MARKHAM, Ont. — The Children Believe Board of Directors has announced Patrick Canagasingham will be moving on from his role as Chief Executive Officer to pursue a new career opportunity as Global Chief Operating Officer for Habitat for Humanity International in Atlanta, Georgia, effective March 2, 2020.
Since 2017, Patrick has led Children Believe through a strategic pivot to becoming an issues-based organization, affirming a new focus on education, which is creating new opportunities for vulnerable children, families and communities around the world.
He completed the organization’s rebrand from Christian Children’s Fund of Canada to Children Believe in 2019 and directed significant cultural change during his tenure.
Gabriel Ollivier, Chair, Board of Directors, Children Believe, said, “Patrick has set a strong foundation to propel Children Believe far into the future. Empowering children, especially girls, to achieve their full potential through education accomplished by evidence-based outcomes and issues-based programs, will continue to be a key measure of the organization’s success. Patrick also cultivated strategic partnerships with like-minded organizations in Africa and North America, which will allow Children Believe to grow its impact, and we will continue to pursue such opportunities.”
Within the organization, Patrick created a workplace culture of inclusion and collaboration among employees across all seven offices around the world. With a newly invigorated, truly diverse staff team, Children Believe has built a culture of transparency, accountability, trust and authenticity.
“I am honoured to have worked at Children Believe,” said Patrick. “My colleagues in our offices are all individuals deeply committed to the cause of children’s rights. I will miss the incredible camaraderie of the teams I have worked with over the last two-and-a-half years. Because of their dedication, together with the support of our donors, partners, the Government of Canada and other governments around the world, we were able to make tangible change for children. I’m very confident in the ability of Children Believe’s leadership team and Board of Directors to continue on the path to success.”
Gabriel Ollivier added, “On a personal note, it has been a real pleasure to work alongside Patrick. I have been inspired by his profound commitment to children, his faith, his extensive knowledge of international development and his championing of human rights.”
Effective immediately, the Board will be engaging the services of an external executive search firm to recruit a new CEO. In parallel, the Board will ensure interim leadership will be in place by Feb. 1, 2020.