The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) has promoted veteran executive Andrew Williams to Deputy Chief Executive Officer and human rights specialist Meredith Lea to Policy Manager, as part of the organisation’s investment in a growing leadership team.

ACCAN CEO Teresa Corbin said the promotions recognised the important role that the pair have played in advancing ACCAN’s work towards ensuring communications services are trusted, inclusive, accessible, and available for all.

Ms Corbin said: “Andrew and Meredith bring such unique strengths to their respective positions and to ACCAN as an organisation. We’re pleased to be able to acknowledge their contributions to ACCAN through their recent appointments.”

Andrew Williams joined ACCAN as the Director of Operations in 2019 and was appointed Deputy CEO in July 2021. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds tertiary qualifications in Arts, Business Administration, and Law.

Mr Williams is an experienced executive with extensive operations, management and commercial experience. Prior to joining ACCAN he held a number of senior roles across both private and public sector organisations, including seven years as a General Manager with Business NSW where he managed the delivery of a range of large Government contracts. Prior to entering the corporate world he served for 20 years as an officer in the Royal Australian Navy where, as a specialist Navigator, he held a wide range of operational roles, both ashore and afloat.

In his role as Deputy CEO, Mr Williams will be responsible for overseeing operations activities within the organisation and will support the CEO with strategic engagement across industry and governmental bodies.

Mr Williams said: “ACCAN’s role of advocating for communications consumers has never been more important than it is today. As Deputy CEO, I look forward to taking a more public role in ACCAN’s engagement with our members and stakeholders.”

Meredith Lea joined ACCAN in 2018 as Disability Policy Officer before being promoted to Disability Policy Adviser in 2020. In these roles, she advocated for more accessible and resilient communications services for people with disability and led the development of ACCAN’s Ideal Accessible Communications Roadmap.

Prior to her roles at ACCAN, Ms Lea was a Senior Policy Officer at People with Disability Australia (PWDA), a leading disability rights, advocacy, and representative organisation of and for people with disability. She holds a Bachelor of International and Global Studies and a Master of Human Rights from the University of Sydney.

In the newly created role of Policy Manager, Ms Lea will lead ACCAN’s policy team in their work under the mentorship of ACCAN Director of Policy, Una Lawrence.

Speaking to her new role, Ms Lea said: “The work produced by ACCAN’s policy team contributes to real, positive change for communications consumers. I’m excited for the new challenges and opportunities that await me as Policy Manager, and am eager to lead our team to a new level of excellence.”

Download: docxACCAN invests in growing leadership team with key promotions1.24 MB

Download: docx ACCAN invests in growing leadership team with key promotions1.24 MB