Latest news with #DanielWordsworth
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Top CEO suddenly LEAVES World Vision after probe into bullying claims
The boss of Australia's biggest charity will part ways with the company after a string of allegations, including bullying, were levelled against him. World Vision Australia told staff on Wednesday it would not be extending the contract of its embattled chief executive, Daniel Wordsworth. It comes after Mr Wordsworth was confirmed as the subject of a number of alleged bullying complaints that were independently investigated by the charity. A source from World Vision Australia told Daily Mail Australia that investigations had been ongoing for about 18 months. They said none of the complaints were deemed necessary to be taken further, except for one that remained under investigation. According to the Fair Work Commission's website, Mr Wordsworth has initiated an adverse action claim against the charity which is listed for a conference on Monday. Former employees have described the charity as having a 'toxic' workplace culture plagued by bullying and a lack of protections for staff. One ex-employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told the ABC that a number of their colleagues were 'bullied out of the building', including themselves. 'Managers either couldn't or wouldn't protect their staff,' they said. Mike Bruce, who served as World Vision's media manager from November 2019 to July 2022, said the company's culture did not align with its charitable goals. 'I reluctantly left WV over what I felt to be a culture of toxic and autocratic management that was at odds with a faith-based charity like World Vision,' he said. It is understood the charity has recently undergone a restructure, including several redundancies, and that all staff were given the opportunity to participate in the investigative process. A World Vision spokesperson confirmed Mr Wordsworth's contract had not been extended by the board, which would now 'seek fresh leadership'. 'As CEO, Daniel steered the organisation through the Covid-19 pandemic and the response to humanitarian crises and conflicts such as the ongoing war in Ukraine,' they said. 'The Board will shortly commence the search for Daniel's replacement.' Mr Wordsworth was still listed as chief executive on the World Vision website at the time of publishing. Born in Tamworth, in northeastern New South Wales, Mr Wordsworth began his career in the Royal Australian Navy. He landed the top job in 2021 after 25 years of working in conflict hotspots across South East Asia, Africa and the Middle East. He said he felt 'compelled and called' to work with World Vision when he was announced as the charity's chief executive. Prior to joining World Vision, he served as the chief executive for US-based charity Alight and led emergency response for the Christian Children's Fund. In December, he told Sky News Australia he had decided to commit his life to charity work after deciding he wanted to live a 'worthy life' at the age of 20. 'What will I think was a worthy life? At the time, I thought helping poor people and helping people who are struggling would be a worthy life,' he said. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Wordsworth for comment.
ABC News
09-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
World Vision Australia CEO takes own charity to Fair Work after tenure ended
World Vision Australia CEO Daniel Wordsworth has taken his own charity to the Fair Work Commission, after the organisation told staff it had ended his tenure as chief, and amid wider claims of a toxic workplace at the charity. Mr Wordsworth was confirmed to be the subject of bullying complaints which World Vision independently investigated but were not substantiated. One complaint remains under investigation. A source within World Vision told the ABC that past and present employees had been given the opportunity to contribute to the external investigation into bullying allegations "that found nothing further" to probe. However, despite that finding, the board's chair Peter Trent confirmed to staff this evening Mr Wordsworth would be departing the organisation he had led since March 2021. "CEO Daniel Wordsworth will end his tenure at World Vision Australia. The Board has decided to not extend his contract and to seek fresh leadership for the organisation," the email read. "Mr Wordsworth steered the organisation through the COVID-19 pandemic and the response to humanitarian crises and conflicts such as the ongoing war in Ukraine. "The Board will shortly commence the search for Daniel's replacement." Insiders have described to the ABC a charity in turmoil with multiple former staff saying the organisation has been plagued by bullying complaints and staff exits. Staff said they strongly believed in the charity and its work but became disillusioned by the culture. Mike Bruce, who worked as media manager from November 2019 to July 2022, told the ABC he resigned after losing faith in the organisation's leadership. "I reluctantly left WV over what I felt to be a culture of toxic and autocratic management that was at odds with a faith-based charity like World Vision." Another former employee, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the environment was unsafe. "I saw colleagues bullied out of the building and then it happened to me. Managers either couldn't or wouldn't protect their staff." In a now-deleted TikTok video, Mr Wordsworth reflected on his own leadership approach. "I used to have an open-door policy for five or six years. But after a while, I realised the only people coming in were the ones whining and complaining. The really good people, the ones doing the work, were out there, not in my office. "I had to go find them and get their input. If you just sit in your office and wait, you only hear from a certain type of person. The real competent ones, the really experienced ones, are out there working. You've got to go ask them. You want to listen, but only to people whose ideas are better than chance."
