Board Director Nominations
12 DECEMBER 2023
Nominations for the Board open today, Tuesday 12 December 2023.
The Board of Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT is comprised of Directors who are appointed by the Board and Directors who are elected by the Membership to the Board. All Directors contribute to the strategic direction, legal and financial accountabilities, and oversight of our organisation. Director positions are pro bono.
At the AGM on 2 March 2024, following the Constitution, five (5) Elected Director positions will be available, and Members of all backgrounds are encouraged to stand for nomination. Young women are also strongly encouraged to stand for nomination as at least one member of the Board must be a Member under 30 years of age.
To achieve success, a diverse board of directors must include a variety of perspectives, skills, ages, genders, cultures, and ethnicities.
Two (2) Directors filling casual vacancies will finish their term. These Directors are Race Barstow and Michelle Kothe.
One (1) Director has completed her second term and cannot stand for a new term. This Director is Cecily Zhu.
Two (2) Directors who are not due to finish their terms until 2025 have indicated they will vacate their positions at the 2024 AGM. These Directors are Charlotte Weatherall and Aine Leonard.
We thank each of these Directors for their service and valued contributions.
Nav Johal who has also been filling a casual vacancy tendered her resignation as a Director on 8 December 2023. The Board recognises that these have been incredibly difficult times and while disappointed that Nav has decided to end her term early, fully understands her decision. Nav remains a member of the Governance, Nominations & Remuneration Committee, and the Board thanks Nav for her willingness to continue working with the Board in this role.
For further information about serving on a not for profit, or for purpose, Board, the following publications by the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Governance Institute of Australia and McKinsey may be of interest:
Who can stand for election?
A candidate for the position of an Elected Director of the Board must:
- be a current financial Adult Member;
- have been a Member for a total of not less than three (3) years at the date of her election (this is cumulative with no requirement for Membership to be held for the past 3 years prior to nomination);
- not be an employee of Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT;
- be nominated in writing, with her consent, by another Adult Member; and
- be eligible to be a candidate under clause 7.9.2 of the Constitution (view the Constitution on our About Us page here).
- possess a Director Identification Number (DIN). Appointment to the Board occurs automatically when the election results are finalised and the AGM starts. It is a criminal offense to be a Board Director in NSW and not possess a DIN so all candidates must provide their DIN to be nominated. A DIN is free and can be obtained here.
What does the Board do?
The Board has many roles to perform. These include:
- setting the strategic direction for Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT;
- monitoring the business of Guiding and the viability of the organisation;
- risk identification, management and oversight;
- ensuring the organisation complies with all its legal obligations;
- employment and removal of the CEO;
- formulating policy;
- governing the organisation on behalf of its Members;
- networking both inside and outside of Guiding in the interests of our organisation;
- engaging with stakeholders; and
- making decisions in the best interests of our organisation as a whole.
Why nominate to be a director of Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT?
Use your skills, experience and insights to add value to our organisation:
- Set the direction of Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT for the future and add your voice to the strategic plan;
- Benefit your own career and experience by gaining new skills in governance in the not-for-profit space; and
- Give back to Guiding in NSW, ACT & NT and steer the organisation into the future.
What skills do I need?
The Board has reviewed its ongoing combined skills and expertise and has identified a need for Directors with the following priority skills and experience:
- Accountancy/financial knowledge
- Fundraising
- Property and Asset management
- Change management
- Marketing and brand promotion
- Legal skills
However, nominees with other skills sets are also encouraged to nominate.
In keeping with modern governance practice, nominees will complete a skills inventory to indicate their skills and experience. There is no expectation a nominee will possess all the skills and experience listed; in practice, most nominees may have only 2–3 strong skills and experience and others may be medium or low. The skills inventory along with your Board nomination will provide good insight to you as a person and the contribution you may make to the Board.
How do I nominate?
Complete a nomination form and be nominated in writing, with your consent, by another Adult Member. Nomination forms and supplementary information are available for download below.
NOMINATION FORM DOWNLOAD
Hard copy nomination forms may be sent to Adult Members who are unable to nominate online.
If you would like to request more nomination information, please email
[email protected].
When do nominations close?
5pm Monday 29 January 2024.
What happens after nominations close?
After the period for the receipt of nominations closes, all nominations will be checked for completeness and validity.
Electronic Ballot papers will be prepared and distributed to all current financial Adult Members.
The information you provide about yourself and the information provided by your nominator will also be published.
Returned ballots are stored securely until the voting period closes and are then counted by independent people. The outcome of the ballot is kept secret until it is announced at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The
2024 AGM will be held on Saturday, 2 March 2024 at UTS and online via zoom.