ICA:UK Appoints New Chief Executive

PRESS RELEASE
issued January 13th - for immediate release

Participation & development charity ICA:UK appoints new Chief Executive

ICA:UK, the participation & development charity, is announcing the appointment of Martin Gilbraith as its new Chief Executive with effect from January 1^st.

The ICA:UK Board has created this new, single Chief Executive post to bring stronger and more focused leadership to the charity, in order to enable a new step-change in its growth and impact.  Until now the charity has been led by the Board of Trustees and a management team of two Directors.  Jonathan Dudding will continue in his role as ICA:UK’s Director of International Programmes.

Martin Gilbraith has served as ICA:UK’s Director of UK Programmes & Organisational Development since 2004, and has worked with ICA (the Institute of Cultural Affairs) in Britain since 1996.

Martin has already made his mark on ICA in Britain by developing and growing its national programme of facilitation and facilitation training since 1996, by leading its transition to the present charitable company ‘ICA:UK’ in 2000, by establishing and managing its office and staff in Manchester since 2001, and by overseeing and supporting the launch and development of ICA:UK’s Youth Participation Programme since 2004.

Martin has also served on the Board and Executive Committee of ICA International from 1998-2006, as a Trustee of youth development and volunteering charity FOCUS since 2005, and on the management committee of Quaker Congo Partnership since 2008.  He is a member of the International Association of Facilitators and an IAF Certified Professional Facilitator, and he has served on the Board of IAF since 2008 and been appointed incoming Chair for 2010.

Martin earned his MA in Development Administration and Management from the University of Manchester’s Institute for Development Policy & Management.  Prior to 1995 he worked for six years with ICA MENA in Egypt, with the development charity AFRICA NOW in London, and as an international volunteer with ICA India in 1986.

Martin Gilbraith said:

"Building on over 35 years of ICA experience in the UK and worldwide, ICA:UK has earned a well-deserved reputation for excellence in facilitation & facilitation training, in youth participation, and in partnership & participation in international development.  Our challenge now is to weave these threads together in such a way that they better strengthen each other, in order to secure and grow the impact of ICA’s unique approach to enabling people to bring about positive change - toward a just and sustainable world for all.  I am excited to have this opportunity to lead ICA:UK as Chief Executive through this next phase of its growth and development. I will work to unite and mobilize ICA:UK, and all of our stakeholders and new support as well, behind this goal."

Andy Fitton, Chair of the Board of Trustees, says:

"We are very excited about this new appointment.  Martin has demonstrated strong facilitative leadership and management skills, both within ICA and in his volunteer and governance roles.  His extensive experience of ICA’s unique approach, and of working with ICA:UK’s own people and with its partners and clients, will be invaluable.  We are confident that Martin will realise the potential of this new role of Chief Executive, and that in it he will enable ICA:UK to continue to build its reputation and capacity to enable people to bring about positive change in their organisations and communities – whether they be disadvantaged young people in inner-city Manchester, villagers affected by conflict or HIV/AIDS in Africa; or others who are, or aspire to be, facilitators and leaders themselves."

Anyone who is interested to learn more is invited to attend ICA:UK’s AGM and International Development ‘showcase’ event in central London on Saturday January 23^rd – details at www.ica-uk.org.uk/our-network/

##ENDS##

Notes to editors

For further information

Please contact Martin Gilbraith

The Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA) is global network of non-profit, non-governmental organisations 'concerned with the human factor in world development'.  It works to develop, test and demonstrate effective approaches to personal, organisational and social transformation.  Autonomous and independent national ICAs operate in 30 countries worldwide.

ICA:UK is a registered charity based in Manchester.  It works to create a just and sustainable world for all, by enabling individuals, organisations and communities to work together to bring about positive change.

ICA:UK provides facilitation, training and consulting, and delivers and supports projects, to build capacity for participation and partnership.  It works locally in the North West of England, with a focus on supporting young people and youth workers to enable effective youth participation; it works nationally across the UK, with a focus on demonstrating and training people in effective facilitation methods and skills; and it works internationally, particularly with partners in Africa, with a focus on conflict transformation and combating HIV/AIDS and climate change.