Lucy starts in the role of Executive Director today, responsible for refining the business model which covers business mentoring, publishing, events and funding. She will also lead the new Inspiring Rare Birds Foundation, supporting female entrepreneurs globally.
Jo will continue on as founder and CEO, while also continuing to oversee her workforce and visa solutions firm, Job Capital.
Lucy’s appointment comes after Rare Birds recently received support from the Prime Minister’s Office and Cabinet and the Office for Women. That support includes funding for 100 mentoring scholarships for female entrepreneurs who are regionally or remotely located, of Indigenous or Torres Strait Islander descent, who are migrant or refugees, or are socio-economically disadvantaged.
Lucy is an experienced CEO, having led a number of not-for-profits including Sunrise Cambodia and Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia. She’s also an author, speaker, and experienced entrepreneur and business owner, having founded her own ad agency early in her career.
She told Women’s Agenda she’s particularly attracted to the Rare Birds values. “If there is anything I have learned in the last few years it’s that company values are not just fluff, they underpin the entire attitude of the business,” she said.
“There are 20 core values for Inspiring Rare Birds and my favourite is that we have each other’s backs and set everyone up to succeed. This is how the best teams work and how Rare Birds works with entrepreneurs.”
She added she’s excited to work with a respected brand, and pioneering entrepreneur. “Jo Burston is a rockstar to work with, this is a start up on the make towards 1 million female entrepreneurs by 2020. How could I say no?”
Lucy added that she’s looking to hire a new events/communications graduate (the job is here on Seek)
Jo Burston said Lucy’s appointment makes their goal to create one million female entrepreneur by 2020 more possible than ever before.
“We are fortunate to nab a leader of Lucy’s calibre to take Inspiring Rare Birds to the next level in Australia and globally,” she said in a statement.
Lucy recently spoke about her career with Angela Priestley and Georgie Dent on the Work It Out podcast. Listen via SoundCloud here, or search ‘Work It Out’ to find the podcast on iTunes.