Chief Executive Officer

About Waverley Social Enterprises

Waverley Social Enterprises, established in November 1984, is a certified social trader and registered organisation with the ACNC. They provide Supported Employment Opportunities for over 330 adults with disabilities across two sites in Notting Hill and Hallam. This initiative promotes well-being, independence, and community participation.

Their specialty divisions include Packaging, Assembly, Catering, Garden/Maintenance, Manufacturing, and more. They also offer accredited training to 40 special-needs students and Work Experience Programs for around 100 students weekly. Their Community Volunteering Program contributes over 45,000 hours of volunteering annually.

The brief

At a pivotal moment in Waverley’s development, and following a recent attempt to negotiate a merger with another disability service provider, the Board appointed an Interim CEO to lead the organisation during the search for a substantive Chief Executive.

The process

Brooker Consulting was enlisted to find the next CEO after their success with prior senior leadership appointments. They began with a well-planned strategy and consultation with key stakeholders. This included a print media campaign and a digital microsite to broaden the reach. Additionally, Lesley Lightfoot and Jeremy Wurm tapped into Brooker’s network and external advertising, resulting in a strong response and an exceptional shortlist of candidates.

In summary, Brooker Consulting leveraged their track record and strategic approach to conduct an executive search for the CEO position. Their multi-pronged campaign, combining traditional and digital methods, yielded a high-quality pool of candidates.

The outcome

After presenting high-quality applicants to the Selection Panel, Nick Williamson was chosen as the new CEO of Waverley Social Enterprises. He brings extensive experience in healthcare Membership Associations and corporate law, notably in charities. Nick’s accomplishments include serving as interim CEO at the Victorian Healthcare Association and in key roles at the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners RACGP. He also holds Directorships on the Boards of Animal Aid Trust (placed there by Brooker Consulting), Veterinarians for Climate Action, and ADHD Australia.