By Tricia Mifsud
Big Group Hug has appointed its inaugural chief executive Bernadene Voss to lead the not-for-profit organisation into a new era.
Big Group Hug, an organisation that responds to the needs of vulnerable children in the northern suburbs, including the City of Whittlesea, have successfully run for eight years by a sole volunteer team.
But with the need for the group’s services ever-growing, volunteers decided to appoint a chief executive, with securing sponsorship a key priority.
Ms Voss is an experienced business leader with a passion for helping the community. Her previous roles included councillor and mayor for the City of Port Phillip.
She said she was grateful for the opportunity to be the group’s inaugural chief executive and would draw from her previous roles to thrive in her new position.
“I’ve seen everything and been able to support people in their best and worst times and I love that. Helping people is just what I love to do – it’s in my DNA,” Ms Voss said.
“I’ve been an entrepreneur, set up my own business and developed technology for loyalty programs. I have been a councillor and the mayor at the City of Port Phillip and also been on a lot of boards and during that time, I have worked with a lot of children.
“I have a lot of skills that I can help wrap around the business to amplify the impact of what we do.”
Ms Voss first stumbled across Big Group Hug serendipitously, as her maiden name was Hug, but after learning more about the organisation and its mission, she knew it was a group she would like to be a part of.
“The reason why I came across Big Group Hug is because my maiden name is Hug and honestly, that’s what attracted me to the organisation at first but I looked deeper and I couldn’t look away,” she said.
“There are so many things I can do with the group and it really tugged at my heart, and listening to the stories about people who love working with the organisation, it was just so inspiring.
“I’m really taken by the group’s goal that ultimately no child goes without. I really want to make sure that goal is achieved but to do that, we have to look after our own before we look after the rest of Australia.”
Ms Voss said she felt mixed emotions about starting the new role, but was thankful for the opportunity to lead the team.
She said there were several goals she would like to start working on to achieve, but singled out gaining more sponsors to ensure all the children and their families received the help they need.
“I feel quite nervous and excited at the same time. I feel like there is a lot of trust in me and I have to deliver and I’m going to do my very best not just for the organisation but for the whole community,” she said.
“The big goal is looking for sponsors to really help deliver on some of the projects we have on.
“We have a second warehouse opening up in order to reach the families and their children who need help and we need to make sure we can accommodate for them.
“Children deserve the best start in life, and we’re there to assist every family that asks for help and I want to make sure we keep delivering on that and stay true to our goal.”
