Experienced executive leader to strengthen strategy, partnerships, and impact across Australia.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Australia is delighted to announce the appointment of Jan Ridd as its inaugural Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective 8 September.

In this newly created role, Jan will be responsible for new business development, major delivery partnerships (particularly across secondary and tertiary education), strategic planning implementation, brand management, and government and public relations.

Jan joins the Duke of Ed following a distinguished career at Diabetes Australia where Jan led national programs supporting more than 1.5 million Australians living with diabetes and spearheaded the global Life for a Child program, reaching over 58,000 young people in 48 less-resourced countries.

Known as a purpose-driven executive leader, Jan brings extensive experience in strategy, governance, and large-scale program delivery across Australia’s health, education, and community sectors, as well as international contexts. She has managed multimillion-dollar budgets, advised boards and government, secured major government contracts, and led transformative initiatives to improve services, products, and digital platforms.

Her leadership in programs such as Diabetes in Schools and national youth peer support initiatives has empowered young people, a focus that aligns strongly with the Duke of Ed’s mission to equip youth with the skills and confidence to thrive.

We are thrilled to welcome Jan to the Duke of Ed team and look forward to the expertise, energy, and vision she will bring to her role.