CAFOD Director Chris Bain to retire

Chris Bain, 64, will retire in December 2018 after 15 years as the Director of CAFOD.

Chris said, “I am proud and humbled to have been part of the life-changing work of CAFOD for the last 15 years. CAFOD’s sense of mission and purpose has never been stronger. We are in sound financial health and have a wealth of talent in our dedicated staff and volunteers.”

“Sustainable development, supporting the poorest communities across the world to live life to the fullest, remains at CAFOD’s heart. In the many times I have witnessed CAFOD’s work overseas, the results of our local intervention are clear – children attending school, farms flourishing and women taking the lead in their communities,” he said.

CAFOD has become a leader in humanitarian crisis response over the past fifteen years, working as part of a global network of Catholic agencies to respond quickly and effectively to events like Typhoon Haiyan or the Nepal earthquake.   

The agency has also been at the forefront of action on climate change. Spurred on by reports from its partners of erratic weather patterns hitting poor communities and reversing hard-won gains to end poverty, CAFOD worked with others to successfully lobby the UK government to enact the Climate Change Act, making the UK the first country to set legally binding carbon targets. It currently works alongside the Holy See to push for progress at UN climate change summits.

Chris added: “These achievements have been possible because CAFOD is held fondly in the hearts of the Catholic community in England and Wales, who trust us to work alongside the poor on their behalf. We are blessed by their support and I say thank you to so many who have given generously their gifts, time and prayers.”

Bishop John Arnold, Chair of CAFOD’s Board of Trustees, said: “Chris has led CAFOD through great successes in challenging times. He leaves CAFOD having provided a clear directional purpose and strong sense of mission. On behalf of the Trustees, we thank him for his service in leading CAFOD as an evangelising witness of the Church, proclaiming the Gospel through action.”

The Board of Trustees will begin the recruitment process for a new Director in the coming months.

Notes to editors

For further information, please contact the CAFOD communications team on +44 (0)7919 301429