The featured speaker will be Dr. Chris Leung, CEO of Catholic Social Services. The following is the announcement of his appointment in April 2002.

Chris Leung is the new chief executive officer of Catholic Charities, the parent society of Catholic Social Services and the Sign of Hope Society.

The agency's board of directors announced Leung's appointment April 10 following the resignation of Father Micheal Laporte, who served as CEO for almost three years.

Leung has served in a variety of senior management positions with the organization for the past two decades, most recently as associate CEO.

Laporte left his position to pursue a career in social work with CSS. "I'm looking forward to doing hands on work with people," he said.

"This is a decision that I made for myself."

The holder of a master's degree in social work, Laporte began doing summer work with CSS in 1982, rose to program manager in Wetaskiwin in 1988 and was appointed CEO of Catholic Charities in September 1999.

"I'm happy the appointment fell on Chris Leung," he said. "He is a very competent administrator and someone who genuinely believes in the mission of Catholic Charities."

Leung, 54, has a doctorate in management as well as graduate degrees in social/public administration and management studies from Hong Kong University. He worked with Caritas Hong Kong for more than 10 years before joining Catholic Charities in 1981.

"I found him in Hong Kong 21 years ago," said Msgr. Bill Irwin, the agency's founder and vice-chair of its board of directors. "I think he'll be an excellent CEO. Now I can retire and go away."

Leung was serving as manager of human resources for Caritas Hong Kong in 1981 when Irwin visited the island as a delegate to an international social work conference.

"Chris is a man of faith and integrity." - Archbishop Thomas Collins

"I met him. We got to know each other and then I asked him if he had any work opportunities in Canada," he recalled.

"So he offered me the job."

When Leung announced his resignation to Caritas, he was met with the surprise of his life. Instead of scolding him for leaving the agency, Hong Kong Bishop, now a cardinal, John Baptist Cheng presented him with the Caritas Medal for outstanding service.

Almost 20 years later, in 2000, Leung received another important recognition - the prestigious Peer Reviewer of the Year award from the Council on Accreditation of Services for Families and Children in recognition of his exceptional organizational and analytical skills.

Upon his arrival in Edmonton in 1981, Leung became director of administration. Seven years later, in 1988, he was promoted to senior vice president and, in 1998, he became associate chief executive officer.

His appointment in early April as CEO for Catholic Charities caught him by surprise, but he says he is ready for the task.

"I am honoured to be chosen chief executive officer and I look forward to the many challenges and opportunities facing Catholic Social Services and Catholic Charities during these rapidly changing times," he said.

As CEO, Leung must lead more than 1,100 full-time, part-time and contractual staff, plus 1,700 volunteers currently working for the organization and its subsidiaries.

Board chair Patricia O'Brien believes Leung has what it takes. "In Dr. Leung we have a leader who has the exceptional skills, leadership and knowledge required to successfully lead Catholic Charities and its subsidiaries, Catholic Social Services and the Sign of Hope Society, during the 21st century."

Archbishop Thomas Collins echoed O'Brien's remarks, saying he is pleased Leung has accepted the challenge of leading the "loyal" staff and volunteers of the three organizations. "Chris is a man of faith and integrity and one who has clearly dedicated his life to serving people in need."