04/02/2007 | Effective Board Management

A challenge that many incorporated associations face is to ensure that appropriate corporate governance arrangements are in place to meet legal obligations and to deliver on the objects of the organisation. Clarity about the roles of Office Bearers is central to the effective operation of a Board of Management. The following is intended to help the Board perform effectively. The Chair Effective Board operation starts with the Chair. Being a Chair is not about friendship, it is about respect and a focus on ensuring the affairs of the Board add value to its membership. The key responsibilities of the Chair of the Board include: · Lead and co-ordinate the operation of the Board This involves managing the focus on key Board matters, ensuring all members participate in discussion, debate and setting standards for Board etiquette at meetings. The Chair will usually initiate the Board’s self appraisal. · Liaise regularly with the CEO/Manager Stay in touch with emerging business issues, informally oversee the CEO’s performance and occasionally provide professional guidance to the CEO. The Chair must remain sufficiently independent to act with complete integrity. · Represent the Board externally As the key representative of the Board, the Chair will be involved in public events, networking for the organisation’s benefit, meeting with key stakeholders and funding agencies and preparing the Annual Report. Treasurer’s role The Treasurer is responsible for reviewing the finance reports with the Finance Officer or CEO prior to the Board meeting, so that informed advice can be given to the Board. The Treasurer also liaises with funding agencies, external auditors and even the Australian Taxation Office. Secretary’s role The Secretary’s traditional role has been the ‘keeper of records’ and has encompassed administrative activities such as handling correspondence, arranging meetings, sending notices to all Board members of the forthcoming meeting and recording and maintaining minutes of meetings. It is more common today, particularly with larger organisations, for the Secretary to have a broader role to include provision of administrative support to the Chair and Board for matters such as handling nomination forms at the AGM. It is common practice for the CEO to be the nominated Public Officer for an incorporated association. The Public Officer should be conversant with the Associations Incorporation Act. The Act requires the Public Officer to notify the Office of Business and Consumer Affairs about his or her appointment, and sign and file returns and notices as required by law (such as the auditor’s report, changes to the constitution). Board Members In addition to the ‘officer’ positions described above, the other elected members of the Board (also known as ‘ordinary members’ of the Board) have a variety of roles to undertake in the governance of their organisation. Back to news archive