Dear wonderful friends,
I write to you on this, my last day with the Stillbirth Foundation Australia. I have formally resigned as CEO and Director of this charity and am looking forward to a future of new personal and professional possibilities.
"I promised her, as I held her in my arms for that last time, that I would make a difference …that I would prevent others from living with this tragedy."
Emma Kate McLeod, Founder & Mother
Since the death of my daughter Olivia in 2002, and the Stillbirth Foundation Australia’s establishment in 2005, I have often come to rely on the immense support of you, the Stillbirth Foundation’s greatest assets and most philanthropic friends. In the years since, I have cried with so many of you at the loss of your own babies, and rejoiced with you at every accomplishment in the vital research you have so kindly supported through your generosity. Our mission to radically reduce the figures of stillbirth is ambitious. Yet, in the years since the Stillbirth Foundation formally commenced operation, it has gone from strength to strength as a charity dedicated entirely to raising money to fund crucial research to ultimately understand why our babies are dying. I sincerely believe that this has been owed to the devotion of each of you to our cause. I will always believe that the magic of the Stillbirth Foundation Australia is that we are principally parent-driven, and thus know intimately what we wish to save other parents from experiencing.
I believe many of you would share with me the sentiment that our babies continue to exist through this beautiful charity. Indeed, for me, saying goodbye to the Stillbirth Foundation has brought with it a pain akin to saying goodbye once again to my Olivia. This decision was not made lightly, but I know that I am leaving the Stillbirth Foundation in the capable hands of the Board of Directors and trust that they will shortly announce the new CEO who will take over at the helm of this ship and guide the Foundation into a flourishing future. The last thing I ask of you as your Founder is only that you continue to support my amazing legacy, and therein our collective wish, to prevent other families from experiencing the agonizing pain of burying a baby and, with them, your hopes and dreams for their future.
As for me, I am excited to announce that I am pursuing another passion of mine in motivational speaking. Often referred to as “Madam Chaos”, yet somehow managing to master the chaos, I will teach people to navigate through the business of life and how to confront and view misfortune so as to discover the opportunity that adversity can bring.
My motto is “Follow your passion and achieve the impossible.” My goal is to become a regular on the speaking circuit encouraging people with what I have learned about the subject of facing your challenges and overcoming obstacles that confront you in your life. Those of you who know me may well be surprised that I would want to pursue a career in speaking, being the wallflower that I am! Nevertheless, I am incredibly excited at the prospect of starting my own business and do so only because I know that I am leaving the Stillbirth Foundation in a position to really thrive and grow.
My first speaking event, MASTERING MISFORTUNE, will be held at the Mosman Club, Sydney, on March 13, 2014, and I would sincerely love to see you there! I have a new website www.emmamcleod.com.au where you can find details of this first event. I also plan to travel interstate very soon so if you can’t make it to my Sydney event, please keep in touch and I will let you know when I will be in your area. I do sincerely hope our paths cross again and I would sincerely love to continue hearing from you so please do not hesitate to contact me at: emma@emmamcleod.com.au.
Once more, to each of you, please accept my heartfelt thanks for a wonderful ten years at the Stillbirth Foundation Australia. It has been a true privilege and honour for me to have been a part of your lives and our shared hope to significantly reduce stillbirth figures through research funding and bringing the issue of stillbirth to the general public’s attention.
With warmest regards,
Emma xx
