Suspension comes amid new accusations against the leader
The chief executive officer of an Australian charity who was caught on camera while sexually grinding on a colleague at a Christmas party has been suspended, according to reports.
The Narang Bir-rong Aboriginal Corporation (NBAC) confirmed to the Sydney Morning Herald that its CEO, Heidi Bradshaw, has been suspended following new allegations against her.
"Following careful consideration, Narang Bir-rong has suspended CEO Heidi Bradshaw," the NBAC board's statement said as quoted by the Herald. "This decision has been made in light of new information that has come to hand, to safeguard stability, and to uphold community confidence in Narang Bir-rong."
In the new allegations, Bradshaw is accused of using the emails of her employees to vote for herself in the 2021 Westfield Local Hero Award, where she won $10,000 for charity projects.
According to reports, she reportedly used five other employees' email addresses, as well as the personal email of another former staff member, to vote for herself.
Three of the employees whose emails were used said they did not vote for her and would not do so even if given the opportunity.
Scentre Group, which operates Westfield, said it is now reviewing the matter, according to the Herald.
The new accusations against Bradshaw add to the previous allegations made against her, such as removing the belt of a government employee at a staff party and hiring someone she met on a dating app.
She was also caught on camera sexually grinding on a colleague at a work Christmas party, and is accused of texting staff about which member of a sports team sponsored by the company she would like to sleep with.
The NBAC board previously defended the CEO's actions, stating that they were investigated. In the grinding incident, it defended that the dancing involved a secondary "willing participant" at a social setting with long-term colleagues and friends.
However, the latest statement from the board takes a hard stance against their CEO's alleged behaviour.
"We take this matter very seriously and will continue to act in the best interests of the organisation and the communities we serve," the board said as quoted by the Herald.
