Billy Gorter

Background

About Billy Gorter

Before founding award-winning NGO This Life Cambodia, Billy already had a dynamic career in the fields of international development and conservation, designing and delivering powerful social justice initiatives, initially in Australia and for the last 15 years in Cambodia. With a background including conservation, education, equality, and human rights, Billy’s expertise in partnering with and working in the best interests of local communities has led to him being a sought after mentor to other NGOs, an international awards judge, and in-demand international speaker. In 2007 he founded This Life and led it as it expanded from 2 people in his lounge to a staff of 90 based in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, delivering high impact programs that have supported thousands of individuals and families. This Life's excellence was recognised in 2015 by the prestigious Stars Impact Award. This highly rigorous award celebrates locally led organisations improving the lives of children and young people. In 2019 This Life won the Global Grassroots Justice Prize, an honour bestowed by a judges panel as well as winning the public vote. In 2021, This Life won The Global Good Award for Community Investment. As Executive Director for This Life, Billy is responsible for setting the strategic direction for the NGO in delivering 13 programs covering Children and Families, Communities and Impact, Learning and Effectiveness. He is passionate about working in a creative, innovative, and collaborative way and drove national campaigns to end domestic violence and strengthen families which reached more than 2 million Cambodians and received wide local and international media attention. Billy is a highly consultative leader, an adept negotiator who understands and works within cultural mores to achieve optimal strategic and operational objectives. He has cultivated productive ongoing relationships with Cambodian government ministries and overseen the accreditation of This Life in Australia as a Registered Charitable Institution (NSW), accredited with the Australian Not for Profits and Charities Commission (ACNC). He also led This Life's achievement of Governance and Professional Practice accreditation through the Cooperation Committee of Cambodia. In addition, Billy led the organisation in its successful application for full membership to the Australian Council for International Development. Covering over 9 Quality Principles, 32 Commitments and 90 Compliance Indicators, ACFID's Code sets good standards for program effectiveness, fundraising, governance and financial reporting.