The Glass Jar Australia Board is proud to announce the appointment of Helen Ockerby as the new Executive Officer, set to commence in January, 2024. Ms Ockerby will be taking the lead of the school-based engagement program, Shooting Stars, which is the organisation’s primary initiative as it continues to drive its vision of empowered Aboriginal girls and women.
Ms Ockerby is a Bardi-Jawi, Noongar woman with ties to the north and south of Western Australia. She is a former Shooting Stars Regional Manager and a former Glass Jar Australia Board Member, with more than 15 years of experience in community development working remotely in grassroots sports, recreation and education.
Ms Ockerby is very much a part of the organisation’s history. She and her family relocated to the regions in the early days of the Shooting Stars program, supporting its initial expansion and contributing to its research and ambassador programs.
Glass Jar Australia Chairperson Dr Glenda Kickett welcomed the appointment of Ms Ockerby to lead Shooting Stars.
“The Board of Glass Jar Australia is extremely excited to have Helen Ockerby re-join our Shooting Stars program,” Dr Kickett said.
“It brings immeasurable value that an Aboriginal woman will be guiding this program in a permeant capacity for the first time, whose key purpose is to empower Aboriginal girls and women.
“Her experience and knowledge makes her the perfect fit for the role and to guide the expanding Shooting Stars program. As Helen returns to the organisation in this senior leadership position, it is a testament to her hard work and perseverance over the years. This is a full circle moment and a prime example of growing through the pathways and giving back through multiple aspects of the program.”
Ms Ockerby will be relocating to Perth for this role and will begin in January 2024.
Ms Ockerby said: “I feel very privileged to be re-joining the Shooting Stars team, they are real trailblazers making real change in our communities.
“Shooting Stars lives and breathes the values of Respect, Integrity and Heart, the same values I hold personally close. The program has played a pivotal role in my life, providing many opportunities of growth and development.
“I would like to personally acknowledge our inaugural Executive Officer Fran Haintz and thank her for her tireless work and personal commitment to the program over the years. Fran is an exceptional woman who is an inspiration to many. Her impact has been immense, and it is something we are greatly appreciative of.
“I look forward to the continued development of this program across our sites, engaging with our communities and families as we collectively empower our young women and girls. None of this is without the continued support of our stakeholders and our corporate partners who continue to help enrich lives through their generosity.
“Shooting Stars’ “We strive together, We rise together” embodies everything about the program, and its progress to date has set the benchmark from which we will continue to rise above.”
