ILGA World today announces that Executive Director André du Plessis has decided to leave ILGA World later this year after more than eight years with the organisation.
During his time with ILGA World, du Plessis first led the organisation’s United Nations programme, to then become Executive Director in March 2018, overseeing a period of great growth. During his tenure, the organisation has strengthened its presence in United Nations fora while expanding its advocacy work to the intersection of LGBTI human rights in new areas such as with sports, faith and business; it has established a new Gender Identity & Expression and Sex Characteristics Programme; it has also further expanded its ground-breaking research work, secured financial stability, and increased its staff capacity.
“It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve in this diverse organisation, one that I believe is truly making an impact,” said du Plessis. “The people I’ve met, the triumphs we shared, the losses we mourned, and the hope that carries us all forward will be with me forever. My huge thanks to the big team that makes ILGA what it is - people past and present: my fellow staff members, Board and Committee members, interns, consultants - and to member organisations and individuals who together work in our collective struggle. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for this organisation, the global LGBTIQ community, and the world. I’ll be leaving ILGA for perhaps the best reason - love, as my partner and I work out a way to live together across the ocean - but I’ll always be a part of this amazing community.”
“The whole ILGA World Board is immensely grateful for the work that André has done”, said ILGA World Co-Secretaries General Tuisina Ymania Brown and Luz Elena Aranda. “Under his daily guidance, the organisation has further grown into what it is meant to be: a stable and authoritative presence at the international level, and one that can bring about change – not only assisting our members and regions, but also striving to empower all people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions and sex characteristics. ILGA World is, now more than ever, a truly global community coming together in all its diversity.”
As of today, ILGA World will also embark in the search for a new Executive Director: a person who can lead our global team and bring in a diversity of voices to advance LGBTI equality worldwide. Executive Search firm Perrett Laver will be advising ILGA World on the recruitment of a new Executive Director. For further details, please visit https://candidates.perrettlaver.com/vacancies/ quoting reference 5200.