Time to Go!

Some of you by now may have heard the rumour that I am leaving the BRIDGE Office. Well today I make it official. I have tendered my resignation after 17 years with the AEC (almost 13 of which have been managing the BRIDGE Office) and will finish on July 5. It has been a difficult and emotional decision but it is time to move on.

I must thank the AEC for affording me the opportunity of participating in the most rewarding and joyful work of my career. Work that has changed the lives of thousands of people across the world for the better. Including mine!

But thanks must especially go to all my dear colleagues across the world. Your friendship and support has meant more to me than I could ever adequately express. Without your enthusiasm and intelligence in moving through the accreditation and process and taking ownership of the implementation of BRIDGE in your respective countries, BRIDGE would not be the success it is today.

I must also pay homage to my friends and colleagues representing the BRIDGE partnership. Their professionalism, commitment and sense of common purpose have enabled BRIDGE to reach a global audience and to continuously improve across its 13 year history. Of that we should all be very proud.

Finally, I wish to thank everyone who has worked in the BRIDGE Office since 2000. Ben Murray, who has been there since the beginning with me and without whom, the BRIDGE website wouldn’t exist. Melanie Chan who has been such an acquisition on every level. Yvonne Goudie who was the curriculum dynamo for so many years. Jacques Carrio and Paul Guerin who were the first electoral experts to join me in this amazing journey. And to everyone else who has come through the office, thank you.

All of you have helped to create this wonderful program and you have all enriched my life. You are like members of my extended family.

Of course, in many ways, I am part of BRIDGE and it of me. Some might say it’s in my DNA. So I hope there will be many opportunities in the future to work with you all. And I hope to find ways of continuing to help strengthen both the policy and implementation of BRIDGE.

Once again, thank you all for entrusting me with the day-to-day stewardship of BRIDGE over the last 13 years. It has been a gift I could never repay and it has been an honour and a pleasure being part of it.

Keep well and travel safely. I hope to see many of you in the days and years ahead.

With love and thanks

Ross Attrill

Soon to be ex-BRIDGE Office manager