A letter from Janet Cousens, Outgoing CEO, Act for Peace
At the end of this month, Act for Peace bids farewell to its CEO of the last six and a half years, Janet Cousens.
Janet's 15 years of service have made a profound impact on the organisation, their partners, and the communities they serve.
Read her farewell letter below.
It is with mixed emotions that I write to you today as I prepare to leave Act for Peace, an organisation that has been an integral part of my life for over 15 years, and where I've had the immense privilege of serving as CEO for the past 6 and a half years.
As I look back on my time here, there are three things that I treasure the most. Firstly, I've been fortunate to work alongside an incredible team, and I'm immensely proud of our collective achievements. We've honed our focus, established impactful collaborations, and made significant strides towards achieving our vision - a world where people uprooted by conflict and disaster have a safe place to belong. The incredible dedication of our staff and their ingenuity and humility as they face the complex challenges of forced displacement, has been and will continue to be a source of inspiration for me.
Secondly, remarkable supporters, like you, who join with us to create a safer world. I’ve had the privilege of meeting many of you, and remain thankful for your questions, your prayers, and the resources you mobilise through giving, running community events to share our news, and more. Thank you.
Third, meeting our partners and witnessing their love for humanity, as well as their determination to provide for their communities, has been galvanising and deeply moving. In 2018, I had the privilege of visiting our partner in Gaza, where I had the opportunity to spend time with Dr. Issa, one of the doctors who set up the medical clinics we continue to support today. Decades earlier, he and three of his colleagues had the opportunity to do their postgraduate medical studies abroad, before Gaza was an enclosed territory. When I asked Dr Issa why he and his colleagues chose to return to Gaza, a ‘prison’ as he had described it, foregoing opportunities to live elsewhere where he could earn a Dr’s income and raise his children in safety and freedom, he simply said, "God called us to love our neighbour, and this is what love looks like."
These words have stayed with me, love that puts the well-being of other’s first, knowing that we can give out of what has been given to us. It's moments like these that remind me why we do what we do every day.
Moments like these have changed me forever. Because of people like you, our staff, and Dr Issa I remain convinced that our work is vital even if difficult. And as I transition from this role, I have high hopes for Act for Peace's future, and am confident that our dedicated team and supporters like you will continue to drive our vision forward.
It is also my pleasure today to introduce you to Tricia Keys, who will be stepping into the role of interim CEO for the next few months. Tricia has been appointed to this role as she has the experience and skills to lead Act for Peace as the Board seek our next CEO. Tricia has been our Head of Operations for the past two years, is a valued member of our team, has a solid understanding of our work, and a passion for our purpose. I cannot imagine a better person to take the reigns as we enter this next chapter.
Thank you for being a cherished part of this incredible journey.
I hope that you will continue to keep the team, our partners, and the incredible communities we work to serve in your prayers. Please pray for wisdom and protection as we collaborate tirelessly to create a world where people uprooted by conflict and disaster have a safe place to belong.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Janet Cousens
Outgoing CEO, Act for Peace
Image: Janet Cousens
