this acknowledgement is a welcome spotlight on the need for government, business and the broader community to support the sector, so we can continue to bridge an ever widening gap.”
Mr Hall champions social justice advocacy and is committed to MercyCare’s vision to transform local communities to be places where every individual and family is connected, supported and helped by each other.
In addition, Mr Hall is Co-Chair of Community Employers WA and a member of the State Training Board of WA, WA Partnership Forum and the WA Advisory Council for the Centre for Social Impact.
MercyCare is a leading Catholic provider of aged care, family, health and community services.