Garreth Spillane, head of the AIDS Foundation's Fundraising and Marketing, is leaving his post this week for a new job – in the office of Opposition leader Don Brash. "Essentially I take responsibility for the external events attended by the Leader," Spillane told GayNZ.com. "It is a logistics thing, ensuring everything goes to plan, and that Dr Brash's diary makes the most of opportunities to attend important events around the country." Asked whether his appointment means Dr Brash will be seen at more gay events in future, Spillane says that will depend on which events the National Party leader gets invited to. "Just like with any other event invitation that comes through the office we will review it taking into account existing engagements and travel plans and respond accordingly," he says. "As travel tends to be dictated by political priorities it is all a matter of timing." His appointment was confirmed after two interviews, one with Dr Brash and another with his chief of staff. "I look forward to working in an environment that is fast paced and pressured," he says. "I love that kind of stress, and I know that working within the parliamentary framework will have it in droves." Spillane says his resignation from the Foundation is a career move, based partly on salary considerations and on simply needing a change. "Passion and commitment are wonderful things, and the NZAF is lucky to have a staff that possesses these in abundance, but they can also be a huge hindrance to progress," he says. "I believe that people need to think of NZAF as less of a community group and more of a business. It has some excellent people in management, and as programme heads, they just need to be able to get on and do their jobs." Despite this, Spillane says he leaves the Foundation with a heavy heart, citing the organising of the 20th Anniversary Gala Ball last year as a particular highlight of his time there. "It has been the most lovely time, and the staff at National Office are simply wonderful to work with and always supportive," he says. "My greatest hope for the future is that a greater number of people support the Foundation - it needs support and it needs it now, and that is the only way this country's appalling new diagnoses figures will come down."