The head of Geelong’s foremost multicultural organisation will step down in 2025.
Cultura chief executive Joy Leggo OAM, 69, announced last week she would retire, having led the organisation since its creation through the merger of Multicultural Aged Services (MACS) and Diversitat in 2021.
Prior to the merger Ms Leggo was chief executive of MACS since its establishment in 1994.
A passionate volunteer since the age of 15, Ms Leggo will leave a legacy characterised by advocacy and support for many parts of the community in the region.
Throughout her career she has worked with Sirovilla Retirement Village in Belmont, Aged and Community Services Australia and the Colac and Geelong Rotaract Service Clubs.
Ms Leggo said she was motivated by a desire to help others, saying it was “part of who I am”.
“It is so important to give back to the community in which you live,” she said.
“Working in the not-for-profit sector for over 50 years has allowed me to do that and make a difference where I can.”
Ms Leggo said serving as chief executive at Cultura had been “an incredibly rewarding and humbling experience”.
“Victoria has a long history of multiculturalism, and this diversity enriches everyone,” she said.
“It promotes understanding, brings new ideas, extends our skills, attracts businesses and creates new jobs. I am incredibly proud of our organisation for all we do in this space and the difference we make in these people’s lives.
“In Geelong, we embrace the ‘different’ and celebrate the ‘different’ and the tireless work we do at Cultura is testament to this. I believe the time is right for new leadership to take Cultura forward into its next chapter.”
Cultura board chair Gillian Costa said Ms Leggo had “shaped the entire direction” of Cultura during and after the merger of MACS and Diversitat.
“The merger… was incredibly complex and from the outset; Joy was aware that diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging must be our foundation stone from which we build a workplace and indeed a community that celebrates equity and equality,” Ms Costa said.
“It’s not every day you meet someone as extraordinary as Joy. She truly is a force to be reckoned with and we will miss her creativity, loyalty, passion and bravery as a leader.”
