Chair Matthew Tukaki said based on member feedback the board sought out someone for the role who was adept at understanding complex social and health issues and coordinating clear advocacy messages.

Mr Tukaki said Ms Murray was the kind of CEO who would lead from the front.

 “We are seeing unprecedented suicide prevention awareness and investment in this country but nowhere near the magnitude of the public health issue we face. Suicide Prevention Australia’s leadership and coordination has continued to be refined since its start 25 years ago,” he said.

Ms Murray was previously chief executive of the IRT Group for 11 years and has 30 years experience in the social sciences. She has also been a long-term Lifeline and Vinnie’s Van volunteer and is former director of the South Eastern NSW Primary Health Network known as Coordinare.

The Suicide Prevention Australia noted her passion for enabling vulnerable people to have more choice and control over how they live their lives.

“It’s an honour to join Suicide Prevention Australia and its Members in their campaign for effective bipartisan suicide prevention,” Ms Murray said.

“As CEO I’ll be resolute in my commitment to support more Australians to live. I look forward to working collaboratively with my colleagues, learning from those with lived experience, and being a tireless advocate for all Australians. I look forward to using my skills and experience as a trained psychologist, executive leader and company director to lead the fight against suicide.”

Ms Murray started her career in the 1980s as a Bluescope Steel trainee engineer.

She was one of only a handful of female engineers employed in steel manufacturing at the time.

Then after studying psychology at the University of Wollongong she began a long career in local government and community-owned organisations.

As CEO of IRT from 2006 to 2017 Ms Murray drove record growth, customer satisfaction and social impact.

During those 11 years IRT increased its annual turnover and asset base by 300 per cent, doubled the number of people it employed and tripled its customer base.

She has also held non-executive leadership roles in financial services, tertiary education, property development, retail, research, health, aged care and retirement living since 2001.

Her contributions have been recognised at a regional, national and international level.

In 2013 Ms Murray was named one of Australia’s 100 Most Influential Women by the Australian Financial Review and this decade has been recognised with many accolades such as Wollongong Citizen of the Year and Illawarra Business Leader of the Year.

She is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Managers and Leaders.

She is presently Independent Chair of Family Spirit, a joint start-up venture by Marist 180 and Catholic Care Sydney.

She is also a member of the University of Wollongong Council and Member of its Audit and Risk and Nominations Committees.

She is a director of the Community Alliance Credit Union and Member of the Board Governance and Remuneration and Nominations Committees

SPA is the national leadership organisation for the suicide prevention sector in this country.

It works with its members, governments, businesses and the wider community to deliver a meaningful reduction of suicides, and support more people to live.

SPA builds and facilitates partnerships to change behaviours and attitudes to suicide prevention, and to support more Australians to live.

It believes the wisdom gained by those with lived experience of suicide must be used to inform suicide prevention.

For additional services and support visit www.suicidepreventionaust.org and click on the Get Help button. 

From October 2013 – Murray in top 100 women of influence

IRT chief executive Nieves Murray was yesterday named one of Australia's 100 most influential women.

The 100 finalists in the 2013 Australian Financial Review and Westpac Group Women of Influence Awards will attend a presentation in Sydney next Thursday when 10 category winners will be announced.

Ms Murray's achievement comes a year after University of Wollongong academics Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Judy Raper and Director of Innovation and Commercial Research Elizabeth Eastland were listed among Australia's 100 Women of Influence.

More than 500 women across the nation were nominated this year across 10 categories.

The groupings are board/management, innovation, public policy, business entrepreneur, diversity, young leader, global, social enterprise/not for profit, philanthropy and local/regional.

Ms Murray is a finalist in the local/regional category.

"Someone from the university nominated me," she said yesterday.

"I was approached and I had half the submission completed and then decided I was not going to submit.

"But someone then did on my behalf."

Last year Ms Murray was also named a finalist in the 2012 Telstra Business Women's Awards after being persuaded to accept a nomination by other business leaders who told her it would be good for Wollongong if she won.

Ms Murray said she was happy to make the 100 most influential women list, although it did take the 2012 Illawarra Business Person of the Year out of her comfort zone.

"I think recognition of leadership and influential leadership is important because we need to make as many role models as we can for the emerging generation.

"It is also good to showcase our city and be able to demonstrate that we have great leaders who are making a difference on a national scale and not just within our region.

"The more credibility we can create for the city the better, particularly at a time when the city needs strong leadership and demonstrable successful leadership."

"I think for our organisation having made that choice to stay regional but delivering on a national agenda is worthy to be recognised.

"But this is all very humbling I have to tell you."

Ms Murray said it was also important to have role models locally for younger women.

She said the good news was there were increasingly more of those and that showed it was normal for women to be leaders.

Ms Murray believes she made the list not only for her role at IRT but as the vice-chair of the National Retirement Living Council and her work, including the inaugural Vinnies CEO Sleepout last year which raised more than $83,500 for the homeless and another $124,000 in 2013.

She is also a Lifeline telephone counsellor and is involved in many other charity events and activities.

The Australian Financial Review describes those who make the list as women who are changing Australia for the better.

It is the second year the awards have been run. The aim of the awards is to recognise a new generation of achievers who are contributing to business and society and increasing the visibility of women's leadership in Australia.

Ms Murray became a finalist after being assessed on a range of criteria such as personal and career achievements, contribution and impact beyond her direct role and her mentoring and support for other women.