When Bevan Jones announced a few months ago that he felt his time at Sonshine was coming to an end, we knew that finding someone to fill the role he’d done so well for over 13 years was going to be a tough ask. So, we took our time to find the perfect person to lead Sonshine into what is going to be a bright and exciting future! Meet Sonshine’s new CEO Michael Pailthorpe, who is going to do an incredible job leading us over the coming years.
Here’s your opportunity to find out a little bit more about him!
1. What’s the most important thing we need to know about you?
Well firstly, I’m a Christian, I came to Christ in the 80s as a teenager and I’ve been pretty much involved in all sorts of church life and ministry roles and sporting ministry ever since.
2. Who’s in your family?
I have a wife, three boys and a daughter. The boys are 24, 22 and 20 and my daughter is 17 and she’s in her final year of high school.
3. What did you do before joining Sonshine?
I was the CEO of EdConnect Australia, which provided volunteer mentors for students at educational risk in 250 schools across Australia. They basically work with those students. So that was a lot of fun, but I’m very glad to be here.
4. Coffee or tea?
It’s actually both. I cannot survive without my cup of tea first thing in the morning, but coffee absolutely first thing at work.
5. Dogs or cats?
Very much dogs. I grew up on a farm where the cats had their job of keeping the rats and the mice population down, but otherwise the dogs were definitely king of the pack.
6. Favourite football team?
I go back to the 70s and 80s when I was playing footy as a junior myself, and the WAFL was all we knew back then, so West Perth – we’re West Perth through and through. But when the West Coast Eagles came in we jumped on with them and have been on ever since. But I have learned that it’s good to diversify your sporting teams, and certainly ten years in Penrith converted us into pretty dedicated Penrith Panthers fans, so I can now say we’ve won five of the last seven premierships!
7. Favourite thing to do in your spare time?
I’ve always enjoyed sport in all of its guises. I’ve enjoyed playing it, I’ve enjoyed coaching it, I’ve enjoyed being an administrator, watching it. I’d say that’s my favourite thing to do in my spare time.
8. What are you looking forward to the most about leading the Sonshine team?
It’s just such an exciting time to be at Sonshine. We’re building on 37 years of people who have been before and have served faithfully. Sonshine has such an incredible favour in Perth, and I’d like to see us continue to extend the reach, to deepen the impact we’re having and to strengthen the connection we’ve built up so well. So, exciting times ahead and I can’t wait!