Leading towards efficiency

In our continuing series of profiling our leaders, meet Geoff Walshaw, yourtown's Chief Financial Officer.

CELEBRATING LEADERSHIP

At 33 years of age, Geoff packed up his family and made a sea change to Australia to make his new home in Brisbane, leaving behind an international career in consumer products.

Geoff started his career as a Commercial Accountant for Walkers Snack Foods (a division of Pepsi Co) in the UK and after eight and a half years moved across to Mars Confectionery as a Management Accountant. With 10 years in consumer products, Geoff’s success in these roles was not just about being a great accountant; it was having a solid knowledge of how the products were made, and rolling up his sleeves to understand the operations.

Geoff then spent the next three and a half years working as a Finance Project Manager for Gillette, driving efficiencies and leading change across a broad range of projects.

The decision to move to Australia in 2003 meant a significant lifestyle change with two young children, but it didn't take long for the Walshaw family to adapt to the Aussie way of life.

Geoff spent the first two and a half years working for the Queensland Government before finding his place at yourtown (previously known as BoysTown). The driving force to try a not-for-profit organisation was the strong alignment of our organisational values with Geoff’s own personal values.

Geoff’s international career, business acumen and operational knowledge were instrumental in driving efficiencies within the organisation, including in the way operations work with Business and System change strategy implementation. Every saving ignites Geoff’s passion in our service delivery for young people and drive to do more.

Working for a charity is just as, or at times more, demanding [than a corporate company], however driving efficiencies to ensure that our services are continued is far more meaningful. Geoff Walshaw, yourtown CFO

Geoff now calls Australia home but still keeps up some of his English traditions... the Sunday Roast, his avid support of Southampton FC in the English Premier League and he can be seen in the Barmy Army when England tour Australia in the cricket.

Geoff attributes his success to getting out to our services as often as he can so he can lead change without affecting those operations.

In a recent restructure of the organisation, Geoff’s portfolio has increased and he's taken on the exciting role of officiating the draws for 15 lucky art union winners each year!

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