Following the announcement yesterday that WA AIDS Council Executive Director Trish Langdon would be leaving the organisation in August praise for Langdon’s leadership has been voiced by community members and health professionals.
Shadow Health Minister Roger Cook told OUTinPerth, ‘She’s a huge hitter who has done an amazing job. Working on the frontline of what is clearly a very difficult health policy area really takes its toll out on anyone, to be there for eleven and a half year playing such an important role is an extraordinary contribution to the community by Trish. She’s done an great job and after a period of time making sure that the WA AIDS Council was a leading health advocacy body in Western Australia I think she can leave very proud about what she’s achieved.’
Rob Lake, the Executive Director of the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations commented,
‘Trish has played a powerful role leading WAAC and the response to HIV in WA. Her involvement with WAAC almost parallels the HIV epidemic and she has built strong, enduring relationships with government, clinicians and with communities affected by HIV. WAAC’s achievements are testament to Trish’s strong leadership, talent and commitment: the opening of the highly regarded M Clinic in Perth; program development targeting increases in heterosexual transmission in WA; and most recently, advocacy leading to HIV and other medications for WA residents being made available for people unable to access Medicare. Trish will be greatly missed. As well as her work with WAAC, Trish was on the AFAO Board for 9 years. AFAO deeply acknowledges her contribution in WA and nationally.
Pride WA spokesperson Alice Newport-Holden said,
‘It will be extremely sad to see Trish leave the WA AIDS Council as she has been the strength through some amazing initiatives during her tenure. She has a wealth of knowledge, experience and passion which will be dearly missed, but we wish her well with wherever her move takes her.’
The WA AIDS Council is expected to conduct a nation wide search to find a new leader for the health advocacy organsiation.
