Latter-day Saint director of public affairs, Alan Wakeley, announced his retirement this month after 25 years of service.
Mr Wakeley has been a director of public affairs for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, based in Sydney, since 1990.
Over those years he has been director for various permutations of the Pacific, Pacific Islands, Australia, and Asia North Area.
For the last four months Mr Wakeley and his wife Ronda have lived in Salt Lake City, United States, as he has undertaken a Church headquarters assignment.
After a period of leave beginning next month, Mr Wakeley will formally retire in August 2016. His successor in the role is Robert Dudfield, who starts next month.
Pacific Area Seventy (regional ecclesiastical leader), Elder Jeffrey D, Cummings, said, “Alan has served faithfully and wisely for a quarter of a century. Under his direction The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has become much, much better understood by those not of our faith in this part of the world.
“He has helped us develop excellent relationships with government, faith, media and other community leaders. These relationships have led to meaningful opportunities for Latter-day Saints to work with others to strengthen families and communities across the South Pacific, as well as in Japan and South Korea.”
Elder Cummings added, “He has done this and more — because he loves and wants to serve his Heavenly Father, His Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, his own family, and the people of Australia and the South Pacific. We thank him sincerely, and wish him and Ronda all the very best for the future.”