Advocacy Briefs: CEO Personnel Changes in Four Key Advocacy Organisations

Three Australian and one International advocacy organisation have all recently announced changes at the CEO level.

Bicycle SA

CEO of Bicycle South Australia, Brett Gillett is stepping down from the role due to health reasons. Brett has run the peak cycling advocacy group for South Australia for two years after taking over from long-time previous incumbent Christian Haag.

During this time Bicycle SA has seen a rebound in its event participation and membership as well as some key wins in what has been a difficult state and local government political environment for cycling in South Australia.

At the time of writing, Bicycle SA is actively recruiting for a new CEO and Brett is still working in the role with a view to handing over to the new CEO once they are selected and commence.

Amy Gillet Foundation

The Amy Gillet Foundation has appointed a new interim CEO, Andy Sheats.

Previous CEO, Dan Kneipp, who took over the role in early 2020, is staying with the not for profit cycle safety organisation, but in a new role of Campaign Director.

In a recent LinkedIn post, Dan said, “After four wonderful and challenging years, I am stepping aside as CEO. I’m not leaving AGF – I’m honoured to remain involved in the foundation’s core cycling safety campaign, an exciting project that requires a lot of focus, and I am giving it my full attention.

“Andy Sheats has stepped in as Interim CEO, and there will be an extensive process to hire the next person to take AGF to bigger and better heights. Andy was the Chair who hired me into the AGF role; he is an experienced CEO, a phenomenal operator and someone I’m very excited to work with again.”

Andy Sheats said, “I am very excited to support the Amy Gillett Foundation as Interim CEO on a part-time basis while the Board searches for a longer-term CEO. I love the AGF and have been involved for about 15 years as a significant donor, supporter and board member.”

Bicycle Queensland

Bicycle Queensland is one of Australia’s largest and oldest cycling advocacy organisations.

They have recently announced the appointment of Alton Twine as their new CEO.

Alton has a long history in cycling advocacy and also as a senior public servant. Most recently he was Director of Lifestyle and Community and for 8 years previously, Director of Transport and Infrastructure at Gold Coast City Council. He has also led cycling infrastructure and active transport planning and activation at Brisbane City Council as well as with the Queensland Government, where he managed the Active Transport team and had a critical role in TravelSmart.

Alton was a member of the Australian Bicycle Council for many years and has had substantial input into strategy, planning and implementation of cycling facilities and behaviour change programs at all levels of government, successfully proposing and delivering significantly- increased capital works programs delivering more bikeways, facilities and active travel programs. In 2009 he was awarded Cycling Professional of the Year by the Cycling Promotion Fund.

Cycle Industries Europe

Cycle Industries Europe (CIE) is the peak cycling advocacy group for Europe and one of the largest and most influential cycling advocacy organisations in the world.

The industry funded CIE has over 100 companies as members, including virtually all of the major names in the global bicycle industry.

In a media release dated 5th February 2024, CIA announced that Kevin Mayne, the founding Chief Executive of the organisation, is to retire in 2024.

The release said, “Mayne, one of the industry’s most visible political figures will step down later in the year after handing over to a successor who will be appointed through a selection process which will start immediately.”

Tony Grimaldi, President of CIE said, “I want to place on record my appreciation of the contribution Kevin Mayne has made to CIE and wider cycling throughout his career. The elevation of cycling in the eyes of policy makers throughout Europe and the strengthening of so many organisations that he has supported are a remarkable achievements of which he must be very proud.”

Kevin Mayne said “I am honoured to have worked in the cycling sector for over 25 years, allowing me to support people, associations and companies with our shared vision of more people using bikes. But now I believe it is time to step back from this intense full-time role and give myself some space for other interests. There will be lots of opportunities to say thank you to many friends and colleagues as I am working with CIE in this transition period, but I want to thank the Board and my team for their support throughout my time with the organisation.”

The EU is currently finalising an ambitious EU Cycling Declaration and published a strategy for mobility industries called the Mobility Transition Pathway which for the first time includes the cycling sector. CIE has been a key player in achieving these milestones and the CIE Board identifies that the new CEO of the association will be key figure in using these policies to get more European support for the industry in coming years.

You can see an interview we previously conducted with Kevin as part of our influencers! YouTube channel here.