Introducing Stu Schonell, CEO Advocacy WA
Advocacy WA welcomed Stu Schonell as new CEO late last year. Stu brings a wealth of knowledge to AWA from his multi-disciplinary career as CEO of a registered training organisation, small business owner, university academic teaching business and education, as well as researcher investigating the impact of emotion on ethical awareness. Stu now finds himself in the disability sector, using his knowledge and expertise to support others and using his lived experience of disability to advocate for systemic change.
When asked about his vision for AWA Stu said:
“I’d like to build on the great work of our staff and previous CEO, Tania McInnes, who put funding at the centre of her strategy and grew the organisation very quickly during her time in the role. More funding enables us to better support and empower people with disability in the South West of WA. Over my first 12 months as CEO I will embark on a review of systems, policies, staff training, development and performance, and support quality, while being cognisant of the evolving funding landscape. I would like to strengthen our partnerships with South West business and local government to make us more agile and financially sustainable. I would also like to lift our social media presence to make us more identifiable in our region and to better inform people with disability of the free services we provide and the projects and workshops that we run.”