The Medaille Trust are very sorry to announce that our CEO Garry Smith will be leaving us in April after six years leading Medaille to take up an exciting new role as Director of Mission with Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd (SATCoL).
Reflecting on his time at Medaille Garry said:
This was a very difficult decision for me to make and one that I agonised over for a long time as I wasn't looking to move. In the end the opportunity offered to me and the chance to make a difference in an organisation linked to my church was too tempting to turn down.
Next Monday, 22nd January, marks my 6th anniversary as CEO of Medaille Trust and it has been a wonderful journey that we have been on together. The organisation has grown in that time – our annual income has doubled during this period – but more importantly our impact on the fight against human trafficking and modern slavery has grown with the expansion of our residential services, the introduction of our Moving On Project, the implementation of the Victims’ Voices programme and the expansion of our prevention work in Albania, among other things.
I gave an interview to Civil Society magazine at the end of last year and was asked what my greatest achievement as a CEO has been so far. When I reflected on the interview afterwards, I realised that (embarrassingly!) I hadn’t mentioned any of the above but instead focussed on the things I had been able to introduce to support our staff. To me, it is the team that is most important, and I hope my legacy will be one where everyone who works or volunteers for us feels not only proud to do so because they make a difference to the lives of some of society’s most vulnerable people, but also that they are really valued as a team member. Our 2* “outstanding” status with Best Companies and being the 8th best charity to work for certainly suggests we are moving in the right direction. I look forward to observing from afar when you achieve 3* “World Class” status and are declared the no.1 charity!
Medaille Trust’s Chair of Trustees, Sr Jane Maltby, thanked Garry for his service:
Garry will be a hard act to follow. During his time as CEO he has demonstrated tremendous vision and passion. In developing and strengthening the work of the Trust, he has been instrumental in raising awareness of trafficking in this country. Garry has always networked with commitment, with other anti-slavery groups, and is held in great respect in the field. He has indeed raised the profile of Medaille in this way, and we are all beneficiaries of this. Staff across the organization have had personal experience of how he has been closely involved in the work of each of the safe houses, and has energetically led the development of the Moving On Project, and latterly, the Albania Project. We are all going to miss his fine leadership, his gift for management and his personal qualities of compassion and friendship.
The board has begun the process of appointing Garry’s successor. If you are interested in applying for the role you can find more details here.
