Board Traineeship

Information pack 2018

YWCA Canberra

YWCA Canberra is a feminist, not-for-profit organisation that has provided community services and represented women’s issues in Canberra since 1929.

Through our national Member Association, YWCA Australia, we are part of the World YWCA network, which connects 125 countries across the globe.

Our rich history of supporting women and girls in Canberra through the Great Depression, the Second World War, and the rapid social and cultural changes Canberra has experienced in recent years, continues to inform and influence our work today.

Today we provide high quality, innovative services for women, including female-identifying and non-binary people, girls and families in the ACT and surrounding regions. We work in the areas of children’s services, community development, housing, youth services, personal and professional training, women’s leadership and advocacy.

As a membership-based, non-religious and not-for-profit organisation, we encourage the participation of women of all cultures, beliefs and ages in our movement. Strengthened by diversity, we welcome members who are committed to recognising and celebrating the value of every human being.

Currently, a clear majority of employees at YWCA Canberra, including the Executive Director, all four senior managers, and all board directors are women.

We believe that women’s unique perspectives and experiences must be heard, and that the community as a whole benefits from women’s contributions and leadership.

Our governance

YWCA Canberra is governed by a Board of Directors, comprised of 12 women who are elected by the membership to lead the strategic direction of the organisation.

At YWCA Canberra, we have forged a culture of strong governance that values the contribution and talents of our diverse board members.

All Australian YWCAs are bound by a quota whereby 30 per cent of board members must be women aged 30 years or younger. This requirement was established in a time when the YWCA had an aging leadership, and it was decided that (given the organisation’s vision and values around young women’s leadership) this could not be left unchallenged.

Instead of recruiting ‘board-ready’ young women to meet the quota, YWCA Canberra utilises several strategies to develop the necessary skills and knowledge of young women in the Canberra community.

These include a series of She Leads professional development workshops, the GreatYdeas Small Grants Program, and the Board Traineeship program.

Board Traineeship program

Our commitment to supporting women’s leadership begins in the boardroom.

There is an increasing emphasis on having skilled and professional not-for-profit boards to provide strong leadership, long-term strategic direction and sound advice on issues of compliance and financial management.

YWCA Canberra aims to inspire other organisations to view this challenge as an opportunity to develop a ‘leadership-rich’ community with a strong pool of board candidates.

To support and nurture the leadership potential of women in the Canberra community, YWCA Canberraoffers an annual Board Traineeship program.

This12-month program offers women in Canberra the opportunity to develop their leadership and governance skills by participating in discussions and observing the decisions of a Board of Governance, without the legal and financial responsibility borne by Directors.

Each year, YWCA Canberra offers two – four Board Trainee positions. YWCA Canberra’s Board Traineeship program has run in a formal capacity since 2002, and to date has supported 58 women.

Many of these women have progressed from a traineeship position to an official board director position within the organisation. A notable example is Jude Burger, who was a trainee in 2005 and today is a board director and the President of YWCA Canberra.

Expectations of Board Trainees

  • Attendance and active participation at all board meetings (including reading the board papers beforehand)
  • Participation at the annual Strategic Planning Day, which provides a strong sense of the vision that the organisation is working towards.
  • Participation at the annual board induction day, which provides an introduction to the board and an overview of the constitution and strategic directions
  • Involvement in an informal mentoring process with a board director
  • Participation on a Board Sub-Committee, including attendance at the 8 – 12 sub-committee meetings held each year
  • Attendance at a minimum of three YWCA Canberra Member events during the calendar year.
  • Professional and courteous conduct, and confidential treatment of information shared within board meetings.

Benefits to Board Trainees

  • Increased knowledge and skills development in governance, business, financial management, project management, and leadership
  • The opportunity to take a leading role in an innovative and progressive organisation
  • Development of strong and collaborative networks and relationships
  • The opportunity to work closely with a mentor
  • An increased profile in the Canberra community

Benefits to the organisation and board

  • Fresh perspectives and contributions to discussions and decision-making
  • Increased membership and broader community engagement and interest in our work
  • An opportunity to develop young women’s leadership potential.

Challenges

  • Ensuring that the Board has a strong mix of skills and experience to enhance learning opportunities for Board Trainees
  • That Board Trainees understand and take seriously the time commitment required throughout the program.

Lessons learned

Learnings from the Board Traineeship program include:

  • The importance of building a culture of support, expectations and benefits
  • The utility of programs that combine formal and informal components
  • Combining practical learning in addition to ‘classroom’ based teaching tends to work particularly well with young people
  • Mentoring is vital: young women need to adequately supported when they are provided with opportunities
  • The value of regular evaluation and review based on participants’ feedback.

