Wayne Leslie to Depart as DSRF CEO

February 27, 2024

Aven Poynter, Board Chair
Wayne Leslie, CEO
Down Syndrome Resource Foundation

Dear DSRF Families,

white man in a business suit sits on the floor and plays with young boy with Down syndrome, who puts a toy tube over the man's nose

It is with a mixture of gratitude, sadness, and excitement for the future that we share that Wayne Leslie’s time as Chief Executive Officer of the Down Syndrome Resource Foundation will come to an end on March 29, 2024. In April, Wayne will be become the Executive Director of the Kettle Society in Vancouver.

In Wayne’s six and a half years with DSRF, he has significantly strengthened the organization and led it to a new level of impact. Today, more families are accessing more DSRF programs, services, and resources in more ways than ever before, supported by a financial foundation that is stronger than it has ever been.

In particular, Wayne’s steady leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic guided the organization through the most challenging time in our 29-year history. We emerged from this difficult period not merely intact, but operating at an even higher level, having developed creative and effective new ways of serving our clients and families.

DSRF’s Board of Directors will shortly appoint an Acting CEO from within the organization’s leadership team, consisting of Director of Education Programs and Services Eleanor Stewart, Director of Development Jason Campbell, Director of Therapy, Behaviour and Family Support Susan Fawcett, and Director of Communications and Sustainability Glen Hoos. Together, this group will ensure continuity of mission, while their wonderful staff teams will ensure that our families and clients continue to receive the same world-class support to which you have become accustomed.

The organization has a formal CEO Transition Plan in place, which we expect will guide us to the best possible successor in the coming months. We believe that this is the start of another bright chapter in DSRF’s storied history.

Please join us in thanking Wayne for his exceptional service and wishing him well in his future endeavours.

Sincerely,

Aven Poynter
Board Chair

Wayne Leslie
Chief Executive Officer