Challenge Community Services Tamworth: new chief executive Peter Maher takes over from Barry Murphy who led the organisation for almost 30 years

As the new chief executive of Challenge Community Services, Mr Maher brings with him a wealth of knowledge and an ability to "make things happen".

He's the former head of Vinnies, worked as a principal in the Northern Territory, led training and development at the Australian Bureau of Statistics and sat behind a desk in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to work on welfare reform.

"My vision is to be the number one, the best organisation across the country and I think we can do it," Mr Maher said.

"I felt that the mission and ethos of the organisation fitted with my belief system which is about taking people with a disability and focusing on their ability, to make them what I would call 'whole people' - people who have the ability to do what they want to do and have fulfilling lives."

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Mr Maher takes over from Barry Murphy, who led the organisation from Tamworth for almost 30 years.

Challenge is a not-for-profit organisation that provides community services.