Monitoring and evaluation

At the end of the program, the Board Trainees complete a formal evaluation. The evaluation results are sent to the Nominations Committee (a sub-committee of the Board) to ensure that feedback is considered and (where required) incorporated into the next traineeship program.

The Board, through the Nominations Committee, is responsible for ongoing evaluation of the program. To date this process has seen that the program continues to evolve and be improved.

Application & assessment process

In September each year, applications to Board Traineeship program open. The application and assessment process must be finalisedby the end of the week following the AGM.

Applicantsare required to provide personal details, information about their education and/or employment, community and volunteer experience and their relationship with the YWCA. Additionally, a written statement outlining why the applicant wishes to be a Board Trainee is requested.

Applications are reviewed by an assessment panel, comprised of the following members:

  • Executive Director (ex-officio capacity)
  • President (ex-officio capacity)
  • Nominations Committee members (Chaired by a current Board Director)
  • The Executive Director and President contribute to discussions but do not assess and rank the applications. In this capacity they can also overrule a panel decision if they believe it is not in accordance with the organisation’s values.
  • At least two members of the assessment panel must be young women (aged 30 years or younger).

Please refer to Appendix 1 for assessment criteria and rankings.

Promotion

Promotion of the program is essential to attract a broad range of applicants. Promotion is conducted through YWCA Canberra channels (website, social media, e-news), the community sector, and via media engagement and public relations.

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Appendix 1 – Assessment criteria

Panel members are asked to rank each application against the following criteria.

For each application please rank either with a 3, 2 or 1 based on the guidance table below.

Please DO NOT use half numbers and please total each of the applications in the end column.

Please bring completed form to the meeting

Assessment Criteria and ranking guidance

Consideration / 3 / 2 / 1
Age / If candidate is under 25 / Candidate is between 31-25 / Candidate is over 31
Diversity / Candidate represents a group under represented in decision making (ATSI, CALD, Disability, LGBTQIA+) / Candidate has strong links with groups in the community under represented in decision making / Candidate is not from a diversity group and has few links
Current Board Mix
(will change from year to year) / Candidate has a specific skill set that is not represented on the current board and is required (eg Finance Skills, Legal skills etc) / Candidate has experience in a sector that is not well represented on the board (eg, community sector, finance industry) / Candidate has experience in an area that is well represented
Board Experience / Has had little or no board experience / Has some board experience but at a low level / Has significant board experience
Community/ Volunteer experience / Has range of volunteer experiences over a period of time / Has participated in some volunteer activities in the community sector / Has little volunteer experience
Participation in the YWCA / Has been to a range of YWCA events, including She Leads workshops / Has been to some YWCA events and shows some interest in the organisation / Appears to have joined the YWCA for this opportunity

Assessment Sheet for Ranking Applications

Consideration
Young Woman?
Diversity?
Current Board Mix
Board Experience
Community / Volunteer Experience
Participation in the YWCA

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Appendix 2 – 2017 Board Trainee experiences

The following four articles have been taken from the YWCA Canberra blog. These four articles are interviews with the 2017 Board Trainees, and provide an insight into the specific roles and skills to be gained through the program.

The 2017 Board Trainees were Georgina Horsburgh, Caitlin Figueiredo, Sophie Fisher, and Tara Willoughby.

YWCA Canberra is committed to fostering the growth and development of young women leaders. Each year, our Board of Directors conducts the Board Traineeship program, which provides women with the opportunity to gain experience in governance, finance and strategic management without the legal and financial responsibilities of being a Board Director.

We caught up with Georgina Horsburgh, who is about to complete her Board Traineeship for the 2016-2017 period, to discuss her experience on the YWCA Canberra board.

Georgina trained as a lawyer. She has also spent quite a lot of time on stage (often when she should have been studying law). Georgina has experience across the government, legal and not-for-profit sectors in Australia and overseas. She has worked as Legal Editor in the High Court of Solomon Islands (as part of the Australian Aid Program), Judge’s Associate, not-for-profit researcher and government lawyer. Georgina believes that more and diverse female voices in the public sphere are critical to providing role models for young women and girls.Georgina holds a Master of International Affairs and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Australian National University, and a dual Law/Arts degree from the University of Queensland. She likes words and Les Mills fitness classes.

What attracted you to apply for a Traineeship on the Board of YWCA Canberra?

