Change Imperative : Creating the Next Generation NGO

* Analysis of transnational NGOs, the kinds of organizational changes they need to operate more effectively and how to achieve this change
* Author an experienced practitioner and manager

Whether they like it or not, relief and development NGOs are in the midst of a revolution. Faced with the challenge of managing their growing influence in international politics, these organizations are making operational decisions that will determine their survival. Those that find themselves hampered by the increased politicization of aid and demands on their accountability; those that struggle to define their work in a world that has only recently begun to recognize their authority, will fail to meet their goals. Those that are committed to flexibility, learning new technologies and rethinking their strategies and structure will see their organizations succeed.

Author Paul Ronalds brings his experience as Deputy CEO of World Vision Australia to other NGO managers in The Change Imperative, guiding them through the challenges they must overcome to maintain effectiveness in the 21st century. He covers the practical issues leaders are facing in areas such as advocacy, fundraising, technology, financing and human resources, but also the more ambiguous issues: legitimacy, state sovereignty, and political analysis. Ronalds’ book is a must-have for both students and managers pursuing influential careers in charitable, development and aid organizations.

Paul Ronalds is currently Executive Coordinator in the Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet in Australia. In this role he is responsible for, among other things, the Australian Government’s ‘third sector’ reform agenda. Prior to this, he worked for World Vision Australia for six years, initially as Director of Policy and Programs and more recently as Deputy CEO and Director of Strategy. World Vision is Australia’s largest international non-government organisation (INGO) with an annual income of more than $350 million and approximately 700 aid and development projects across 65 countries. Paul has a background in law, business and economics and his previous roles include corporate law with Freehills, co-founder of wishlist.com.au, and chief operating officer of Urban Seed in Melbourne. Paul is a graduate of the St James Ethics Centre’s Vincent Fairfax Fellowship in Ethics and Leadership and from 2006-8 was an industry representative on the Australian Council for International Development’s (ACFID) Code of Conduct Committee. Paul has also held non-executive director roles at The First Step Limited, a rapid drug detoxification clinic in Melbourne and the Christian Centre for Socially Responsible Investment. He has degrees in economics and law with honours from Monash University, a graduate diploma in applied finance and a masters in international relations from Deakin University.