8 March 2019

Extern has been recognised for the quality of its leadership at the prestigious CO3 Leadership Awards 2019.

Extern CEO Charlie Mack received a Highly Commended prize in the Leading People Award category, while Emma Purdon, who manages the charity’s Extern Works project, was also Highly Commended in the One to Watch Award category. Mr Mack was also shortlisted in the Inspiring Leader of the Year Award at the glittering event, which was held at the La Mon Hotel & Country Club, near Belfast.

The awards are organised by CO3 Chief Officers 3rd Sector, a membership organisation that focuses on supporting, developing and connecting Third Sector leaders in Northern Ireland. Members range from leaders of some of the largest charities and social enterprises through to small community and faith-based groups.

Since 1978, Extern has grown to become the leading social justice charity across the island of Ireland. Today, Extern has over 80 projects operating out of 40 locations, delivering world-class social care interventions to transform the lives of 20,000 people each year.

In addition to its work alongside children, young people and families, Extern also supports people who are homeless, or who are living with homelessness, those dealing with mental health and drug and alcohol issues, those living with the impact of suicide, refugees, the Traveller community and people living with an offending past.

Speaking following the ceremony, Charlie Mack said: “It is an honour to have been recognised at these prestigious awards, and I am especially delighted for Emma Purdon, whose energy and commitment to her role at our Extern Works project has quite rightly been recognised as well.

At Extern, we pride ourselves on the quality of work displayed by our leadership teams, whether on the ground in our many projects across the island of Ireland, or among our excellent support staff. Receiving recognition such as this is therefore a wonderful reflection on our staff, and is very much in keeping with our core value of ‘Leading Extern with energy, passion and drive, empowering people to take the initiative and make decisions’.”

This latest recognition follows on from a strong period of awards success for Extern, including winning the More Than Bricks and Mortar Award at the CIH Housing Awards 2019 last month for its Extern Homes project, as well as taking the prize for Best Governance Improvement Initiative at the national Good Governance Awards in Dublin last November.

In 2017, meanwhile, Extern took the top prize at the Northern Ireland Leadership and Good Governance Awards, while the organisation’s Chairman, Derek McCabe, also took the Trustee of the Year Award at the national Good Governance Awards in 2017.