PWRDF streamlines for the future

Major staff changes have taken place as a result of restructuring at The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF), the relief and development agency of the Anglican Church of Canada.

As of April 1, six staff will be assuming different portfolios:

* Zaida Bastos, currently Africa development program co-ordinator, will become CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency) program co-ordinator, a newly-created position.* Jeannethe Lara, program officer for Latin America and the Caribbean, will move to the position of Africa development program co-ordinator.* Suzanne Rumsey, Latin America-Caribbean program co-ordinator, will assume the newly-created position of public engagement program co-ordinator.* Simon Chambers, justgeneration.ca facilitator, will become communications facilitator, another newly-created position. (An announcement has yet to be made on who will fill the position that Chambers will vacate). * Jose Zarate, program co-ordinator for indigenous people’s development, will move to the position of program co-ordinator for indigenous communities and Latin America and Caribbean development. * Christine Hills will move from being communications associate to public engagement program associate. Under the restructuring, first announced in January, seven positions were eliminated and three new ones were created “to meet the organizational needs of PWRDF programs,” according to Cheryl Curtis, then PWRDF executive director. Curtis said it had been prompted by a 26 per cent cut in PWRDF’s budget for 2010-2011. Curtis herself resigned in February, saying it would provide the PWRDF board an “opportunity to determine the direction it wishes for PWRDF vis-a-vis leadership and vision.”

Under the revised structure, PWRDF staff will now be working in two teams – finance and administration and partnership program, which brings together the development and relief program staff with the public engagement and education program staff. “This change from three teams to two teams reflects a collaborative and inclusive model that will enhance the overall work of PWRDF,” PWRDF said in an email announcement.

On March 24, PWRDF staff hosted a farewell lunch for three departing staff: Beth Baskin (public engagement team leader), Glen Spurrell (Africa development program officer), and Jennifer Brown (donor relations officer).

Baskin, a life-long Anglican with a long history in congregational outreach ministry and justice education, joined PWRDF in 2005. Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada and president of the PWRDF board of directors, praised Baskin for her social justice advocacy and for her work in getting dioceses involved with PWRDF’s work.

Before joining PWRDF, Spurrell worked for the Anglican Book Centre. Archbishop Hiltz gave his appreciation for Spurrell’s “passion and commitment” in working with PWRDF partners in Africa.

Brown, who joined PWRDF in 2009, was cited for her contribution to donor relations work at PWRDF.