Jennifer Lawrence has announced she is resigning as chief executive at Brightwater Care Group after 18 years at the aged care provider.
In an email to staff, Ms Lawrence said she believed now was the right time to leave the organisation and take up other opportunities.
“The next few years in aged care and disability will require passion, resilience and energy and it is time for a new CEO to take over,” she wrote.
“I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved and believe Brightwater is well positioned for a very successful future.”
Ms Lawrence said the organisation had responded well to the challenges of the past few years.
“We have just gotten over the hump of the Royal Commission and the first 18 months of COVID which has been extraordinary in terms of change and the ability of the organisation to respond and adapt and make sure our clients have been safe has just been … I’ve been so proud of what we have been able to do,” Ms Lawrence told Business News.
“There’s a lot of challenges ahead.
“It’s a bit of a lull at the moment, it’s time for me to think about what I want to do.”
Ms Lawrence said one of her greatest achievements in her role had been establishing the Brightwater Research Centre.
“We have managed to grow that [the research centre] quite significantly over the past ten years,” she said.
“Our brain injury research, just to use an example, is world-renowned and we collaborate with senior brain injury rehab researchers all around the world.
“People from all over the world visit us to talk about our brain injury rehab program.”
Brightwater Care Group chair David Craig said Ms Lawrence had played a critical role in the development, growth and success of the organisation.
“The past two years have been especially challenging and Jennifer has displayed courage, resilience and good humour,” Mr Craig said.
“She successfully navigated the organisation through change, quickly adapting, whilst never losing sight of Brightwater’s mission.”
Ms Lawrence has been chief executive since 2016, after working as general manager- disability, research and risk.
She will leave her role at the end of April 2022.
Brightwater Care Group is the ninth largest aged care provider in Western Australia, according to Business News‘ Data & Insights.
