Breaking New Ground: OARS appoints first female CEO in 139-year-history

OARS Community Transitions enters a bold new chapter today as its first female CEO steps into the top job—marking a historic milestone in the organisation’s 139-year mission to support offenders and strengthen community outcomes.

OARS CT Board Chair Annabel Shinkfield said following an extensive recruitment process Louise Kelly would take over as CEO from Leigh Garrett, a South Australian pioneer in offender rehabilitation who will retire after leading OARS CT for more than 30 years.

Ms Kelly has been deputy CEO of OARS CT for the past six years and has held various leadership roles at the not-for-profit over the past 15 years.

“It’s an honour and a responsibility to be the organisation’s sixth—and first female—CEO,” Ms Kelly said.

Ms Kelly said her focus would be to deepen the outcomes and impacts of support services on the community and on preventing further victims of crime.

She has overseen the introduction of the Women’s Hive, a female offenders reintegration service, and the Home Detention Integrated Support Service Program, achieving a world leading 19 per cent two-year recidivism rate.

Ms Kelly also held a fundamental role in establishing The Don’t Become That Man service—a helpline for perpetrators of family and domestic violence—during COVID to support 453 men in its first year of operation.

She is a recipient of the Churchill Fellowship and chair and member of numerous boards, including the Ministerial Strategic Advisory Group on Women Offenders and SA Prison Health Services Clinical Governance Committee.

Ms Kelly paid tribute to Mr Garrett’s impact in transforming OARS into a contemporary, diverse organisation working across prisons, courts and community.

“He has always held a very clear line that you can support people who offend and care deeply about community safety at the same time. He leaves us a strong, values-driven organisation and a significant legacy in South Australia’s justice and community sectors.”

Mr Garrett will officially retire in January – 32 years since he was appointed CEO at OARS CT.

For more information visit www.communitytransitions.com.au.