Former NZ Catholic managing editor Gavin Abraham has been appointed as media and communications director of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.
After joining NZ Catholic in 2005, Mr Abraham went on to be managing editor of the paper for some four and a half years, until he resigned in 2010. Mr Abraham’s first week with the newspaper coincided with the death of Pope St John Paul II.
During his time running the newspaper, several initiatives were introduced, including the popular Being Frank blog.
After moving to Australia, he joined Catholic Health Australia as media manager with the position based in Canberra. Later he moved to Sydney and became communications manager at the National Catholic Education Commission.
Mr Abraham will start his new role with the ACBC on November 14.
Announcing the news of his appointment, ACBC general secretary Fr Stephen Hackett, MSC, noted that “with extensive background in media and communications, and in particular with two agencies that relate closely with conference, Mr Abraham is already familiar with the work of Bishops Commissions and with the Catholic community in Australia”.
Fr Hackett said the appointment had been made following “a protracted recruitment period”.
Among issues facing the Catholic Church in Australia at present are legalisation of same-sex marriage and the upcoming report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
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