COTA Australia Chief Executive Ian Yates is leaving the role after 20 years heading the peak advocacy body for older Australians.

Ian has been with Council on the Ageing for more than 30 years, having originally served as Chief Executive of COTA SA. He says that leading the national body since 2002 has been a “privilege and a challenge”, and cited achievements such as the 2009 Age Pension increase, the 2014 Hands Off the Pension campaign, and the 2021 Budget measures in response to the Royal Commission.

“My commitment to the well-being of older Australians has not diminished in the least. But in leading a national organisation for so long, one needs to think about how succession transition occurs well, and I know that this is when it happens as a planned process, not by waiting until a crisis precipitates it. I will continue my contribution in the other roles I have, such as Chair of the Council of Elders, and in new ventures.

“I am in good health and in good standing with our Board and staff, our constituencies, other peer consumer organisations, Government, Opposition and the media. So that’s the time to plan succession transition so the organisation can adapt and move on with all the strengths we have built up over the last decades,” he said.

Ian will be assisting in the transition process to a new CEO, with the organisation to begin advertising the position in the next week.