The Board and Staff of the Foundation for Alcohol Research & Education (FARE) thank Mr Andrew Fairley AM for his dedication and commitment to an Australia free from alcohol harms, as he retires today after more than eight years as FARE’s Chair.
“I am proud to have been part of FARE and to have seen many significant achievements by the organisation. The negative impacts of alcohol are felt across Australia. This is why FARE’s work to raise public awareness, build the case for alcohol policy reform and undertake research is so vital,” Mr Fairley said.
“It has been a great honour to serve as Chair of the Board for these past eight years and to contribute to FARE becoming a trusted source of information on preventing alcohol harm. It has also been a privilege to work alongside my fellow Directors.”
Mr Fairley practices as an equity lawyer with Hall & Wilcox in Melbourne and is recognised as one of Australia’s leading superannuation lawyers. He has a long association with the philanthropic sector and is Chair of the Sir Andrew Fairley Foundation and Deputy Chair of the Mornington Peninsula Foundation. He led the FARE Board during a time of significant change and has been instrumental in evolving it into the leading health education and advocacy organisation that it is today.
Mr Mark Textor has been elected unanimously as the new Chair of the Board, effective 1 October.
“It is a privilege to take on the leadership of FARE and continue Andrew’s outstanding stewardship of the organisation. As our community navigates coping with the great challenges of our time, especially in relation to alcohol consumption, now more than ever it is vital that we focus on the health and wellbeing of our families, friends and community,” Mr Textor said.
“Growing up in the Northern Territory, I was exposed to the significant harm alcohol can cause people and communities. Alcohol harm is not an abstract for me. It has directly impacted so many people in my life and I have a personal connection with FARE’s work.”
“We must change corporate, community and political approaches to understanding and tackling alcohol harm. As Chair I look forward to continuing and extending on that work, towards an Australia free from alcohol harm.”
Mr Textor is a successful businesses person, pollster and communications strategist who has spent more than three decades advising businesses, politicians, community groups and public sector organisations about public policy sentiment and behavioural and attitudinal change, while building a multi-million- dollar global consultancy conducting work in over 50 countries.
He is an experienced non-executive director, serving on the FARE Board for the past two years, and previously on the Australian Sports Commission and as Chair of the Amy Gillett Foundation. He has a deep commitment to advocating for better outcomes for First Nations peoples and currently acts as an advisor to From the Heart, a campaign for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament that is enshrined in the Constitution.
