By Attila Kulscar
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Toby Porter as our new Chief Executive Officer. Toby brings to his new role an impressive record in humanitarian and development programmes with Save the Children UK and Oxfam GB. Toby will take up his new post with HelpAge International in October.
Toby will be making the move from Save the Children UK, where he is currently Director of Programme Partnerships and leads the Department responsible for the organisation’s institutional relationships and the fundraising and delivery of its global portfolio of grants and contracts.
Wealth of experience
From 2008 until 2011, Toby was Save the Children India’s first Director of Programmes and helped establish India as Save the Children’s fastest growing member. Before India, Toby was Save the Children’s Emergencies Director from 2004 to 2007, leading responses to disasters such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the Pakistan earthquake in 2005. Toby also held a series of country-based positions for ten years, firstly with Merlin and then Oxfam GB.
Silvia Stefanoni, HelpAge’s interim CEO said:
“Toby comes to HelpAge with a wealth of field experience in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. He possesses a deep understanding of organisational and network development. Toby has extensive experience with the media and communications through international non-profit networks.
“The HelpAge board and I are confident that Toby’s skills and experience will enable him to lead our organisation to even greater successes on behalf of older people throughout the world.”
“Thrilled to be joining HelpAge”
Toby Porter, newly appointed HelpAge CEO said:
“I am absolutely thrilled to be joining HelpAge. I believe that HelpAge is truly a cause for our time. Life expectancy is rising in almost every country of the world – a cause for celebration. By 2050 there will be 2 billion people aged 60 or over, making up more than one fifth of the global population.
“National governments and the international community are not doing enough to adapt to these changes and allow older people to enjoy their right to dignified, secure, active and healthy lives. Millions and millions of older people still face discrimination, abuse, exclusion and, in countries like Syria, atrocities and displacement.
“HelpAge’s network is a beacon for the rights of older people all over the world, and I am incredibly proud to be joining an exceptional team of staff, affiliates, partners who have achieved so much in recent years.”