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Governance and Nominations
Governance and Nominations subcommittee
The Governance and Nominations subcommittee is pleased to provide this report on its activities in 2021. The roles and responsibilities of this subcommittee are provided in regulation 33.2.
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Strategic priority of ‘effective responsive stewardship’
The Governance and Nominations subcommittee assists and advises Council on the key 2022-2024 Strategic Plan priority of effective responsive stewardship. The 2022-2021 years saw an emphasis on the implementation of these priorities and highlighted the importance of good governance. 2022 allowed for subcommittee to analyse this implementation and assess if any necessary changes were required.
The changes made to the constitution (the Rules) and supporting regulations over the past decade continue to enable the Association to have; sound systems, well developed and implemented policies and procedures; and good governance operations. These all have been subjected to repeated and continuous quality control measures.
Governance oversight and meetings were increased back to pre-pandemic scheduling with each meeting being held in hybrid face to face and on zoom. The Annual General Meeting was held on the 26th May 2022 with good attendance of members and available for members to attend online.
Risk mitigation and management
The Association’s risk mitigation and management approach has enabled focus on continuous quality control improvements. Over the past years, risks have been categorised and listed/ranked against different governance and operational units. In parallel the Association had placed focus on its short, medium (strategic) and longer-term (master) plans.
Council adopted in 2020 the new approach to the categorisation and listing of risks. This involved the alignment of risks with the strategic priorities and key result areas of the 2019-2021 Strategic Plan. The Risk Appetite Statement was restated to reflect the tolerance of the Association to risk taking against each strategic priority, and all risks were similarly re-categorised. All risks were then re-rated using more comprehensive criteria for determining the likelihood and consequence of each risk. The broader pandemic-specific risks identified and described over the past two years were closely monitored with the reopening of interstate and international borders. The return of greater numbers of residents to Graduate House was pleasing with the related health and safety risk mitigation and management measures being operational priorities.
Rules
At the 2022 Annual General Meeting, there were no amendments to the Rules of the Association.
Council performance, subcommittees and composition
The Association continues to show that we have a sound, comprehensive and contemporary governance, with dedicated, principled and hard-working Council and subcommittee members. The continued affects has also shown that we have a ‘happy, healthy and constructive working environment where staff are motivated to work together, adapt to change and develop’. Council and Staff have worked closely in 2022 to ensure that resident and members are looked after at Graduate House. Staffing levels have been increased steady over 2022 to cater for the increase in residents, meeting service booking and attendees and dining room patronage.
The Governance and Nomination subcommittee has worked throughout 2022 to review, revamp and develop the many policies of The Graduate Union. Work continues on the Diversity Inclusion Policy and changes were made to the Discrimination, Sexual Harassment and Bullying Policy and Procedures, after both were delay due to the pandemic. Assessment and analysis of the Policies will continue into 2023 ensuring relevancy and appropriateness for the Association. A policy review, development and amendment process will be developed to ensure this subcommittee, and all other subcommittees, continue to view and understand the Policies of the Association.
The reviewed of the structure of the subcommittees of Council conducted in 2020 were deemed not required in the short-term future and the implementation of this restructure has been postponed for the future.
The Rules provide for the election of not more than nine Council Members, each with terms of (usually) three years. In 2022, Cr Vincent Mirabelli was elected for a third three-year term and Cr Max Stephens were elected for a second three-year term. We welcomed newly elected member Cr Lawrence Grima, a senior executive and entrepreneur who has repeatedly reshaped and transformed businesses across financial services, not for profit, construction, property, automotive, aviation R&D and start ups. He brings great financial and building management knowledge and experience to the Council and joined the Finance and Audit and Building and Facilities Subcommittees.
In July 2022, and in accordance with rule 49.1(d),Council also welcomed Cr Fausto Marasco to Council. Mr Marasco holds a Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Science (Electrical Engineering, Computer Science) from The University of Melbourne. He has been a member of the Graduate Union since 2013 and has been a member of the Fundraising and Benefactions Subcommittee since 2015. He is the Executive Director at Premier Contact Point since October 2020. Prior to that he was the Executive Director at Premier Technologies Pty Ltd (which he cofounded) from 2011.
Council bid farewell in 2022 to Cr Keith Ryall who joined Council in 2013. He held the position of Vice-Chairperson of Council from 2020 to 2022 and Chair Membership and Marketing subcommittee as well as a member of the other subcommittees. He played a critical role in the revamping of the Rules and Regulations of the Association. We thank him for his significant contribution to the governance and leadership of our Association.
We also thank our long-term Returning Officer – Ron Ritchie for his more than 20 years’ service to the association. We wish him all the best on his retirement.
In conclusion, I thank the 2022 Governance and Nominations subcommittee members —Cr Vincent Mirabelli, Dr Kylie O’Connell (Co-Vice-Chairperson), Cr Vincent Morfuni (Co-Vice-Chairperson from May 2022), Cr Jane Tisdall (from June 2022) and Cr David Israel (from June 2022) as well as the secretariat and administration staff at Graduate House.
