After 13 years, Bevan Jones has announced he is moving on from Sonshine.
Sonshine CEO Bevan Jones has announced his plan to soon leave the role he’s held for the past 13 years.
In sharing the news with Sonshine staff, Bevan said it was time for a new leader to take the station to the next level, and that it was a “rare privilege for a leader to leave an organization when it is excelling, knowing that I have done everything I can to achieve.”
Bevan took the helm at Sonshine in 2011, when the station was struggling financially and culturally, and has played an integral role in leading the organisation to its current position.
The station is now financially stable, has developed many strong community connections, has a dedicated and talented staff cohort, and is seeing continued strong growth in radio survey figures. Sonshine’s listener base and online engagement numbers are stronger than ever, with 66,000 new regular weekly listeners in the last 18 months alone.
“I feel proud and privileged as I finish” Bevan said. “Proud that Sonshine Media came out of a challenging period both culturally and financially in 2011 to now be an integral part of the WA community, partnering with numerous organizations and individuals impacting thousands with hope and practical service.
“Privileged that I have met so many amazing people and organizations, many who are now friends.”
He listed some of the highlights of the station’s recent achievements including:
- Heart for the Homeless month – The station now partners with businesses, schools, churches and homelessness service providers to donate over 11,000 needed items every year.
- Watering Day – Through a partnership with Water for Africa this year, Sonshine listeners provided safe drinking water for life for more than 30,000 people in Tanzania.
- Take Away Hunger Day – Sonshine listeners provided a month of hot, nutritious food for 8,473 children living in poverty in Uganda through Feed the Hungry.
Bevan said he was confident that he is leaving the organisation in a very strong position.
“As I begin to look for a new role I will leave happy that Sonshine Media has great leadership, committed and connected staff and volunteers, financial supporters, and a supportive board of directors to ensure its people focussed impact continues well into the future. I’m excited to see what the future holds for both Sonshine and myself.”