Chris Chatterton’s journey to leading Variety WA began far from philanthropy, first as a teacher and later as a Mayor in England, where he learned how leadership decisions could create real community impact.
Chris Chatterton’s path to leading Variety WA began not in philanthropy, but in a classroom in England. Originally a teacher, he soon stepped beyond education and into public service, eventually becoming Mayor of his local council. It was there, working directly with families and community groups, that he came to understand how leadership decisions could change lives not in theory, but in practice.
“As Mayor, I realised you could genuinely create impact at a community level,” he says. “You could listen, understand challenges, and help build solutions. That experience opened my eyes.”
Today, as Chief Executive Officer of Variety WA, Chatterton has carried that belief across continents applying it to a state where geography, disadvantage and disability intersect in complex ways. While Western Australia is often associated with prosperity and opportunity, many children live with significant barriers, limited access to therapy, unaffordable equipment, long waiting lists, and services that fall short, particularly outside the metropolitan area.
Australian Charity Number CC20294
© 2026 Variety. All rights reserved
