A youth organisation preparing for a more strategic future

Top Blokes Foundation delivers evidence-based mentoring programs that strengthen mental health, resilience, and respectful relationships for young men across Australia. In the last 12 months, they supported 5,000 young males via programs delivered in schools and community settings by trained facilitators.

Following a major strategic review in 2022, the organisation entered a new phase of maturity. Its programs were growing, its influence was expanding, and the expectations of funders and partners were increasing. To sustain its impact, Top Blokes needed a board structure capable of providing stronger governance, clearer strategic oversight, and long-term stability.

A once-in-a-decade leadership transition

The Foundation’s inaugural Chair had served for more than a decade and was stepping down. This created a crucial moment in the evolution of the organisation. It was time to move from early-stage governance into a future grounded in structure, stability, and strategic clarity.

The board recognised that appointing the next Chair would be one of the most important decisions in the organisation’s history. They needed a leader with deep governance experience, strong credibility, and a genuine commitment to improving the lives of young men.

Partnering with People for Purpose to secure the right leadership

Top Blokes engaged People for Purpose to lead the search. PfP worked closely with the Managing Director and outgoing Chair to identify the capabilities required to guide the organisation into its next decade.

The brief called for a Chair with significant governance and leadership experience, an understanding of complex regulated environments, and the capacity to support the Managing Director through strategic growth. PfP’s tailored approach ensured that candidates were assessed not only for their expertise but also for their alignment with the Foundation’s mission and culture.

Appointing a Chair with exceptional governance pedigree

The search resulted in the appointment of Andrew Gale as Chair in 2023. Andrew brought more than forty years of senior experience in the financial services industry across executive, non-executive, and advisory roles.

His career includes CEO and Managing Director of Count Financial, Managing Partner at Deloitte Actuaries and Consultants, Executive Director at Chase Corporate Advisory, and senior leadership positions at MLC and AMP. Andrew’s expertise spans leadership, mergers and acquisitions, corporate strategy, distribution, marketing, operations, governance, and risk management.

Andrew has played influential roles in industry, professional, and regulatory settings, including as President of the Institute of Actuaries in 2005. He has served on boards and committees for the SMSF Association, NAB Advice and Licences Board, MLC Life and Administrator Board, NULIS Nominees, Harper Bernays, and Mortgage Choice.

He also brings a strong commitment to the not for profit sector through his involvement in Global Access Partners initiatives, the Society for Knowledge Economics, the Australian Society for Progress and Wellbeing, and advisory roles focused on financial wellbeing and social outcomes.

Strengthening governance for growth and long-term sustainability

Andrew’s appointment has supported the Foundation through increased governance clarity, improved strategic planning, and stronger oversight. His experience has strengthened the board’s capacity to manage risk, steward partnerships, and support the Managing Director through a period of growth and change.

This uplift in governance has provided clearer role delineation between governance and management, and positioned Top Blokes for continued expansion and long-term impact.

Founder and CEO of Top Blokes, Melissa Abu-Gazaleh, reflected:

“As a founder-led organisation, the relationship between Chair and CEO is absolutely critical. Our inaugural Chair and I worked closely together for nine years, so finding the right successor was one of the most important decisions we’ve made as an organisation.

We were looking for someone who had strong governance credentials, understood where Top Blokes had come from and could partner with me to lead the organisation into its next phase of growth. People for Purpose took the time to understand our context and guided us through a thoughtful, values-aligned process.

We were thrilled to appoint Andrew Gale, a Chair who brings exceptional governance experience and just as importantly, the right approach, judgement, and fit for Top Blokes as we scale.”

Why partnering with People for Purpose mattered

By engaging People for Purpose, Top Blokes gained access to deep governance expertise and a national network of experienced board leaders. PfP guided the organisation through a thoughtful, mission-aligned search process designed to secure the right Chair at the right moment.

The result is a future-ready board, strengthened leadership, and a governance structure capable of supporting the organisation’s ambition to improve outcomes for young men across Australia.