Outgoing Chief Executive heads to Harvard

Outgoing Chief Executive heads to Harvard

English Language Partners’ Chief Executive, Claire Szabó is leaving to undertake a Masters in Public Administration at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Ms Szabó was farewelled at a parliamentary function on 13 May hosted by MP Grant Robertson.

The English Language Partners ‘whanau’ farewell took place the following evening, during the association’s annual conference in Wellington.

Ms Szabó joined the organisation in 2005, taking up the Chief Executive position in 2006.

Ms Szabó said: “I have been honoured to lead an organisation with such a clear commitment to migrants and refugees.”

During her five-year term as Chief Executive, she increased funding for new programme delivery, rebranded the 22 member organisations (formerly ESOL Home Tutors) and launched a new strategic plan to unanimous approval.

Ms Szabó is a founding member of several sector alliances. In 2010, she completed her masters in not-for-profit leadership at Victoria University with distinction.

In July 2010, Ms Szabó was recognised as Central Region Young Executive of the Year, and went on to win the NZIM/Eagle Technology Young Executive of the Year supreme award.

She officially hands over her role to new Chief Executive Nicola Sutton on 3 June.

Ms Szabó begins at Harvard in July and intends to claim some well-deserved rest before this, beginning with a trip to Hungary to catch up with relatives.

“I’ll be watching with interest as this amazing organisation goes from strength to strength.”

ends

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