Role Description:

Since 2004, Leadership WA has taken more than 1,000 emerging and established leaders from all sectors through challenging and inspiring world-class development programs. We are an independent, apolitical not-for-profit organisation, and we believe in the power of stronger communities through development of leadership capacities and collaborative social impact initiatives.
We are champions for leadership. We champion those who make a difference, who go on to impact the world from the invaluable experiences and the journey on which we take them.
Through our immersive programs, we instil the courage, skills and tenacity in our leaders to make an impact and create stronger communities in Western Australia and beyond.
We are committed to empowering a diverse range of Western Australia’s leaders, because leadership comes in many forms. Creating stronger communities requires great leaders, and we are the catalyst.
We recognise that leaders have the potential to make a real difference and our Alumni and participants set the standard. In 2020 alone, Leadership WA Alumni and participants committed to more than 900 hours of their time and expertise to community-based not-for-profits through our Skillsbank initiative.

Board Chair Role and Responsibilities

A. Appointment:

In accordance with the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and the Constitution of Leadership WA, the directors of Leadership WA elect one of their numbers as Chairperson of the Board.

B. Approach:

In the elected role as Chair, the incumbent director will operate as ‘first among equals’ and will adopt a leadership approach based on ‘leading from behind’. This approach is designed to build cohesion within the board and facilitate each directors’ best contribution.

C. Responsibilities:

1. Facilitate the board in governing the activities of the company to achieve the object of the organisation
2. Promote a Board culture that is aligned with the values and purpose of the organisation
3. Facilitate the board to define and understand its governance role, and the role of the Chair, in accordance with the Board Charter and current board priorities
4. Facilitate the board to agree on the rules governing directors’ behaviour and rules of procedure (e.g. confidentiality, conflicts of interest) so that the board operates effectively
5. Facilitate decision making on what board committees are required, the membership of committees and each committees’ charter
6. Promote and facilitate effective decision making
7. Represent the collective view of the Board to management
8. Oversee adequate processes and practices to enable the board to effectively, efficiently and ethically, discharge its role including for:
a. Flow of information and performance reporting to the board
b. Appropriate allocation of time and focus of the board
c. Interface between board and management, including ensuring that agreed actions are carried out
d. General performance of the board and board committees
9. Understand the needs of individual directors to facilitate individual contributions to the work of the board
10. Ensure that board conducts regular reviews of its own performance
11. Maintain close working relations with the CEO
12. Act as sounding board and mentor for the CEO
13. Work with Company Secretary to ensure effective governance
14. Represent the organisation with stakeholders in consultation with management
15. Act as spokesperson for the organisation as required


D. Role:

1. Time spent is typically two to three times what is required of an ordinary director
2. Be kept fully informed of current events by the CEO on all matters that may be of interest or concern to directors
3. Coordinate and oversee the annual strategic planning process in conjunction with management
4. Regularly review with the CEO, progress on important initiatives and significant issues facing the company
5. Oversee the management of the business of the board, being clear on what the board has to achieve both in the long and short term, and ensuring that decisions of the board are implemented promptly
6. Prepare the annual board schedule in consultation with the Company Secretary and management
7. Prepare board meeting agendas in consultation with the CEO and Company Secretary
8. Chair each board meeting
9. Review draft minutes and action list of each board meeting before distribution to directors
10. Prepare and distribute agenda for director only sessions of board meetings
11. Contribute to and approve the annual report and other stakeholder deliverables as required
12. Chair and report to the Annual General Meeting, and other Member meetings as required, on the situation of the organisation
13. Serve on board committees and working groups as required, noting that the Chair should not chair board committees of working groups
14. Participate in executive recruitment committees as required

How to Apply:

Contact Board member, Justine Colyer, on justine.colyer@risenetwork.com.au for queries or to express your interest