Burnett Foundation Aotearoa today announced the resignation of its Chief Executive, Joe Rich, who will be stepping down after 13 years with the organisation. Joe will depart at the end of the year.

Joe joined the Foundation in 2011 and has served as Chief Executive since 2022. During his tenure, he led several major initiatives, including the rebrand from New Zealand AIDS Foundation to Burnett Foundation Aotearoa, the advocacy for and rollout of PrEP across New Zealand, and the establishment of the country’s HIV self-testing service. He also started the implementation of the organisation’s new strategic plan, which broadens its scope to serve all rainbow and takatāpui communities.

“It feels like the right time for both the organisation and for myself, personally and
professionally,” Joe said.

“Burnett Foundation Aotearoa is in a strong position, with an ambitious strategic plan that is
being implemented to deliver for our communities. I have the utmost confidence in the
Board, the talented leadership team, and our dedicated staff and volunteers, who are all
committed to providing excellent services, programmes and advocacy.

“Our work continues to evolve in response to the needs of our communities, and I’m incredibly proud of how we’ve mobilised with communities to increase HIV testing and prevention efforts, which have contributed to reducing HIV diagnoses among gay and bisexual men since 2016.

“Key partnerships have been critical to our success, and I believe the strong relationships we’ve built across the health, government, and community sectors will continue to thrive in the years to come,” says Joe.

Under Joe’s leadership, the organisation has significantly expanded its fundraising efforts, positioning it to grow its programmes and services to address a wider range of intersecting health issues, including mental health, harm reduction, and inclusive healthcare.

“Working with this organisation and our communities has been the highlight of my career. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to contribute to such important work, and I’m immensely proud of all we’ve accomplished together,” Joe added.

Board Chair Jim Stuart-Black said: “We are grateful to Joe for his many years of service and for his leadership, which has strengthened Burnett Foundation Aotearoa’s ability to deliver impactful and innovative programmes. Under his guidance, the organisation has made tremendous strides in HIV prevention and community health.

“We thank Joe for his support during this transition, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”

Joe will remain in his role while the Board undertakes a comprehensive recruitment process for a new Chief Executive.