The Chair of the NZ AIDS Foundation has today announced that he will step down from the Trust Board and not seek re-election at next month's Annual General Meeting.
Hoani Jeremy Lambert began as a Wellington-based volunteer for the Foundation eleven years ago, eventually joining the Foundation's Board in 2004. After the board was rocked by public criticism
of controversial decisions in 2005, including an attempt to guarantee half of the board's positions for Maori, Lambert became the fourth chair in six months. He admits that period was the lowest point of his experience with the NZAF. "[We were] criticised for being out of touch with the members and with the real issues and, to be quite frank, I believe that we were," he says.
Under his chairmanship the board reinvented itself and set about redefining its connection with Foundation members and clarifying the Trust Deed on which the operation of the Foundation is based.
Although the timing of his departure might be seen as another loss of talent for the Foundation, which has seen a number of high-profile resignations over recent months, Lambert believes the Foundation is on the right track to re-structure itself for the changing HIV epidemic. "I am incredibly proud of what this board has achieved," he says, "I am going to carry on being involved in the NZ AIDS Foundation because I am very passionate about the work that it does."
Lambert says he is grateful for the commitment of staff and volunteers of the Foundation, and for the forbearance of his partner during his time on the board.
Lambert hopes in the future to continue working on projects associated with gay men's health, which he believes needs to be addressed in a more holistic fashion than the NZAF's HIV-focussed mandate allows it to do.