Source: Authority PR
I Am Hope Foundation, home of the Gumboot Friday initiative, is preparing to open an exciting new chapter in its journey to improve youth mental health in New Zealand. The organisation will soon begin the search for a new Chief Executive to lead its next phase of growth and innovation.
While serving as Executive Director and Principal Ambassador, founder Mike King has carried a share of the organisation’s Chief Executive duties. He says it’s the right moment for fresh leadership to take I Am Hope forward.
“When we started I Am Hope it was nothing more than a dream, a small group of people trying to make sure every young person could access free mental health support without barriers. Building this organisation from scratch has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. But we’ve reached a point where it’s time for a new vision and a new voice to take us forward,” says King.
“I’ve loved every second of this journey, the wins, the challenges, the people. I’m incredibly proud of the impact we’ve made through Gumboot Friday, funding thousands of counselling sessions for young Kiwis. Now it’s time for someone else to build on that legacy.”
Under King’s leadership, I Am Hope has grown from a grassroots movement into a nationally recognised mental health charity. Since launching Gumboot Friday in 2019, the initiative has provided more than 137,000 free counselling sessions to young New Zealanders aged 5 to 25.
The new Chief Executive will lead the foundation through its next evolution, expanding services, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring the sustainability of free mental health support for generations to come.
King will continue to play a key role in the organisation in a new capacity, which will be announced alongside the appointment of the new Chief Executive.
“I’m not going anywhere,” King adds. “My passion for helping young people hasn’t changed. I’ll be taking on a new role that lets me get back to what I love most, connecting with people, challenging the system, and championing hope.”
The recruitment process for the new Chief Executive will begin in the coming weeks.