The Y is about female empowerment, which is something I care deeply about. I was also really interested in learning about not-for-profit governance. The Board Traineeship is a unique opportunity to work in a secular organisation with many impressive women who have a range of professional and life experiences.

What exactly does a Board Trainee of YWCA Canberra do?

Trainees participate in the Board’s work in an observer role. We also have the opportunity to join subcommittees, such as Finance (of which I’m a part). Board trainees read board papers, attend meetings and events, and engage and contribute via online platforms. We are also mentored by Board members.

How would you describe the Board’s contribution to the on-the-ground activities of The Y’s staff, members and community?

My observation is that the Board takes its responsibilities very seriously. I understand that the Board is personally and legally invested in owning its decisions about how to steer the organisation. This is not always an easy task.

What is the personal and career significance of having the opportunity to be a Board Trainee?

Both personally and professionally, I’ve valued the opportunity to participate in the Board’s work. I’ve learnt about governance, finance and conflict resolution (among other things), which I hope to apply and develop in my career – whether in government, the private sector or self-employment. Meeting women who are so self-motivated and interested in something bigger than themselves has also been a source of inspiration.

In your opinion, why is it important for young women to be represented on The Y’s board?

Ideally, the Board should represent women of many different ages and life experiences – particularly women who are traditionally underrepresented in leadership roles. This is because there’s strength in decision making that’s informed by diverse views and experiences. Young women have a particular contribution to make because they represent a large proportion of the membership base in Canberra, shaping much of what the Y does in the programs and advocacy space. Young women have a lot to contribute as innovators and future leaders.

What kind of women do you think should apply to be a Board Trainee in the future?

I think if you can see the relevance of the Y’s mission to your own life – and/or the lives of other women – and you are interested in personal and professional development, this is a great opportunity to do work that aligns with your values.

When you’re not at Board meetings, what do you do professionally?

I work as a policy adviser for government.

How do you see your leadership journey evolving in the next five years?

Authentically and creatively.

We caught up with Caitlin Figueiredo, who is about to complete her Board Traineeship for the 2016-2017 period, to discuss her experience on the YWCA Canberra board.

Caitlin is a youth and gender equality advocate; she is an ambassador for the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, is a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, and was named a Global Changemaker for Gender Equality by The White House and First Lady Michelle Obama. In 2016, Caitlin won the Young Leader Category in Westpac/AFR ‘Australia’s 100 Most Influential Women’ for her international work, making her the youngest winner in the 5 year history of the awards. Further, she is ranked alongside Chelsea Clinton and Gloria Steinem as an International Influencer to an online Mougl platform of 18.5 million women from 196 countries.

Caitlin founded World Vision’s youth movement VGen ACT, and Co-Founded the Golden Wattle Peace Initiative, an international organisation building a grassroots movement of gender equality that assists communities to build intercultural peace and transition women and girls into the education system. She was also chosen to represent Australia at the UN, where her passion and sustainable vision was recognised by UN Women. Committed to public policy and institutional reform, Caitlin applies her work ethic and influence at the UN as one of the youngest UN Task Force members on Youth Development and Gender Equality. She is currently studying a double degree in Law (Hon) & Development at the Australian National University.

What attracted you to apply for a Traineeship on the Board of YWCA Canberra?

I have always loved YWCA Canberra, and for years I have wanted to get more involved. When the Board Traineeship came up, I thought this was the perfect opportunity. But more than that, as an activist, I have been limited to grassroots activities such as leading teams, and coordinating events and campaigns. I knew that in applying for the Traineeship I would gain behind-the-scene organisational knowledge, and develop key skills to run a business in the future.

What exactly does a Board Trainee of YWCA Canberra do?

As a Trainee, we do everything the Board Directors do except vote and have any legal obligations. I have been able to attend meetings, see how the YWCA Canberra Board Operates, gain mentorship from current Board Directors, and attend unique events with YWCA Canberra such as the Commission of the Status of Women.

How would you describe the Board’s contribution to the on-the-ground activities of The Y’s staff, members and community?

Being a Board Trainee, I can attest that the YWCA Canberra Board is actively involved in the on-the-ground activities of the Canberra community. Board members are often at every event YWCA hosts and our memberships events. They love promoting a healthy and supportive community.

During my time as a Board Trainee, I have also learnt about the dedication the Board Directors have to the happiness and sustainability of YWCA Canberra, it’s staff, and members. Recently, as many of you know, the Board had to make the tough decision to leave the Y-Australia merger. During the decision, they always kept the YWCA members informed and at the forefront of their decision. Every day the Board works in the best interest of the YWCA staff and members by bringing to the table diverse views, skills, and experience.